Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Johnson.
Brittany, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was pregnant with my son, I found out that he was going to have some medical complexities when he was born. Long story short, I found out that I actually have a genetic condition and it has been passed on to my son. I didn’t have many friends who also had kids, let alone any with medical complexities, and I just generally felt very alone, so I started a discord server (a group chat) and started adding moms I knew and allowed them to add their friends too. We started hosting virtual events and that turned into in person events, like going on walks, checking out local events, throwing our own events, or taking our kids to the park. Throughout the early postpartum stage, my son was in the NICU for 3 months and the group chat truly helped me survive. I decided that I wanted to give back and give that feeling to other moms and families, so I looked to transform our little mom group into a nonprofit organization. Our organization focuses on bringing the village back to life by involving all community members, whether they have kids or not. I think it’s so easy to forget that we all rely on one another and not everyone has to be in the same life stage as you in order to help you with where you are at. We invite everyone who wishes to support families and moms because I truly believe that when we support families, we make the world a better place.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not smooth at ALL. I like to say “we don’t know what we don’t know” because there are so many things in this life that you can only learn through experience. I’ve had to call on many friends and community members to give me advice and guidance on where we go from here or what programs are going to be beneficial or how do I bring a grand idea to life. On top of it all, I am a first time mom with a son with constant doctor appointments, undergoing treatment that has only been done in Texas one other time, breastfeeding (which is a whole thing), and struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety on top of going back to work at my full time job. I struggle with biting off more than I can chew because i generally feel better when I have a project, but sometimes I burn out and I realize that I’ve been neglecting taking care of myself, which makes it harder to get things done, that’s why I’ve really relied on the women in The Village to pick up where I cannot.
We’ve been impressed with Family Village Group Foundation, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Family Village Group Foundation was created because I saw a need for something many of us are missing… a village. What started as a small local mom group has grown into a nonprofit focused on helping people build meaningful connections, find support, and create a sense of belonging within their community.
One of the things that’s most important to me is that we recognize that family means something different to everyone. Family can be parents, grandparents, siblings, caregivers, close friends, neighbors, or the people who choose to show up for you when you need them most. You do not have to be a mom, a parent, or even have children to be part of our community. If you’re looking for connection, support, and a place to belong, there’s a seat for you in our village.
As a mother of a child with medical complexities, I know firsthand how life changing community can be during both the happy and hard seasons of life. That experience has shaped the heart of our organization. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces where people can build genuine relationships, access resources, support one another, and know they are not alone.
What I’m most proud of is seeing people come together and form real friendships and support systems. At the end of the day, our mission is simple: to strengthen communities by helping people find their village, because everyone deserves to feel connected, supported, and valued.
On top of our events programs and group chat program, we have recently launched a sort of “library of things” program for items that people may need occasionally or temporarily , but don’t necessarily need to own. Babies outgrow baby gear so quickly and it is all so expensive, which is why we started this idea. We also accept party supplies, cleaning tools, and other family oriented items that people are looking for.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have truly had to learn that I can’t do it all alone and I have to relinquish control in order to accept help! That’s what a village is all about really. As a control freak, I love to manage projects and bring things to fruition, but I spread myself way too thin at times. I also struggle with asking for help because I have been burned in the past, but becoming a mother has made me stronger, yet softer, and I know that I need to be vulnerable and call a friend occasionally when I need help. That’s why I’m so grateful for my Board of Directors and the volunteers in our community. They are genuinely amazing human beings who want to support families and they support me and my family daily.
Pricing:
- Some events are ticketed and pricing varies, but we like to keep things affordable
- We are donation based at this time, but will be launching an affordable membership tier down the line
Contact Info:
- Website: The-village-group.my.canva.site
- Instagram: @family.village.group
