Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Rivers.
Hi Pauline, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Dr. Pauline Rivers, and I am the founder and president of Building Strong Families, Inc. I am committed to helping people (individuals, teams, and families) be great at what they do. I believe every family, like every individual, has the potential for greatness. I believe every family has the potential to be a strong, supportive, cohesive unit. Sometimes what they need is simply the information, the resources, the strategies, and the encouragement. And so, in 2014, Building Strong Families, Inc., was launched with the vision of “strengthening families to help them be great.”
We recognize that many nonprofits have a similar vision to strengthen families, and those organizations provide wonderful services to meet the very tangible needs of families. We desire to come alongside to support families with practical tools, resources, strategies, and services that address the issues that impact the entire family. And so, we provide conferences, seminars, and support groups that focus on families’ physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or spiritual needs.
We started by providing a seminar and workshop specifically for women. In response to their feedback (i.e., can you provide something for the men, will you provide something for our children), we expanded the scope of our programs.
Annually we now offer the Healing Emotional Wounds Seminar for Women, the Men of Courage Seminar, and the Strategies for Success: Workshops for Youth (focusing on employability skills), all at no cost to participants. We also host the Women of Worth Conference and the Relationship Enrichment Seminar (for married, engaged, and committed couples) at a very nominal fee. We also facilitate a women-only support group, “Time with My Sisters,” and a support group for men, “Hanging with the Fellas.”
Once the COVID 19 pandemic hit in 2020, like much of the world, we had to shift our focus to virtual programming and were able to continue serving families through ZOOM webinars. We recognized an increased emphasis on mental and emotional health, so we collaborated with licensed mental health professionals to provide webinars on topics such as emotional and mental health wellness, mental health issues in the family, recovering from trauma, and domestic violence awareness. In 2021, following CDC guidelines for group gatherings, we could safely host an in-person heart health seminar. And most recently, we were able to host an in-person estate planning workshop, collaborating with a local attorney to provide strategies for getting our legal and financial affairs in order.
We have a big vision and a big dream and realize that it takes a village and that we can accomplish more by working together. And so, we have started to build relationships with other organizations and nonprofits that share a similar vision to serve the whole family. We are continually striving to bring our vision and mission to life, reach more families, impact more lives, expand our scope, and stay relevant and current in our offerings.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
As a small nonprofit, I think our biggest challenge and obstacle is visibility, getting people to know who we are, and the great work we do for families. A related challenge, of course, is funding. But even though we don’t “yet” have major financial sponsors or champions, we are so blessed that we are still able to provide our services with excellence, and somehow we have not only survived but thrived since our 2014 inception. And our third challenge is simply being able to reach all generations. Although we are serving the teens and early college group through our “Strategies for Success: Workshops for Youth” program, we have not “yet” seen large numbers of millennials attending our programs. But we are tenacious, and we are committed, and currently, we are actively seeking to collaborate with a community group comprised mostly of millennials. Our heart and we desire to serve the entire family and every generation represented within a family. We believe we will find a way to overcome every obstacle.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Many years ago, I saw a poster that read, “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are meant for.” And so, to grow, I recognize that we need to launch out, move beyond what feels comfortable and safe, and take risks. I understand that and believe that. I believe there is a difference between taking a risk and being reckless. And so, I take “calculated” risks. I am cautious, deliberate, and planful in my decision-making and perhaps slower to take risks than some may be comfortable with. Yet, I am a cautious risk-taker in the spirit of authenticity and transparency. I test the depth before diving in.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.buildingstrongfamiliesofflorida.com
- Facebook: @Building Strong Families of Florida, Inc
Image Credits
Claude Reginald Rivers
