Sharon Brisolara is an educator, writer, program evaluator, and Resilience and Equity Coach.She holds a masters in Human Service Administration and a PhD in Program Evaluation and Planning, with concentrations in Rural Sociology and Women’s Studies, both from Cornell University.
“We don't talk politics and we don't talk religion in our group ...Discussions about politics or religion are causing tremendous division in our country today. I don't understand why everything has to be divisive."
“I think you get to a stage in life where you think, what is my purpose in life? . . . I'm trying to figure that out; but I believe we all have a purpose. And I think mine is working with the community and giving back. I've been feeling that in my heart and it makes me happy. There is a reward to giving back.”
“You don't have to do something wild outside of yourself. You just have to do something that's comfortable for you to do. . . . If you see something that needs to be done, and you feel like you could maybe do something there, step in and see what happens. I’ll bet there's going to be folks around that will guide you along and you can probably learn, too.”
“Work in your circle but consider the impact of your actions for not only yourself but for generations to come . . . follow your passion, be respectful, learn as much as you can, and think as far forward as possible. You can find good in so many different places.”
"We have some people in this county trying to drag down the community . . . Others are working hard, very hard, to build it up. And those two factions are fighting against each other . . . You’ve got to find ways to compromise.”
“A better society, from my point of view, is a society that grows together. This is a little thing that gives us hope: the fact that we can come together, regardless of where we come from or our political ideas, and make something happen.”
“For me, community is when a group of individuals come together, regardless of differences, for a common goal…a greater good and try to do something. That could be my Mien community, my work community, or my community here in Shasta County.”