We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ericka Brown . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ericka below.

Hi Ericka , thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

The most unexpected and challenging was locating permit shelter for a disabled unhoused community member. He’s wheel chair bound and sleeping in the park. He’s well diverse, awesome previous work history, came from a good family but life’s circumstances got ahold of him. He became addicted to crack cocaine and is HIV positive. A family member put him out and dropped him off at our local park to live.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Our organization Be Kind Be Great serve the unhoused community in Columbia, SC and Atlanta, GA and other cities and funding allows. Such as LA., California and Charlotte, NC. We provide services in rural areas for below poverty and low income families. Food household items and occasional rent and light bill assistance as funding allows.

Be Kind Be Great provide food care bags for senior citizens and offer mentor services for youth females between 5 and 17 years of age.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn being judgmental. Many of us can look at someone and sometimes think the worst. Self-reflection in a must in my line of work and realizing I too have made plenty of mistakes. Serving the unhoused community has shown me to love unconditionally. Individuals are human and fall short. I’ve met some really talented, educated, smart, caring and loving individuals. Many are like family and friends. I feel safe around so many of them.

Reality is… many of us are one step away from being on the street ourselves. Many of us are fighting battles unseen to the human eye.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new supporters is social media for us. We’ve gained the most support from strangers. Support across the US. It’s amazing how social media can be so effective in your goals and mission in life. As we know word of mouth is free and it works. However, sharing a status or a post about needs of our organization have been effective. People listen and many want to help. It proves love still exist for mankind. Even amongst strangers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BKBG.org
• Instagram: Be_kind_begreat
• Facebook: Be Kind Be Great
• Linkedin: Ericka Btown
• Twitter: Bekindbegreat1