Message from the Executive Director
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“Start with what’s strong – not what’s wrong”
These words from my friend, Cormac Russell, affirm the innate potential in all people. This approach to human potential and development is known as strengths-based or asset-based community development. Once discovered, a person’s
strengths can serve as building blocks for self-esteem and for weaving together resources and talents to achieve common good.
Discovering one’s talents may be as simple as asking a question. Observation of and affirming talents demonstrated by others also may help them self-discover dormant strengths. Often, the result of such discovery is joy and a willingness to share with others.
After four months of getting to know, working with,and discovering latent talents among residents of the Brisben Center, among the amazing staff, across a cadre of volunteers and community supporters, I am convinced that, together, we are weaving a fabric of common destiny for the common good of all.
The stories below are of asset-based, strengths-based, shared knowledge, passion and actions. As you read them, I invite you to ponder these questions:
What do you know? What are you passionate about? What will you do? Who will you invite to invest with you in developing common good for all who reside in our neighborhood?
In the Spirit of wellbeing,
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N. David Cooper
Executive Director
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John John & Grandma
John John, at 15 months old, has stolen the hearts of staff and residents alike. Smiling and naturally outgoing, he makes friends wherever he turns. His grandmother says the Brisben Center has been great for his socialization. “It’s been really good for him. But it will be difficult to leave. It’s been our home.”
John John is curious about people, men in particular, and has a fascination with gadgets — locks and clocks especially. And animals. A volunteer driver kindly gave them a free pass to nearby Braehead Farm, where he enjoyed seeing cows, goats, alpacas, horses, rabbits, and cats.
In a short while, Grandma and John will be in a place of their own, thanks to the efforts of Brisben staff working on their behalf. But they hope to come back often and visit some of the people who have been important to them at this time of their lives.
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Meet Katherine
Katherine Smothers is Brisben’s volunteer seamstress. Every Thursday afternoon she is in the activity room, patching everything from pants to baby strollers for residents.
“Everybody should give back,” she says. “Everybody has gifts.”
Sewing is clearly one of hers. She learned from her mother, grandmother, and aunt while growing up in rural New Mexico 50 years ago. She used to make clothes for her family. Most of the requests she gets at Brisben are for repairs and maintenance — split seams, missing buttons, simple alterations.
Joe Hargrove, Brisben’s volunteer coordinator, says Katherine fixes more than just clothes. “Oftentimes people come in grumpy and leave laughing. She fixes moods.”
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Butch Bennett is a generator mechanic who volunteers in a multitude of ways. He was laid flat on his back for two years because of an auto accident and credits volunteering at Brisben with helping him healboth physically and mentally.
“I was getting cabin fever and not feeling particularly useful,” he said. “Working here helped me feel worthy again.”
He started with activities that were gentle on his body, such as preparing meals, and gradually started more demanding work. One rainy day in April, he filled his pickup truck with heavy bags of donated linens from the FBI Academy. He has volunteered his professional skills, too, repairing the facility’s plumbing fixtures.
Butch first came to the Brisben Center because he used to donate here and knew it relied on the generosity of volunteers. A lifelong resident of the area, he said he grew up with the small-town value that when you see a car broken down on the side of the road, you stop and help.
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Staff Member Kat Dickerson
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Katie “Kat” Dickerson recently relocated here from Oklahoma to be near her sister. Within a year she had three titles: homeless management information system administrator, fundraising assistant, and shift coordinator. While she is no longer a shift coordinator, she continues to mingle with the residents.
“I feel great when I can brighten someone’s day with a smile or a joke. I let them know somebody still cares.”
She said her proudest, most terrifying moment, was when she saved the life of a resident who had collapsed. Her quick action, training, and calm demeanor guided her as she forced her way into a bathroom stall and performed CPR until EMTs arrived.
“It’s the most rewarding job of my life,” she said. “It makes me feel good inside. You need a thick skin and a big heart. This is people’s lives, not an account.”
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Brisben Facts
July 2017-March 2018
482 people served including
78 children & 41 veterans
The average length of stay was
38 days
Brisben provided
24,602 bed nights at a cost of $29 per night per individual
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Spring Give Update
Thanks to all who generously donated to
Brisben’s Spring Give Campaign.
So far, YOU have donated
$23,193 to our mission and checks are still arriving.
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The Brisben Center is
committed to good stewardship of the Earth, our community and our natural resources:
• We are in the planning phase of installing solar power to reduce the Center’s carbon footprint & dependence on fossil fuels.
• We're committed to reducing waste by planning and implementing a r
ecycling program.
• We're in discussions with the
Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission to plan for and implement environmental stewardship.
• We're
planning, modeling and teaching the residents of the Center to thrive in our community and the world in which we live, work, learn and grow.
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