Around the Network: Meet Desiree Brown

Published on July 28, 2026

Desiree Brown, Mobility Mentor, Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia

What do you do day-to-day at Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia?

I serve single mothers by walking with them on their journey from living in survival mode to thriving. I support them by listening and letting them know that I see them, they have value, and they matter. I give encouragement, provide guidance, and operate with a holistic approach towards each participant.

I meet with each participant and partner with them to develop goals that align with their values and desires for their families. I document my interactions with each participant and highlight their strengths while also discussing opportunities for growth. I also collaborate with community partners to build a network of resources for the participants.

I continue to stay open to learning and growing in order to serve the participants in a meaningful and impactful way.

What do you love about your city/community?

I am grateful to be part of a community that cares about not just some people, but all people. While we are all from many different cultures and have different lived experiences, we all come together to serve. Hearing different insights and perspectives is important to our continued growth. We come together to celebrate, and we are there for each other in times of need.

I am grateful for the many opportunities within my community to collaborate and learn from others through professional development or talking with my colleagues.

I enjoy being in a city that has a plethora of places to go like the beach, parks, and nature trails. This gives me the space to enjoy the outdoors and reflect on the many blessings from God.

Why is it important to serve your community and neighbors in need?

Because that is what God requires of me. In the Bible, we are told to love each other, and then Jesus models acts of love in practical ways.

Although we come from various cultures and backgrounds, we are all human. We all have feelings, needs, desires, concerns, and wants. We were created to be a help to one another, and I believe that we are our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives; it is not good for us to be isolated. People need to know that someone cares about them and sees them.

Micah 6:8 (NLT) says, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Tell us about a formative experience you had as a young person that affected your perspective on service.

I learned about service from my family and my church community. My church collected and gave out clothes to our neighbors in the community. My church also welcomed anyone in and treated everyone with respect and kindness.

My family often helped others in need, whether they were family members, friends, or strangers. When a family member and their family needed a temporary place to stay, our house was their safe space. I saw serviced modeled in my home and community.

My own view of service is providing meaningful and impactful help to others. That does not mean everything is going to be fixed; however, listening attentively can be an act of service. Often in our fast-paced and individualistic society, we do not take the time or make the effort to listen attentively to one another

Who or what inspires you and why?

My mother inspires me because she is a woman who lives out her faith, both in the home and in the community. My mother is one of those people who has never met a stranger. She is calm, demonstrates love, and extends grace.

I was a teenage mother, and instead of shaming me or treating me harshly, my mother loved me. It was a hard time in my life, and she never turned her back on me. We had a lot of ups and downs, yet she demonstrated and modeled for me how God loves us.

One of the highest compliments I can receive is for someone to say that I remind them of my mother, because then I know that God’s light is shining through me.

What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you try to live by?

My desire is to live my life each day in a way that pleases God. I know that I am a recipient of His daily grace, and I strive to extend grace to others. I often remind myself to give others the same grace that I would want and need.

Gratitude is another daily practice I work to maintain and share. Count your blessings and name them one by one was the lyric in a song I often heard sung in my church. As a child, I did not understand what that meant; however, I now understand how gratitude can shift your perspective.

I also strive to lead with love. What that means to me is that every interaction I have, I want it to be filtered through the love of Christ.