YWCA Women of Excellence: Brie Engelken Parks

What inspires you?

I'm always inspired by people. I am inspired by their struggles and by the adversity they have worked to overcome. I'm inspired by the selflessness of individuals who go out into our community and work ruthlessly in pursuit to do better by those people have and continue to face everyday struggles like where their meal is coming from, having to choose between a paycheck or having someone to care for their children, having to make unfathomable choices to protect their families. It's in the stories of these individuals, and it in the work of these helpers that I find inspiration.

What advice do you have for others?

If I were talking to myself 13 years ago when I graduated college I think I would have told myself what many of my mentors have shared with me - to find something you are passionate about and to surround yourself with great people who have different experiences, beliefs and mindsets than your own because when you do this you open your mind to broader ideas. You learn more and ultimately you achieve more.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned on your journey?

I think the think that I really struggled with for years was coming to the realization that I could not be everything to everyone. Further yet - I had to learn to trust the process of figuring out what I could do - what I could be. And for my process that was saying yes to a lot of the wrong opportunities in order to find out what ignited a passion. Once I figured that out, I was able to focus in on the RIGHT opportunities that were personally fulfilling but also allowed me to be more effective at making a difference.

What does your vision for our community look like?

When I moved to Topeka, years ago, I was attracted to our community's potential and everyone I met made this town feel like home. That feeling of home is what shapes my vision for our community - to be a place people want to be. A place where they can live, work and play. But what does that mean? It means having a stable and safe community that not only embraces and welcomes ALL people from ALL walks of life but supports them but a place that people are proud to call home. Going deeper that means it's a community that provides and retains a diverse range of jobs, education, and entertainment. It means the people who want to make this their home have access to those jobs and have access to an affordable place to live - be that housing, education, healthcare, food, childcare or transportation. It also means it's an attractive place to operate a business. Today, we are closer than ever to that vision but we can never become complacent in working toward this vision for that's when we can allow the progress we've made slip away.

What does "Equal - Powerful - Unstoppable" mean to you?

MAKE THIS A MANTRA (I just bought the shirt!)!! We are ALL equal and alone we are powerful but together we are unstoppable.