BraveWorks Blog

by Brave WorksAug 16, 20230 comments

Love Week with Elevation Church

In July, BraveWorks celebrated Love Week with our friends and partners at Elevation Church. Elevation hosts Love Week each July to empower their campuses to create opportunities for volunteers to lift up and love on their local communities through service, generosity, and support. At BraveWorks, we’ll never turn down an opportunity to shower our artisans with extra love and appreciation! BraveWorks staff and mentors joined Elevation volunteers, working together to create a Spa Day for the women we serve. Our ladies got the chance to indulge in facials, manicures, massages, and meditations. Typically, many of our artisans are busy fulfilling the role of wife and mother, assimilating (back) into society, and working with case managers to overcome deeply rooted trauma. Their schedules leave little time for...

empowerment healing transformation

by Brave WorksJul 10, 20230 comments

Nurtured by Nature

Dilworth artisans had the opportunity to tour Wing Haven, a local/historic treasure, founded in 1927 by Eddie and Elizabeth Clarkson whose purpose was to create a natural oasis. Basking in the warm sunlight, listening to birds chirping, and taking in the beauty of plants/flowers is therapeutic to the soul. Who...

by Brave WorksJun 22, 20230 comments

A Model's Perspective

A Model's Perspective "As an experienced runway and print model for the last 20 years, it was an amazing opportunity to combine my faith and modeling skills to assist such a wonderful mission. I was introduced to BraveWorks years ago through a ladies event at Church. Their table was full of...

by Brave WorksMay 19, 20230 comments

Vicki Finds Hope & Strength

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance….character…and hope." This excerpt from Romans 5 is embodied beautifully by Vicki, one of our BraveWorks artisans. Vicki’s mother struggled with being a single mom and raising kids while she herself was still a kid in so many ways. Vicki was...

by Brave WorksMay 15, 20230 comments

My experience as an intern at BraveWorks

My time at BraveWorks has really changed my life. I’ve met so many wonderful people, and working with the women here is amazing. Every artisan we see is someone wanting to make something better for themselves and their families. It’s amazing to hear their stories and see how determined they...

by Brave WorksApr 17, 20230 comments

Leslie & Her Volunteer Experience At BraveWorks

Happy National Volunteer Month! We are incredibly grateful for the 100+ volunteers that support our mission each and every day. Mentors, Board members, shop helpers, volunteer models, language coaches, lunch providers, event hosts, and more give their time consistently to help our artisans move from pain to purpose. ...

africa travel

by Brave WorksApr 03, 20231 comment

What I learned From "Mama" in Rwanda

So many trips start with an organized itinerary full of details that organizers have diligently coordinated. You think you know what you’re in for - day by day - who to meet, where to go, all nice and tidy. The fun really starts with all the things that aren’t on the itinerary....

by Brave WorksMar 02, 20230 comments

No Needless Sorrys

Graduation is a special time where we celebrate the accomplishments our artisans made while in our program. Whether they obtained employment, enrolled in college, gained job-readiness skills, or was provided a safe space to shift from pain to purpose, we celebrate! Many times, our team, mentors, volunteers offer encouraging words...

travel

by Beth BellFeb 20, 20233 comments

Travel Diary By Beth

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10 I’m a 7 on the Enneagram (which means in my mind there’s no point in...

by Brave WorksJan 15, 20230 comments

Grace Forgotten or Grace Extended

Sometimes we look at our world and think it is nothing but chaos, brokenness, bitterness, tremendous hurt and pain. We wonder if grace and graciousness have been forgotten. But stop, look and listen. There are places where grace is not forgotten but rather extended in mighty ways. One of those...

uganda

by Brave WorksDec 15, 20220 comments

Natural & Organic Tablescape

About 4 months ago, I got a part time job at an amazing nonprofit organization here in Charlotte North Carolina called Braveworks. I am so grateful for my new role and so grateful that I can continue my design business, just more in a freelance role.I got the privilege to...

by Brave WorksNov 08, 20220 comments

BraveWorks' 10 Year Anniversary Nov. 2022

When I was 8 or 9, I recall gazing through the window of our two-family home on our tree-lined street near Boston. I considered why was I born in this beautiful neighborhood and not in “Africa”. In my young mind, thanks to media images of war and famine, “Africa” was the epitome...

by Rachel KangJun 23, 20200 comments

The Heartbeat of Our Purpose

If you peeled back the layers behind the beads on our bracelets, you’d find the heartbeat of our purpose, right down to the brass. You’d find the words of our mission statement to be more than lovely sayings or hopeful sentiments; you’d find that they are the embodiment of racial reconciliation—the...

by Beth BellJun 16, 20201 comment

Injustice & Healing in Uganda

It was one of those God moments. I happened to be drawn into the little shop in Mbale by a few colorful bracelets, haphazardly thrown into a case amidst a lot of crafts and souvenirs that you’d easily walk right past. But these bracelets were unique and beautiful, and I...

by The Fashion & Compassion TeamJun 04, 20200 comments

We Stand Together

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” ~ Colossians 3: 13-14 Our hearts are heavy. So much pain, so much...

by Emily AdkissonMay 19, 20204 comments

Silver Linings

“I was looking forward to being able to celebrate my daughter’s birthday with her for the first time in 5 years. She’s my motivation, my everything. Everything I do is for her.”