When I started working for Bright Beginnings, my own children were ages 4 (almost 5!) and 2. I had many of the same parenting concerns you have, and remember finding myself at work surrounded by people who cared…. who were knowledgeable… who listened…. This brings us to today – many years later (with a few organizational name changes thrown in) where I am lucky to be the Director of this great organization composed of over 100 amazing, committed, caring, knowledgeable staff that support each other as well as the families we serve.
When I meet with new staff to learn more about them and talk about who we are at Bright Beginnings, I am amazed by how many of them joined our team because they, their family, or their friends and neighbors received services from us, and they wanted to work for such a great organization. They shared with me how the services helped them learn how to support their family, helped their child through a difficult time in their lives, helped their child thrive, or helped their grandchild, their niece or nephew or friend. These staff enter their work with a personal knowledge and passion for the work they do which is evident in the care and compassion they provide our families.
What else do I learn from my conversations with our new staff? Here are a few quotes:
“Everyone has been supportive and understanding. They not only check on your work, but they also check up on your well-being.”
“The supervisors are awesome! They listen and are knowledgeable.”
“There is generous time off, and my time with my family is respected.”
“The mentoring, support, and training were fantastic.”
“I feel wanted and appreciated. I feel like what I am doing is important.”
“I love how the culture is very collaborative and focuses on building partnerships.”
I invite you to look for job openings on our website and join us in working toward our vision: that all families have the knowledge, support, and resources to nurture their young children’s development and give them the best start in life.
Together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of children and families.
About the Author:
Karen Mintzer has worked at Bright Beginnings for over 30 years, providing services to expectant parents and families with young children. She became the Director of Bright Beginnings on January 1, 2016. In this role, she oversees all aspects of Bright Beginnings’ services and collaborates with others to promote high-quality early intervention, home visiting, child development, and parent support services throughout Cuyahoga County and Ohio.
Karen is dedicated to promoting family-centered services, ensuring that families with young children receive the support they need to help their child get a strong start in life. She also strongly supports partnerships with others in the community to address the tough issues facing young families and impacting their lives.
Karen and her husband have two adult children and four grandchildren, all of whom reside in Cuyahoga County.