Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Rivers.
Hi Brittany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For the past decade, I have committed my career to cultivating relationships in order to provide health equity to underserved communities and populations in Galveston County. I received my Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health in 2015. It was then that I started my career path at the Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston as a Victims Assistant, then on to Salvation Army-Galveston as a Housing & Stability Case Manager. In 2018, I began working at Coastal Health & Wellness as a County Indigent Health Care Specialist, then, Community Health Worker, Outreach Supervisor, and Community Engagement Manager. I returned back to school in January 2020, graduating with a Master of Public Health in 2022, and promoted to Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnership in 2023 for Galveston County Health District & Coastal Health & Wellness.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. However, my motto is “Work hard in silence. Let your success be your noise.” I have encountered many struggles such as a career plateau and feeling as if I have hit the height of my career in some roles, handling failure and setbacks, experiencing burnout during the pandemic, and office politics, just to name a few.
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?
As the Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnership, my primary duties include developing and maintaining partnerships with community stakeholders, healthcare organizations, community centers, and non-profit organizations serving underserved communities and individuals. I also establish strategic partnerships to raise visibility of both organizations. I oversee the Galveston County Health District Community Health Workers and the Health Equity Department. As a department, we are tasked with identifying the health disparities, barriers, and challenges that individuals in our county face. We are committed to helping those individuals achieve health equity by ensuring they are offered and afforded the same resources and opportunities as everyone else.
I am most proud of my staff and their passion for improving a system that was not built for everyone. This is not a one-person job; it takes a village to face these issues head-on, and there have been some blocks in the road, but they are committed to overcoming those blocks and doing what is necessary to overcome those obstacles.
What sets me apart from others, I believe is my work ethic, passion, and drive. I am a visionary, and when I think of something, it sticks until it is executed. I am a big planner, so weighing the pros and cons of any project is necessary for me.
How do you define success?
Success to me isn’t always what is displayed for everyone to see such as career achievements or community impact, etc. Success is failing and being able to pick up the pieces, not change the goal, but change the plan. It’s a combination of dedication, hard work, and seizing opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gchd.org
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyrivers2015
