PASSION AND PROGRESS

Brooklin Yards

By Kevin Morin-Kensicki, Employment Counselor

Greetings StepUp Durham supporters and community!  I’d like to introduce you to one of our Step 2 participants, Brooklin Yards.  Besides the great name that induces visions of baseball in my mind, Brooklin is an energetic, enthusiastic, and tireless worker.  Brooklin came to StepUp because she wanted to volunteer. Due to a personal loss at the time, she thought she could benefit from StepUp’s services.  As Brooklin’s assigned employment counselor, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with her and learn more about her interests and what drives her.

When I first met Brooklin she expressed a strong desire to combine a belief she has with a passion. First, Brooklin is a strong believer in ownership.  In her words,

“Ownership is a vehicle to building wealth. It’s so important that our BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) community position itself for ownership.” 

This has been a driving force in establishing her own business. Brooklin then worked to combine that belief with something she was passionate about.

In talking with Brooklin, she stated she always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She just needed to identify what she was truly passionate about and turn it into a career. What she identified was traveling.  In her words,

“I love to travel! I love seeing the world, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures. I'm passionate about helping others do the same.”

Brooklin believes astute listening skills and attention to details are critical to success. She handles all travel needs and develops plans that ensure a successful travel experience for those who utilize her services.  Much like StepUp, Brooklin believes everyone walking through her door is important. She feels humbled, honored, and grateful for this recognition and wishes the same success for others, that she has experienced working with StepUp Durham.