Jonika

My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 6 years old so we accessed services on and off from as far back as I can remember. Brighton Center defines stability in my opinion.  My father still tells me stories about how Bob Brewster made sure he had football equipment. Both of my parents always said wonderful things about Brighton Center and I don’t doubt that it had a huge impact on their ability to become self-sufficient and give back in their adult lives.

Nine years ago, I decided to attend a few info sessions at The Center for Employment Training. I attended almost six sessions before I was in a good place to commit. I committed to the Medical Assisting program in 2006.

 It was like Brighton Center gave me CPR. It was my second breath or what some would call a second chance. I made some mistakes in my life that created a domino effect. It was refreshing to be at Center for Employment Training, to see that I was not alone and my chances at success weren’t over. I was in a very low place, stuck in survivor mode trying to keep my head above water, working a job that didn’t provide opportunity for growth. I was at a standstill! With the help of Brighton Center, I was able to build credit, purchase a home, and a car. I have utilized the food pantry, clothing closet, Center for Employment Training (CET), Financial Services, First time home buyer program, and my youngest son participates in Youth Leadership Development. Brighton Center also connected me with the Child Care Assistance program/ United Way funding, and the Holiday Drive.

Attending CET gave me my confidence back, allowed me to explore my ability to learn and grow, I felt like opportunities were endless and coming from a dark place- that was exhilarating and was something I wanted to share with every trainee that came in the door.  I’m most impressed with Brighton Center’s holistic approach. Although there wasn’t any  counseling involved in the services I received, the idea of being able to work on every aspect of my life, celebrate small wins, and build confidence was healing for me. Being able to overcome so many obstacles such as, homelessness and domestic violence in such a short time and regain control over my situation was an amazing and empowering.

On September 25, 2007, I was hired on as the Basic Skill Instructor/Success Coach in the MA program. There aren’t many employment opportunities out there that allow you to end your work-day knowing that something you did changed someone’s life and helped them out in a huge way.  It is important to me that the work I do is purposeful. After 8 years in that position, I decided I wanted to learn more about the agency and where it all began. My first week working at Family Center opened my eyes to the thousands of parts that go into this magnificent machine. For years I thought people just came in for emergency Assistance, never really knowing what that meant.

Having the opportunity to play a part in the Emergency Assistance and Stabilization services provided, I’ve learned so much, and I see it so differently. I am most impressed with the comradery and how innovative Brighton Center has been and continues to be. We see a need in the community and from that Boom! A program is designed. Every program has a significant back story of how and why it was developed, in most cases it was because an existing program needed a separate program in order to effectively support our customers. For example, CET coordinates with Bright Days Child Development Center because Trainees need child care. Many programs work with Family Center because transition can be is difficult and customers need those wrap around services. It’s amazing to work for an organization that has developed and grown based on what customers need. You don’t see that anywhere. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. I’m not sure I would be happy doing anything else. The customers are the biggest reason I worked at CET for eight years, because of my dedication to what the program does for people. The customers are the reason I am in the process of transitioning back to CET as Medical Assisting Skill Instructor. I see how important Workforce Development is to helping families stabilize their situation; it all fits together in one way or another. You have to love it, be invested in the development of people, and believe that anyone can change their situation given the right opportunity. Spending time in another department, allowed me to see service delivery from a different angle, I am excited to be able go back and share that with the staff at CET. There is nothing like being the first line of defense when combating poverty, that’s what I call Brighton Center, the “Marines of Social Services” and I love the way we do, what we do!

As a staff member, I see the organization growing daily. Every encounter with a customer or community issue sparks new ideas. Since my involvement, I’ve seen the Brighton Recovery Center (BRC) and Northern Kentucky Scholar House implemented along with the Financial Opportunity Center philosophy, the Step-up Mentoring program, and Step Forward. They have all been successful programs that made a huge impact in the community.

It is amazing to see how many people were raised and continue to be raised with Brighton Center as a part of their family. I say that because once you’ve built that relationship the customer becomes a life-long customer, even if it’s just to share good news or to meet a new baby. They see us as a part of their growth and that is a beautiful thing to be a part of.  I have met so many people that will testify that Brighton Center saved their life or changed their life. It goes to show the impact of this organization in the community and not just how important we are to the community, but also how important our customers are to us.

Having Brighton Center as my employer is a reminder for me that no matter how hard life gets, there is a way out. My journey from customer to employee has allowed me to be mindful of how I treat people, because not everybody gets it the first time. Sometimes it takes several attempts at something to build up to a victory, but it has also taught me to celebrate the small wins because those are just as important. I’ve learned a lot about myself and it has enabled me to be self-aware, I truly believe my experience as a customer is what paved the way for me to be here as long as I have. I’m invested in the mission and core values because in some aspect I was raised by them.

If you want a fresh start we can help you to the finish line. This is the place where hope becomes reality and dreams come true!