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Expansion and Purpose: The Need for our Work is Greater Than Ever

by | Jan 8, 2024 | BLOG | 0 comments

Expansion and Purpose:
The Need for our Work is Greater Than Ever

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

As we close out 2023, we want to share our extreme gratitude for the brave families we get to serve, the growing amount of supporters we have in Colorado and beyond, our generous sponsors, the fantastic resources we get to recommend to our clients, our amazing volunteers, and our passionate board of directors. It takes all of us to “defend bullied children and help rebuild lives” and we appreciate each and every one of you.

Our guiding word for 2023 was “expansion.” This simple word was threaded into everything that BRRC was able to accomplish this year. Some highlights include:

  • We served over 100 new families in 2023.
  • With the help of volunteers, BRRC expanded our community outreach to over 30 new pediatric offices, mental health offices and crisis centers in Colorado.
  • BRRC partnered with the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation program Impact Denver on a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) project. The professionals on the BRRC Impact Denver team successfully identified 35 organizations that serve Coloradans in the refugee/immigrant, disabled, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income and rural communities. It is our hope to partner with these organizations to better serve those in underserved communities.
  • A database was created and launched to assist our advocates with in-taking our clients and collecting all pertinent information to better serve our families.
  • BRRC trained three new volunteer advocates this past year including our first bi-lingual advocate.
  • BRRC collaborated with organizations serving the neurodiverse, mental health and parent communities to provide education and resources for parents and professionals.

BRRC is looking forward to 2024 and the continued need for expansion and solidifying our purpose of serving families impacted by bullying. Children who are deeply impacted by bullying need caregivers who can offer the support, guidance and stamina to walk through the trauma that bullying can create. BRRC offers the support, advocacy and education to the caregivers which in turn greatly helps the child feel cared for and not alone. Our most important marker is to reduce the amount suicides of youth in Colorado.

Our 2024 goals are lofty. Here are a few of them:

  • BRRC will bring on one to two interns to research current state bullying laws across the US to determine if they have had an impact on reducing bullying. Our goal is to eventually help create effective state legislation that will make it beneficial for schools and districts to identify and stop bullying.
  • BRRC plans to partner with the identified DEI organizations from the Impact Denver team to better serve underserved Coloradans.
  • We will be creating education for parents of students K-8 to understand and stop bullying. We know knowledge is key and we feel that providing caretakers with support and education will help as a prevention tool.
  • BRRC will continue to onboard new advocates and continue with our statewide outreach program to grow community partners and better serve families.

The road forward for us is rutted and rocky and needs to be traveled. We are dedicated to reducing the trauma bullying can create and we couldn’t do it without the support, generosity and kindness of so many people. Thank you for being part of the BRRC tribe. On behalf of all of our families and team BRRC, we wish you a wonderful, safe and peaceful 2024.

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