Meet Our New Director of Human Resources at Sojourner House At Sojourner House, we are thrilled to welcome Gretchen Howard as our new Director of Human Resources. Gretchen brings a wealth of experience, a passion for supporting individuals and communities, and a dedication to advancing Sojourner House’s mission to support mothers, children and families in recovery. Here’s a chance to get to know her better: Professional Background What drew you to Sojourner House? Gretchen was inspired by Sojourner House’s deep commitment to providing holistic support, particularly for individuals affected by domestic violence. “The organization’s values, its emphasis on community empowerment, and its focus on making a meaningful difference aligned perfectly with … [Read more...] about Welcome Gretchen Howard!
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Celebrating Community and Connection in Recovery At Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS, community and sisterhood are everything. These values shone brightly at our recent Sista to Sista Picnic. Mothers and children came together to celebrate their recovery journeys, build connections, and strengthen the bonds that help them heal. A Day of Joy, Connection, and Empowerment On a warm summer day, our families gathered for an afternoon of fun, relaxation, and connection. The Sista-to-Sista Picnic was more than just a casual event; it celebrated the strength, resilience, and unity that drives recovery. Children enjoyed frozen T-shirts, water balloons and playful games. Meanwhile, mothers engaged in group activities and shared heartfelt conversations. The air was filled with … [Read more...] about Sista to Sista Picnic: A Sojourner House Tradition
On a damp and rainy Wednesday morning, something remarkable unfolded. Nearly fifty people, including more than a dozen members of the clergy gathered to pray for the families, programs, and facilities of Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS. The Day of Prayer has been a long-held vision of Executive Director De’netta Benjamin-Miller, who, since her arrival at Sojourner House five years ago, has seen the unwavering support of numerous faith-based organizations. "When I realized how many faith-based organizations support us and our mission, I started to think about how we can get everyone together to give us the one resource that’s more valuable than money: prayer," she shared. Members of the clergy, representing multiple denominations and faiths, shared blessings, prayers, … [Read more...] about Uniting in Prayer: Sojourner House’s Inaugural Day of Prayer
Sojourner House recently welcomed Kristen Nuss to the staff in the newly created role of Advancement Communications Manager. Working with the advancement team, she will focus on bring the Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS story to the community to inspire more people to get involved. We recently sat down with Kristen to learn more about her and what motivates her in her new role. What attracted you to the role at Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS? What unique attributes do you bring to the team? What is the most adventurous thing you’ve done? What professional background history would you like to share? What do you love to do in your free time? What inspires you at work or personally? Do you have a motto, personal mantra or words to live by? … [Read more...] about Meet Kristen Nuss
Barbara Jones has been a Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) at Sojourner House for 15 years. Her commitment to the women and families at Sojourner House comes directly from her life experiences as the child of an alcoholic, her 28 years of sobriety, and decades of service in the mental health field. As an RSS, Barbara provides residents in recovery and their children with supportive services - including education and guidance during daily activities - while looking out for their safety. She previously spent 42 years working at Western Psychiatric Hospital. During 10 of those years, she worked at Sojourner House simultaneously. Though technically a retiree, Barbara intends to continue at Sojourner House. She believes that she was divinely led to our organization. We talked with … [Read more...] about An Interview With Barbara Jones
Cydney Anderson has been the Child Care Specialist for the families of Sojourner House since 2018. She was studying elementary education at CCAC when she learned about the role, and she has been here ever since. While the moms of Sojourner House work and grow in their recovery journeys, Cydney and their kids have fun and grow, too. We recently sat down with Cydney to hear about her role in her own words: With about how many kids do you work? Right now I have about three. On average, I tend to have about six. At one time it was about 12 of all age groups, from age 1 up to 12 years old. In a room full of children there is no such thing as a typical day, but what does your day “normally” look like? So I get everyone in the [child care] room and we say our good mornings. And then I ask … [Read more...] about An Interview With Cydney Anderson