Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Glisson.
Hi Brittany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Brittany Glisson accepted the role of Executive Director of the St. Gerard Campus in June of 2021. Twenty years earlier, she attended St. Gerard Campus as a seventeen-year-old mother-to-be. As she was attending a local high school, Brittany found out she was carrying what was to be her beautiful son Logan. She was apprehensive about telling her family, so she did what most teens do in these situations. She hid at her boyfriend’s home, anticipating a dreaded phone call from her parents. The decision was made to attend St. Gerard Campus. A Christian maternity home in her hometown gave her her child and her education. As she arrived at the school timid and unsure, she was welcomed by the sound of babies crying, girls talking, and the invitation into a mother’s world. Common to most new moms, the community of motherhood is necessary and welcomed. This was the place she never knew existed. Instead of the common stares of disbelief, there was laughter and acceptance. Staff and Volunteers are eager to help her develop as a student and a mother.
Over the next year, Brittany had her son, a 2lb angel who was welcomed two months prematurely. With Logan’s early delivery and multiple needs, she still managed to finish her schoolwork and drive daily to be with her son at the neonatal intensive care unit. Upon his release, Logan was brought home on both oxygen and an apnea monitor. Logan could never attend the onsite daycare facility per her doctors’ recommendations. So, Logan quickly became the class mascot. Brittany graduated with a bright future scholarship to become a nurse. With the help of her mother, Brittany began attending nursing classes at her local community college. Those following years were filled with trials and errors as a young woman struggling to find her identity and balance as a single parent. She often felt lost and overwhelmed. Her family life was strained, and the lack of support from her son’s biological father was a heavy weight to bear alone. An invitation to a local church sparked a desire in Brittany for the normalcy and stability she craved.
Later, she met her husband, now almost 18 years old, and raised her son as his own—even adopting him and giving him his name. They went on to have two more boys, Asher and Gavin. As she developed as a mother and a wife, Brittany began to understand the value of her testimony and the healing required for her past. She attended and now oversees a post-abortive recovery class at her home church. She has had the honor of seeing so many receive healing from their choice that imprisons so many years after. Brittany remained close to the foundress of St. Gerard Campus and the mission itself as a volunteer, mentor, and ambassador of the program. She was speaking at events and fundraisers. The year her final son began elementary school, she came on staff at St. Gerard Campus. Since accepting the role of Executive Director, she has overseen the campus’s much-needed renovation, has developed the RISE program at SGC now uses, and has plans to expand from 5 to 15 rooms shortly. She is developing a much-needed Male mentorship program, adding to the development and mentorship of the young fathers often overlooked in the pro-life movement. And this is just the beginning. Where God leads this ministry, it will go.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Challenges foster perseverance in our lives and ultimately serve as opportunities for growth. It is inherently difficult to enter an established program operating in a particular manner for an extended period and institute changes. However, we strategically decided to refocus our efforts, fortifying our maternity home and school environments to concentrate solely on our unique mission and the vulnerable demographic we serve. As a non-profit organization, one of our most significant challenges is sustainable giving and cultivating a donor base. It undoubtedly keeps one up at night. However, instilling a culture within our organization that fosters gratitude and an openness to community involvement has been a significant blessing.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Teen pregnancy is the leading cause of high school dropouts among teen girls. Less than 40% of girls who become pregnant in high school receive a diploma, severely limiting their opportunities. Many of our girls come from homes and environments that present many challenges. Faced with few options, St. Gerard Campus is a beacon of hope for these young girls. Helping these young girls complete their diplomas is only a tiny part of what we do. We can meet their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs in our Christ-centered environment. St. Gerard Campus is a fully accredited high school; our learning approach combines traditional and online classes tailored to each student’s needs. Our licensed residential program houses our students while they work towards their diplomas, creating a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for them and their children. The onsite, DCF-regulated daycare facility is available and accessible to all students during school hours. The daycare incorporates literacy development, crafts, and social skills in the curriculum for our students, babies, and toddlers.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any essential lessons or epiphanies you can share?
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown me the importance of resilience and highlighted the critical need for personal connections. It has become evident in my personal life and with our students and residents that they must engage daily to thrive truly.
Contact Info:
- Website: stgerardcampus.org
- Instagram: st.gerardsta
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/wehealweriseweovercome
