Employee Appreciation Day sounds like a great opportunity to highlight PSM staff!
First up, meet Brooke. Well, you’ve met her before, but not in this role. Just promoted to Assistant Education Director K-8, Brooke started at PSM as a volunteer and then in 2021 became a Classroom Leader. She also served as a social work intern and has been instrumental in implementing important practices in the Academic Enrichment Program such as regulating emotions, conflict resolution, and stress reduction activities. As a part of this internship, Brooke was key in organizing calm down corners in every classroom so students have a safe place that supports them emotionally and physically when they are feeling overstimulated.
Brooke is a native Lakelander and married her college sweetheart, Tim, last year. She graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Southeastern University in 2023, and she’s about to graduate with her Master of Social Work (MSW) this April! Brooke has two older brothers, three nieces, one nephew, one spoiled Pit Bull mix named Malibu, and a Holland Lop bunny named Hazel (who is potty-trained and quite the escape artist, by the way)! Also, she’s a major Swiftie!
Learn more about Brooke below!
What has God taught you because of your connection to PSM?
“When you’re working in a ministry or nonprofit, you really have to lean on God—especially to prevent burnout. God is going to give you the strength if you’re walking in His will. He’s so cool the way He does things and the way He makes things work. My life verse is Exodus 14:14, ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ Yes, I have to put my best foot forward and do the work and be present. But God has truly held me up and showed me that if I lean on Him, He is going to give me the wisdom and guidance when working with our families and our kids. There are so many times when I’m like, ‘Those are not my words. That was God who was talking in that moment.’ He’s going to speak through me because He put me here for a reason.”
What are some of your favorite memories?
“It’s the little moments that add up. I wake up every single day so grateful to go to work. It’s such a blessing to love where you work because not everyone gets that. Being able to do my internship here has been such a huge blessing. A lot of my favorite memories have come out of that because I’ve been able to build so many relationships with our students. The resources and tools that I have been able to incorporate with my internship, like calm down corners and education on self-regulation; it’s been really cool to see them use it on their own. And just being able to pray with our kids. I think those are some of my really favorite moments where they’re like, ‘Mrs. Brooke, can you pray with me?’ It’s just so sweet to see them love Jesus.”
What brings you joy?
“Sundays bring me so much joy because it’s mine and Tim’s one day off together. We get to go to church and get breakfast together. Then we’ll go pick up Malibu, walk at Bonnet Springs, and then visit my mom and dad. It’s just such a sweet day.”
Currently reading:
Textbooks, lots of textbooks! “I’m about to start reading play therapy books” for school.
Favorite biblical leading lady:
“Esther is my all time favorite because of how she leaned on God through it all and how she never wavered from her faith. It just shows that God can really use anybody.”
Go-to coffee order:
An iced latte with coconut syrup from Black & Brew. Necessary for the new coffee drinker to stay awake in her 4-5 hour master’s classes.
Cool PSM memory:
“Going to Rock Springs for the first time was so sweet being with the kids in a completely different environment and seeing them be able to just have fun.”
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Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 in Lakeland, Florida, that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. Parker Street Ministries is committed to Gospel-centered community development through the focus areas of: Fostering Spiritual Growth so Christ and His Gospel are front and center, Supporting Lifetime Learners through educational opportunities, Stabilizing the Neighborhood by addressing the quality and availability of housing, and Cultivating Connections so gaps in relationships and services are bridged.