Today we’d like to introduce you to Caren Bright.
Caren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the 4th generation of poverty in my family. Due to the weight of poverty, I did not graduate from high school. I failed 9th twice and had a 6th-grade reading comprehension when I dropped out of school. I went out into the world at age 17 with limited education, very few skills, and low self-worth. By the time I was 21, I was living in a homeless shelter with my 11-month-old son, who took his first steps in that homeless shelter. We were homeless on-and-off for 2.5 years. I was stuck in the perpetual cycle of the challenges that come along with living in poverty on government assistance. I had no GED/education, which only allowed me to get minimal paying jobs; I had no transportation, which made it difficult to get to work; I did not have access to safe and affordable childcare, so I had no place to leave my son if/when I worked. I felt stuck living in a high-crime and low-income part of town. By God’s grace, I was able to move to Dallas, TX. Not long after arriving, some kind people saw in me things I did not see in myself. They directed me to the resources I needed to help me change the course of my family’s future. I got my GED and post-secondary education/certifications and counseling, which played a vital role in helping me develop new thought processes and coping skills that empowered me to discover my self-worth. I was able to witness a new style of parenting through my friends’ examples that allowed me to be the main teacher of my home. Through their love and support, I was able to develop my relationship with God. I was then able to recognize that what was recently done in my family was a blueprint for what it would take to help other families break the cycle of generational poverty as well. I then felt called to start a ministry. It has the same schedule as a school year and provides GED, ESL, financial literacy, counseling, optional Bible study, and college/job readiness for women (Bright Futures), along with free preschool education (kindergarten readiness) for their children ages 0-5 years old. We now serve up to 100 families per year.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. It has required overcoming many obstacles. Some of the struggles included not having family in Texas and feeling like a burden. Due to feeling this way, I often did not ask for help when I needed it. In addition, I had to leave my boys home alone regularly so I could go to school and work full-time. (Can you imagine having to leave your young children at home alone for extended periods of time?) Not having a car (as a result of my financial standing) led to longer travel times. I lived with limited sleep and lacking the needed time with my children. The climb out of poverty took 18 years. And, doing the hard work to overcome poverty, while still in poverty, made the process slower. Pressing on in the journey, along with my three children was not for the faint of heart. I reminded myself every day why I was doing what I was doing – so my children (and their children/future generations) could have a different life, and so we could all move forward in joy.
What else should our readers know?
Outside of Pamper Lake Highlands (a non-profit ministry designed to break generational poverty), I am an author (“50 Dates with the Lord” and “Bright Futures” empowerment curricula), and I own a consulting, training, and mediation company called Bright Futures.
Bright Futures offers consulting, training, and mediation for businesses, groups, and individuals. The Bright Futures curriculum and methods are based on Caren Bright’s personal journey to her own bright future.
I am most proud of being able to take my experiences and use them to empower others to live out their brightest future.
I am different from others because of my unique experiences. I lived through poverty and have come out changed on the other side.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments include serving the first client, publishing the first book, and watching the first woman break the cycle of poverty in her home.
Pricing:
- Book: “50 Dates with the Lord” — $20
- Consulting — Price is based on details of the job/proposal
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carenbright.com/
- Phone: 214-757-9253
- Email: caren@carenbright.com
- Instagram: carenlives
- Facebook: Caren Bright
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