Charlene A. A. Berry

The people I've met in my life knew they had something to offer the world, and they didn't sit on it. They put it out there, and they encouraged me to do the same. They would always say to me, “Charlene, you’re a great listener, you give great advice, people gravitate to you, they listen. Take that and use it to change your surroundings.” So I decided to go to college after high school. I went straight in knowing I wanted to be a social worker, earned my degree, and I just kept advancing forward. I didn't stop. There is always something new to learn about yourself and about people. You look at your environment. You engage with others. You notice things. And you want to help. You want to make a positive impact. You might not know in what capacity, but you do it anyway. That’s what got me on my path — talking and listening to others and seeing how we all can work together for a common cause. It’s how I got where I am: always looking for an opportunity to step in and step up.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: “I am what I say I am.” When you change your words, you change your life. What you say about yourself determines how you live as yourself. You have what it takes to enter the room and take your seat at the table. Some words confine us. Other words free us to become who we were meant to be. When you remove the words that block your potential, you begin to function and flow effortlessly in your calling. You move with the Spirit. You do things you never thought you could do. So I remind myself daily: words will change your life — depending on which ones you choose. Don’t use words that stifle, suffocate, or diminish who you are. Take those words out of your vocabulary and thrive. That truth keeps me going.

I would say, write what you believe. There’s a gift that you have, and when you cultivate it, the world will wait for it. We all have something the world is waiting for. You just have to know what it is. And when you do — protect it, cultivate it, strengthen it, perfect it, then use it. Never be afraid to do so. Sometimes you have to do things afraid, because fear holds you back. Don’t give anything or anyone that type of power over you. It will keep you stifled and unproductive. The world has been patiently waiting for you and what you have to offer.

The biggest challenge in my field is getting people to slow down and see what’s right in front of them — opportunities, resources, help, and provision. The hardest part is inviting people to take an honest look at themselves and desire more out of life. We don’t have to settle, unless that’s what we choose. The biggest opportunity is that the tools exist. In prevention, I equip individuals, families, and communities with education and strategies to reduce risk — because we all put ourselves at risk at times. My work is to prevent crises before they start. However, honesty is still the best policy. I can’t begin to help if someone isn’t honest about themselves or their circumstances. I see that often. I also understand that shame and fear can cause us to hide. We’re not here to judge. We’re here to help. Helping people move past shame into truth so they can choose more for themselves — and that’s the hardest thing I encounter, and it’s also the greatest opportunity and reward.

Family is one. Self-worth is another. Love is a big one — because we need more of it. And having a sense of self. You have to know who you are in order to walk into the rooms that weren’t meant for you or sit at the table where you weren’t offered a seat. We all have something to offer. Confidence is everything. And when you have it, all you have to do is walk in.