Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tracy Sarge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tracy, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
In 2019 I was already feeling overwhelmed by the discourse that seemed to be increasing in our country when I was faced with an unexpected medical diagnosis, for a while the prognosis was somewhat uncertain. It really gave me an opportunity to think about what was truly important to me and to think about what I really wanted to accomplish in life. I could feel myself getting really discouraged and frustrated but decided that instead of sitting around and being upset about everything going on in the world, I wanted to find a way to change the things I could and to truly make a difference. My girls were both grown and out of the house and my husband was working full time. I held a degree in Psychology and Human Development, had worked in education while my kids were little and then in the fitness and wellness industry part time for over fifteen years. One of my passions was interior design and while looking into possibly going back to school to get a degree in design, I came across a video of a non-profit called Room Redux that Transformed the rooms of children that had been physically and sexually abused. Many times, these kids were abused in their own rooms making them a really scary place to be, so they provided these children with a new room and an opportunity at a new start. I decided to reach out and volunteer, but discovered that they were located in New Braunfels, Texas and I was in California. After several emails, an incredible phone call with Founder and CEO Susie Vybiral and a conversation with my husband, I decided to fly to Texas to participate in a couple of Room Transformations. I spent several days getting to know Susie and her family and truly just fell in love with them and the organization. After many hours of chatting, I decided to start the first chapter outside of Texas. I had no experience in running a nonprofit but knew it was something that was really needed. It was a constant learning experience but with the help of some amazing volunteers, three and a half years later, Room Redux-Bay Area has completed almost 40 Room Transformations.
At our first large fundraising event this April, Shelley Hamilton, Psychotherapist/Manager of the Center for Child Protection at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland and one of our Advisory Board members, was speaking and encouraging everyone to get involved, she talked about the incredible changes that one person can make. It sounds kind of corny but as I looked out at an audience of around 100 individuals, all there to support Room Redux-Bay Area, I was a bit overcome. It really was amazing to realize that one decision to step out of my comfort zone and to simply try to make a difference, had led to this moment. We were truly changing lives and helping our community.
Tracy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a wife and mother of two really wonderful adult daughters. I am also the Executive Director of the Bay Area chapter of a nonprofit organization called Room Redux that Transforms the Rooms of children that have faced physical and sexual abuse as often times the abuse occurs in their very own bedroom. Working closely with law enforcement, child protective services, teachers, counselors and therapists, we receive referrals for children healing from the trauma of abuse and are in need of a Room Transformation. We provide them with a new room top to bottom, including tools for ongoing healing. Our team of volunteers come in and in just one day completely Transform these rooms, including anything from new furniture, bedding, lighting, paint and decor, to flooring, window treatments, toys, books and art supplies, personalizing every room based on each child’s wants, likes and needs. We never meet the children directly but do receive feedback from the therapists and families. A new room truly becomes an opportunity at a fresh start.
It is never too late to do something new, and I am proud of myself and our volunteers for being willing to learn, grow and try something that we have never done before in order to make someone else’s life better.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
To me the thing that I find is the most helpful at succeeding is a willingness to learn. There are so many things that I had never done before taking on this new endeavor., but having the tenacity to keep trying, to be willing to mess up but always open to learn from others is huge. My youngest daughter recently said to me that in business you start to realize that there are a lot of people who don’t really know what they are doing and that was huge. I really have learned so much from my girls, they have both worked really hard and have taken on jobs that were outside of their scope of knowledge, but they just learned how to do it. I thought everyone knew more than I did, only to learn that they didn’t necessarily know more, it was just that we all knew something different.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to learn that mistakes or missteps aren’t always bad, it sometimes means that you are putting yourself out there and are willing to try. Taking on something that is beyond what I understand is still scary sometimes, even at 55 but through this experience I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I give myself credit for and that things won’t change if we don’t have the willingness to change them. So many times, people have cautioned me about doing things because they are going to be really hard, but life can be hard. It’s really cool when you do something that you never envisioned yourself accomplishing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bayareacali.roomredux.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roomreduxcali/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roomreduxcali
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/room-redux-california/
- Yelp: @roomreduxbayarea9130
- Other: TikTok: @roomreduxbayarea
Image Credits
June Bassard and Scott Capen Photography