Volunteer of the Week: Laurita Brown

Laurita Brown has been working with Community Preservation and Development Corporation’s Mentoring Program for over a year. Brown, a graduate from Jackson State University in Mississippi with a degree in Meteorology, developed a passion for giving back to the community. Although she manages a busy schedule working as an oceanographer for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), every week she mentors an 11-year old girl, spending two to three hours a week helping her with homework and exposing her to arts and culture. Silver Spring Patch sat down with her to find out more about her inspiration for helping the community.

Patch: Tell me about the CPDC.

Laurita Brown: CPDC is a community development program for low-income families. They are starting a mentor program. Some of the families are immigrant families. [The mentor program] helps kids get a better idea of American culture, helps them with English and homework.

Patch: What made you want to start with the program?

Brown: I wanted to get more involved in my community. I’m really passionate about helping kids and helping them reach their goals. It was pretty brand new at the time. I was probably one of the first interviewees they had for the program. My mentee and I were matched at the end of May of last year. My mentee’s mother really appreciates that I’m actually able to be there and be a support system for her. Hopefully, if I stay in the area I plan to see her graduate high school and go off to college.

Patch: Who was your mentor growing up?

Brown: My fifth grade teacher; she inspired me to become a meteorologist. We had a career day project and I decided I wanted to be a weather girl on TV. So, I had a poster with my five-day forecast and I went outside even those it was sunny and pretended it was raining.

Patch: Where do you take your mentee?

Brown: It depends. Personally, I take my mentee out to different events. I take her to the movies or the National Mall. Sometimes I decide to do activities at a community center where we do things more low key like board games.

Patch: Why did you decide to work with kids?

Brown: I just liked working with kids. I don’t have a particular preference. I like teaching. I think I’m able to show a child what I’ve learned. I hope to push them in a positive direction. Hopefully I can be an inspiration.

Patch: What’s the biggest obstacle of being a mentor?

Brown: When it comes to working with a child sometimes its hard to communicate with her. They are really creative and their minds are going a hundred miles a minute. So just trying to get them to slow down and try to listen and think of things that are not all over the place.

Patch: What have you learned?

Brown: I learn a lot from her. I learn about having patience and understanding kids are different and are going to be themselves.