Provider Spotlight: Brynn Grover
Brynn is our Family Services Coordinator, and in addition to being a beacon of light to the peers she supports, she brings warmth and heart to everything she does. She has a strong connection to our community - you can find her crafting it up with the kiddos at the Cool Kids Club at the Community Table or moonlighting as her alter-ego, Neverbee (the official mascot of At The Roots.) Read on to find out more about Brynn!
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
I grew up on the North side of Chicago until the summer before 4th grade. While I was lucky to grow up going to Wrigley Field, seeing Sue the T-Rex on a class trip, and singing The Superbowl Shuffle for my Kindergarten graduation, my parents went through an abrupt divorce, which swiftly brought us to Wisconsin to live with my grandparents in Tomah (well, Oakdale to be exact) where I had a pretty rural experience in comparison, like playing hockey on a frozen cranberry marsh, catching turtles in the creek, tracking deer with my grandpa and learning "if you get lost in the woods, walk towards the interstate" but that only works if said woods are near an interstate, and that one time my uncle almost blew up the back yard on 4th of July.
When/why did you get into peer support?
I got into peer support almost a year ago after coming from a job that I loved, but I wasn't feeling fulfilled, like my purpose wasn't well-defined enough for me and my own personal growth. I had put a lot of work into bettering myself and my mental health and I wanted something that was very mission-driven. I was drawn to this kind of work for not only the rewarding nature, but also because of the challenges - this isn't easy work and that's because it matters - carrying my own lived experience has only made me a more empathetic human who deeply cares for other people and what they are carrying. I'm just trying to make it all feel a little lighter while acknowledging the incredible strength it takes to persevere.
Where would you like to see peer support go in the future?
I would really like more people to utilize the idea of peer support in their everyday lives. It's nice to get paid for it, but if you are paying attention, there are people you meet and know that just need someone to listen to them. I believe stories deserve space and for allowing them to live somewhere other than just within.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy working with people who are so full of their own brand of magic, who work so hard to build a more empathetic world. In all the spaces I have found myself in thanks to this position, I am always so proud of my peers when there is growth. Everyone's goals are so different, so it is a huge accomplishment to see the work we do working and seeing their self-confidence rise.
What are some of the challenges in your job?
I find it difficult knowing that I and the collective we can only do so much. There are so many bigger-than-us issues that we can advocate for, yet changes aren't always as achievable in the big picture. But even within that, what matters is that we do show up the best we can for our peers and our community while being mindful of the picture here-and-now.
Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
My happy place is a thrift store or an antique mall, hunting for passed on treasures. I enjoy curating my spaces with said treasures, and creating heirloom cross stitch pieces for my daughter to hopefully appreciate someday (if I ever can finish them). I'm a simple gal who just likes being with my people and my kid and my cat.
What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
The movie that will forever give me all the feels? When Harry Met Sally. Billy Crystal was my first crush (for real) and I identify A LOT with Sally's personality. The generational love story vignettes always make me melt. 10/10 for me in all the ways.
The book I recommend the most to others is Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson. I read it at a really chaotic time in my life, and this book helped me live more honestly while acknowledging my flaws. It made me see life in a beautifully broken way. There is a movie version by the same name with a stellar cast that I would also recommend!
My comfort show is Gilmore Girls. I would watch it weekly on the WB and then had all the DVD's (maybe bootlegged :/) through college to get me through the endless long nights. I felt like I kind of grew up on the same timeline as Rory and I now have seen every episode hundreds of times over.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
"There is someone out there looking for EXACTLY the magic you possess, just by being EXACTLY who you are." I don't know if I was told this, or realized this along the way, but it's something I tell my peers the most. We can get caught up in not feeling good enough, or that we are unlovable, or like we will never find "our people" - but they exist. They exist because YOU exist.
Can you share any fun facts about yourself or something your colleagues may not know about you?
I have done most of the artwork inside the Children's Museum of Eau Claire with my specialty being hand-painted signage and realism with a fun and educational twist. Earlier this year, I completed a 24-foot mural on the logging history of our area, since CMEC is the first of its kind with SRT (Structural Round Timber) construction. My next artistic goal is to have some hand in Menomonie's Walldog event set for 2026. (If you don't know about the Walldogs and are interested, check them out at www.thewalldogs.org) Even if I'm just running buckets of water to artists, I would be honored to be a part of it! Manifesting it now!
