Brittany: A Life Forever Changed

Beaten. Homeless. Jobless. Alone.

This is the state of women who appear on the doorstep of Buckner Family Place looking for help. Buckner is a faith-based transitional living facility that helps single mothers who have been the victim of domestic violence, homelessness, or poverty, and often all three. Women can live with their children in one of their 16 apartment style units with a monthly stipend, but in exchange they must attend school and work towards a degree. The program at Buckner is one of self-sufficiency, helping these women learn how to provide for themselves and their families.

That’s where The Junior League of Midland, Inc. comes into the picture. With the Suits With Skills program, these ladies are provided with invaluable education about necessary skills that can help them get back on their feet and into the job market.

For example, Brittany has been living at Buckner with her four children since December of 2014. Her story starts back in 1999 when she met the man that would become her husband.

She was a young bride, and he was the father of her first child, Alaya, in 2005. Unfortunately he passed away in 2006 from a pulmonary embolism, although Brittany says that if it weren’t for that, they would still be married today. It was around this time that Brittany got involved in the seedy world of dealing and using narcotics. That was her way of life and her income, and it was after her husband died that she went to prison for the first time.

After she got out of prison and after she had another child, Alajah-ray, with a man who has no communication with them, she decided that she needed to change. That’s when God really started to play a part in her life.

“I really started to pull back out of that life,” she says, “but before I knew it, though, I got indicted for selling drugs previously.” She continues, “I had a moment with God on my porch. I had a moment when I was really broken. I couldn’t believe I was going to prison again. I had two girls, and I was really overwhelmed and I did break down and I did pray to God and I asked him to show mercy on me, and He told me, ‘Just sit back and watch.’”

She went to prison, this time for 57 months, and she had her third child and her first son, Jordan, while she was in prison. She only got to hold him for 90 days before she was forced to release him to the care of her mother.

“I did get out a little early, about 15 months earlier than I was supposed to get out,” she says, and after she was released from prison, she came to find that her three children that had been living with her mother were suffering from abuse.

“My children were going through abuse, they were facing measures that they shouldn’t have been going through. I was able to step in at a time that they needed me the most, that’s when I came home.” When she got out this time, she says that she was still caught up in the same lifestyle a little bit, and that’s when she got pregnant with her youngest child, Julius. She says, “I came back out to West Texas, and I would say that that’s when my transition started.” She was five months pregnant with Julius when her decision was made.

“I just needed to give my life to God and completely devote myself to that change,” she explained.

Rebecca Patterson, 2014-2015 Suits with Skills Buckner Chairmen

This article first appeared in The Junior League of Midland, Inc.'s monthly publication, "Tumbleweed." Read the entire issue here->

An Open Letter to Junior League Husbands and Dads

Dear Junior League Husbands and Dads,

This Father’s Day, we wanted to say a few words. Especially to you.

We know you are often the unsung heroes of our organization. But we value your contributions – big and small. And we wanted to say thank you…

Thank you, for showing up.

From Buckshot Bash to the Clay Shoot, the Rummage Sale to Face The Race - you show up. You run. You move signs. You give out tickets. You compliment. You set up. You take down. You two-step. You shop. You laugh. You bring the kids. You bring us lunch. You come out for so, so many special events and we thank you.

Thank you, for Tuesday nights.

We know we have a lot of meetings. On Tuesday nights…and lots of other times. Those nights, you take the lead at home - on dinners, dog walks, and even bedtime routines. You never complain. You always support us, as we faithfully attend. And we appreciate it more than you know.

Thank you, for listening.

We come home excited. To say the least. You listen to our endless ramblings about the amazing goal setting session we had with our committee or the wonderful speaker who shared at the General Meeting. Junior League is about learning. Each of us is learning to be a leader, and learning about our community. We have a lot to think about, dream about, and process. Thank you for being a listener and helping us think through the next great idea.

Thank you, for cheering us on.

When we sit together with friends, and you brag about how hard we have worked or the impact our placement had... When you go to your company, and ask them to support the League as a sponsor of a special event… When you tell a female co-worker, “The Junior League is awesome – you should join, too…” It means a lot to us to be bragged on. You are our greatest cheerleaders, and your vote of confidence means the world to us.

Our vision in The Junior League of Midland, Inc. is to “Hand in Hand, We Build a better Midland.” Well, not to sound cheesy – but that starts in our homes. And that starts with you. Thank you for being an important part of this work.

Happy Father’s Day. We love you.

"The Junior League has taught me so much..." Karmen Hendrix Bryant, Sustainer of the Year

         Karmen Hendrix Bryant is The Junior League of Midland, Inc.’s Sustainer of the Year.

         “It is a true honor to be thought of so highly by such an esteemed group of peers. The Junior League has taught me so much, not only about the importance of philanthropy but also the skills and confidence I would need to work in our amazing community. I am blessed to stand on the shoulders of giants and only hope to serve them well,” Bryant said.

         Karmen was born and raised in Midland and graduated from Midland High School in 1994. Three years later, she graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Journalism (Advertising/Public Relations). After working for the Austin-American Statesman and Fox Television in Austin, Texas, she returned home in 1999 to work at her family’s business, John H. Hendrix Corporation. She is happily married to Billy Bryant and they have one Yorkie, Bella (10).

         She currently serves as Board President of the Arts Council of Midland, the League of Women Voters of Midland and Midland Community Theater. She is the Past-President of Bynum School, Junior Achievement, The Junior League of Midland, Inc., the Midland Panhellenic Association, Mission Adult Day Care, the Museum of the Southwest and Safe Place.

                  She is the incoming President for Casa de Amigos and serves on the Boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Basin PBS, City of Midland Hotel/Motel Tax Advisory, Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, Manor Park, Midland College Alumni Association, MOSC, the Nonprofit Management Center, Prevent Blindness Texas and the United Way. She is also serving on the Capital Campaign committees for Centers for Families and Children (chair), MARC and the Museum of the Southwest (co-chair).

Allison Tull, Reporter

Embodying Volunteerism: Ashley Boren, 2015 Betty Whitmire Sumner Award Recipient

Volunteers are a precious commodity around the Permian Basin and Ashley Boren is one of the outstanding leaders and volunteers in our community. With busy lives of being the carpool mom, running kids to practices, making dinner and helping kids with homework, volunteering your time can be hard to do.  However, Ashley embodies the idea of volunteerism through her selfless giving of her wisdom, experiences, time and money.  She has led by example over the past eleven years through her charity works with The Junior League of Midland, Inc.  Ashley has made it her mission to train others and develop them into great volunteers in our community.  She gives back to the community and improves the Midland area. 

During her past eleven years being an active Junior League member, Ashley has served eight of those years in a Leadership role and served five dedicated years to the Board.  She has also served on numerous boards and non-profits in the area such as American Cancer Society, PTA, Teen Court, Museum of the Southwest and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few.   Ashley encourages others to get involved in volunteering and I was a recipient of her encouragement.  Ashley recruited me to serve on another non-profit. Encouraging other women to volunteer and have an influence on others is what Ashley feels is important.  She also walks the walk by having her family see her volunteer and give back to the community so they will do the same as they grow up and understand the importance of contributing to society. Her husband Chris, Michael-14, Riley-10 and Preston-8 each support Ashley in everything she does. 

Ashley loves meeting new people and getting them involved in volunteering. I have always said the definition of success is not climbing the corporate ladder, your net worth or your job title, but rather it is making a positive impact on someone’s life.  When you spend your precious time away from your kids, their activities and your husband and are not getting paid, you have to be passionate about your volunteer time.  Ashley does not come up short when it comes to donating her time to volunteering.  The only compensation she needs is the reward she receives from working hard to make a difference and improving others’ lives.

Ashley Boren deserves recognition for her outstanding leadership, developing the potential of women, promoting volunteerism and dedication to JLM and the community.  Ashley would tell you to go out and be a volunteer in our community and make a difference.  Volunteering has great benefits to you and your family.  Potentially, it could help connect you to others, introduce you to new friends, and teach you about the resources that surround you and possibly even help you develop new skills.

Written by: April Marshall

The 2014-2015 Hand in Hand Award

The Hand in Hand Award

The Hand in Hand Award is given to one Active member of The Junior League of Midland, Inc. who “through the spirit of commitment to the standards, ideals, and purpose of the Junior League has contributed in an outstanding manner.” The focus of this recognition is for a member who has gone above and beyond in her League duties for the current fiscal year.

The winner of the 18^th annual Hand in Hand Award for the Junior League of Midland is Jessica Louder. Jessica chaired Volunteers in Midland, a new community project this year. With only a template to go by, Mrs. Louder created a program that will serve the Midland community for many years to come. Jessica has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this new program. She led her committee through designing an application process that would allow for area nonprofits to apply for our volunteers. The committee established guidelines on how to accept partnerships with other nonprofits using our needs as a League and our focus area. The first year of any project is difficult, but this one was especially so because the program not only impacted the members on her committee, but also every Active member of our League as we were all required to give four hours of volunteer time through the program. Jessica graciously explained the program’s intentions over and over again to anyone who needed help or reassurance. She is a self-assured leader who works to make sure everyone feels treasured and involved. She worked hard to make sure that dozens of opportunities were made available for volunteering so that every member’s needs would be met.

Jessica not only did an amazing job on Volunteers in Midland this year, but she also gave her time this past summer as a volunteer for Journey Summer Camp. When I expressed the need for extra volunteers because the committee was running low on members, Jessica volunteered to participate. She and I did a full day training session at Rays of Hope and then we volunteered along with the committee for an entire week. The commitment was an extra 30 hours above and beyond our placements. I was so proud of Jessica for agreeing to help not only the Journey Camp Committee, but also all of the children who attended the camp at Rays of Hope. What other member takes on a brand new community project and then volunteers for an additional placement? Jessica Louder is an extraordinary member that does that sort of thing!

Ashley Boren, Karmen Bryant, and Jessica Louder 2014-2015 Award Winners

-Michelle Dinger, President 2014-2015