Her Story
About Brittany
Brittany Tucker is the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Coordinator at the Housing Authority of Paducah in Paducah, Kentucky, where she has served for two and a half years under a HUD grant. She assists residents in becoming self-sufficient by offering tailored resources, helping them establish and meet personal goals, and walking alongside them on their journeys. Tucker also plans community events and activities, acts as a liaison with community partners, and incorporates her lived experience along with the protective factors framework for strengthening families. Prior to this position, she spent eight years at a local senior center performing similar work and four years at a prepaid wireless store. She recently earned her Professional Service Coordinator designation through the American Association of Service Coordinators in the Ohio State University Geriatric Department. Before the pandemic, she chaired the Purchase Area Elder Abuse Prevention Council for three years, focusing on education and prevention resources for older adults. Tucker volunteers as a table host for Provider Enrichment Services in Western Kentucky, supporting parent cafes and youth cafes that provide spaces for open dialogue.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brittany
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be patient and meet people where they're at. Not where we want them to be, where we think that they need to be. Sometimes that is going outside and talking to someone while you're taking a walk around, just so that they don't feel so enclosed and judged. It could be making sure that you're thinking of every barrier that a person has to go through. Hosting an event is great, but making sure like okay well you know what about transportation? What about this? What about that? Even when it comes to the one-on-one calls and conversations I have with them in person, taking away the expectations and what I've heard about them, just like getting to know them as a person has been really nice. And I highly recommend that because the interaction that you have with someone may be different than the interaction that I've had with someone and it's not fair for me to base my everything that I know on something that may or may not even be true for me. Just so you know unclear their expectations. But other than that just meet people where they are and an open mind.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There's always challenges in anything that you do. Personally I have found that I struggle with other wanting everybody to like me. And I know that's not realistic and I know that other people's perception of me is not my business but sometimes where I feel like I and this is a 100% me problem but I go to work and I go above and beyond in hopes that other people will see and they will whenever I need help they will step in for me and that is not always the case and it's fine you know it's whatever but I know I have that good group of people people that give me feedback and you know and what I ask them to do. But that's been the same way with every job I've had you know even at the Senior Center. For so long it was this not understanding the other person's job and not having empathy for that other department. Opportunity keep learning keep growing don't put your stuff in the box you know be open to other opportunities to learn more out the place that you work the community that you serve just don't stop. I guess don't so that you feel like you know everything. Keep learning keep evolving in that you know the world's not gonna stop and be the same as it is right now forever. We're gonna keep we're gonna keep you know adapting so just being able you know and flexible enough to allow yourself to be different and experience different things is important.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think showing up as your authentic self always. Number one. I feel that it's really easy to say you know and to take on the labels that other people have given you even indirectly. Showing who you are and what you bring to the table is really important and owning your voice is also pretty needed especially with everything going on in the world. The society you know the community is going to give you all kinds of labels but it's what you answer to. And I feel like especially certain generations they don't want to rock the boat they don't want to cause any trouble cause any panic you know and they're taking whatever life gives at them and it doesn't have to be that way. That and then honesty just be honest and accountable for your story and your situation I feel like is another thing that I've poured into at least my daughter. So yes. And just show up you know try. Exactly and then that's the hardest part is just showing up. Showing up exactly.
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