El Paso County official outlines new Department of Community Resources, resident-facing services

Vernon Stewart, executive director of El Paso County's Department of Community Resources, said the newly consolidated department exists to connect county leadership with frontline staff and residents and to improve delivery of services in three areas: veteran services, justice services and environmental services.

Stewart described his role as a translator of county priorities and strategic objectives, saying the department's responsibilities include oversight, outreach and raising awareness of programs residents can use. "My main responsibilities, I would say, is to operate as a liaison between county leadership, the residents, and county staff within these divisions," he said.

County leaders consolidated several resident-facing divisions into the new department after an interim assignment in late 2024, Stewart said, naming County Administrator Brett Waters and Deputy County Administrator Sonny Bridal as part of leadership involved in that decision. He also credited previous deputy Natalie Sosa for interim oversight during an earlier transition.

Stewart said his communications background helped him design outreach and internal communication systems and that early priorities included staffing, website redesign and accessibility work. He noted the department also manages signature public events such as the county's annual state-of-the-region address.

The department's public-facing purpose, Stewart said, is to make services accessible and to communicate "the why" behind county decisions to frontline employees and to residents. He added that staff in these divisions are focused on direct service delivery and that leadership's job is to clear obstacles so they can work effectively.

Stewart closed by urging residents to use department services and watch for outreach events. "If I can offer that to this team to be able to better serve the residents of El Paso County, that's a small ask of me, man, and I will show up for it each and every day," he said.

The interview was recorded on the Beyond the Day podcast and did not include formal county votes or policy changes; Stewart described goals and ongoing work rather than new ordinances or budget actions.