Today we’d like to introduce you to Meagen Granberry-charron
Hi Meagen , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
About 14 years ago I attended a local outreach night at my church because I was looking to get more connected. They highlighted several opportunities, and one of them was a camp for kids in foster care. I’m a teacher, so that was definitely in my wheelhouse and seemed like something I could fit into my schedule. However, it was another year before I was able to get involved. It was the most fun, exhausting, heartbreaking, and hope giving experience ever. Despite all they have gone through, the kids are incredible. I started as a counselor, and after a few years was asked to be the Dean of Women. I was super hesitant to take on the leadership role, but trusted that I wouldn’t have been asked if they didn’t think I was capable. In that role I gained a completely new respect for our volunteers. Most don’t work with kids, some don’t even have kids. They come with a wide variety of backgrounds, personalities, and skills, but it was humbling to watch how God used them that week to impact campers. After that camp season, I was approached about being a Camp Director. Again, I had NO interest and was very happy with the current leadership and my role at camp. I was just entering life as a single-mom of two, and it didn’t make sense to take this big leap, but after a lot of prayer decided to trust and say yes. I was camp director for RFK Plymouth for 5 years. My years of leadership in this capacity have probably been the single most growing experience, stretching me in so different ways. I recently stepped down as Camp Director, but am still very involved in the organization. I am super excited to be one of the founding members of a non-profit called Fostering a Legacy. Our hope is that we can support great programs like Royal Family KIDS, but also broaden our reach to support kids and adults impacted by foster care through different forms of outreach.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My first camp year as solo director was 2020, so you can imagine the emotion that went with planning that year. We actually planned our original camp that was cancelled, planned a 2nd camp that was cancelled, and then had to pivot to put together a drive-thru camp experience we called a CARnival. Everything was adapted from how we interviewed, to what we trained, how we trained, and ALL of our programming. We often use the motto “Blessed are the flexible” but that stretched everyone’s flexibility to new limits. There were a lot of hard calls that year, and varying opinions about things, but it really showed the power of determined people working toward something they are passionate about. It was insane to see the connection and impact that our volunteers were able to have with kids and their caregivers in just a 30 min experience.
Another challenge is just working with such a large number of volunteers. We typically have 80+ full week volunteers and 20-40 part time volunteers. Communicating, meeting individual needs, understanding personality differences, and juggling everyone’s feedback can be hard with that many adults. We also work with community agencies, the state, churches, and families so there are a lot of moving pieces. I’ve had to develop a pretty tough skin to have hard conversations to ensure we are always doing what’s best for kids, and to be firm when needed. Luckily we have the most amazing leadership team to help make those hard decisions and support what’s best for the kids we serve.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been a public school teacher for 22 years, and my work with kids in foster care has most definitely made me a better teacher. Once you understand more about the connection between trauma, the brain, behavior, and health, it is impossible not to approach people differently. There is such a strong correlation between childhood trauma and adult outcomes like health, educational success, incarceration, and poverty. I have been leading trainings for Royal Family KIDS since 2018, and am grateful to be able to share what I have learned about supporting kids with others. I love learning, so getting to learn more each year and share with others is awesome. I think it has really brought about a greater awareness and compassion for others, and improved outcomes with kids. As a classroom teacher I see that many new teachers are unprepared for the behavior challenges they will face in the classroom. At some point, I’d love to create a class for undergraduate teachers to fill this need.
Any big plans?
I am really excited to be a part of Fostering a Legacy. For a long time I have had a heart for kids who age out of foster care. Royal Family KIDS does so much, and has an amazing mentoring club for kids up to 12, but it is difficult to maintain those relationships. There are so many teens and young adults who don’t have anywhere to go for holidays, no one checking in to see how they are doing in school, supporting them as they enter adulthood, or even just encouraging them on a consistent basis. Fostering a Legacy is going to be launching a program to try and fill in some of that gap. We will be reaching out to former campers connecting with familiar, trusted, reliable adults that they have already bonded with. We’re starting small with cards and a couple events, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how this develops over time and the long-term impact it has on changing the trajectory for those who come from foster care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fosteringalegacy.org
