Cover Story: 3 Alumni Profiles, pages 4 to 19
“When I first came here, I thought I was somewhere
that seemed fun, someplace that you’d really want to
be. There were a lot of kids here, and they got along
pretty well.”
Morrison may not be able to recall the difficulty he
had adjusting after he moved into Our House in 2008,
but he does know that “I was confused, but now I’m
really happy.”
At age 7, Morrison’s trouble dealing with his anger and
confusion about his situation often led to disruptions
in Our Club. He remembers lots of one-on-one time
with Mindy Shelby, Director of Youth Programs, and
Shelia Bradford, a frequent Our Club volunteer, who
both always recognized Morrison’s kind and gentle
personality hidden behind the angry outbursts. The
stability of Our House, the non-judgmental children
who lived with him in the Family House, and his mom’s
boyfriend, who is like a second dad, have helped
Morrison learn how to handle difficult feelings.
“
”
Now, at 11 years old, he has not only made it through
that rough time but has come away from it as an
amazing kid who is always thoughtful and supportive
of others. Last year during Our House’s summer youth
continued on page 16
Photo: Morrison & big brother Michael release some after-school
energy with flying somersaults on their backyard trampoline.