Board Spotlight: Brooke Barrett
Introducing Brooke Barrett
Please get to know our new Board Chair, Brooke Barrett! From volunteering on build sites as a middle schooler to leading our Board of Directors, this lifelong Franklin resident has grown alongside Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury. Now serving as Board Chair and working as the Legislative Director for Jigsaw, she brings a deep personal commitment and strategic insight to our mission. We caught up with her to talk about her journey with Habitat, the power of home, and what motivates her to keep giving back to the community she’s always called home.
Employer and title: Legislative Director for Jigsaw
Q: How long have you been involved with HFHWM, and how has your involvement evolved?
A: “I have been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity since I was in middle school. I used to help with builds, painting, and whatever I could do to help, and now I am fortunate enough to help make important decisions about the future of the organization.”
Q: Do you serve on any HFHWM committees?
A: “Yes, I serve on the homeowner services committee and I love it!”
Q: What do you believe sets Habitat for Humanity apart from other nonprofits?
A: “Habitat for Humanity is changing communities one family at a time. The impact we have as an organization is significant; we start with small habitats that make a big difference for so many. Not many organizations start at such a personal level, and that is what makes us different.”
Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your time volunteering on a Habitat build?
A: “I was fortunate enough to be in a position to hand over the keys to a new homeowner, and that was a powerful moment. The joy in her eyes is something I will never forget. Homeowners work very hard to get to that point, and I could see all the work and effort paying off for her in that moment.”
Q: What motivates you to stay involved with Habitat and other organizations in our community?
A: “I am a Franklin native, I have been part of the Franklin community my entire life, so giving back to this community that has given me so much seems like the right thing to do.”
Q: What message would you share with someone considering volunteering or donating to Habitat?
A: “Volunteering with Habitat is giving to something much bigger than yourself, find the time to make a difference in your community.”