Brookview House: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

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Speaking to Color Magazine the day after the Power of the Purse Luncheon and Symposium, a program to help fund and promote financial empowerment among low-income women, Brookview House director of development Mercedes Tompkins still sounds excited by the success of the event.

“There was an excellent turnout. A lot of local politicians and corporate leaders turned up to show their support and learn more about the program, which was fantastic,” she explained. “There were a lot of groups represented that we don’t usually have contact with, and that’s important in terms of getting our message out to people who haven’t heard it before.”

For those not familiar with the message of Brookview House, the mission statement for the independent, non-profit organization says it all: “Our mission is to help homeless and at risk families learn the skills necessary to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.”

“We really want to help women and children in need learn the skills they need to obtain financial security for their future,” Tompkins added. “It’s not just about finding them a cheap place to live; we take a much more comprehensive approach. For the women, that may mean anything from helping them learn about computer programming to coaching them on what to do in a job interview. We take the same approach to working with the children, many of who have been scarred by the uncertainty of life below the poverty line.

“Living just to survive takes a toll on anybody,” she said. “It’s only by giving them the opportunity and the skills they need to break out of that mindset that we can break the cycle of poverty in this country.”

And while she certainly is thankful for the attendees and sponsors who made the Power of the Purse event such a success, Tompkins wanted to make sure people reading about it here in Color Magazine knew that Brookview House still needs support from the community in a variety of ways.

“We’re always looking for people to donate their time, talent and resources,” she said. “Financial support is always welcome, but people who can share their knowledge and experience are just as important. And it doesn’t have to be working with the mothers or the children; we’re a small, volunteer organization so if somebody just wants to stop by and help out in the office, it will be just as appreciated.”

To learn more about Brookview House, visit brookviewhouse.org. To make a donation or volunteer, contact Mercedes Tompkins directly at [email protected].