Sharon Brooks, the guiding light of the Kids Can Fly organization, is retiring.
The founder and longtime executive director said on Wednesday – her 70th birthday – the timing feels right.
“It’s very bittersweet because I love what I do, but I want to leave the organization strong and this is the time.”
Started in 2001 as a provincially funded early years steering committee, Kids Can Fly turned into a child-focused group that filled gaps in services for local children and parents. It’s known for launch pad parenting centres, the Roots of Empathy anti-bullying program, the Parachute Program that supports new mothers and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which mails free books to children each month.
After government funding was halted after one year, Brooks and a team of helpers sought to continue to put into practice the work of Dr. Fraser Mustard, whose research pointed to the critical importance of the first five or six years in a child’s development.
“When we first started, the only thing available for moms and babies here was swimming,” said Brooks. “There were some parent drop-in centers in Toronto. We brought the first parenting centers into elementary schools here and ran them for eight years before the province started to fund them.”
Backed by a board of like-minded people and some visionary donors, Kids Can Fly developed new programs to help with mother-infant bonding, literacy, post-partum depression and aggression in children.
“The fact that we’re independent means we can do what’s needed without government funding or approval,” Brooks said.
Brooks, who had been part of Mustard’s Toronto-based council of experts in early child welfare, embraced the doctor’s teachings about tackling problems while children are still young.
“One of our strengths is that we’re always changing a little bit. If we see a need or a gap, we’re able to pivot and look for funding.”
Pivoting was especially evident during the pandemic when in-person programming was restricted. Virtual gatherings were set up, especially for young mothers who were feeling isolated. And the group’s signature fundraiser, the Storybook Breakfast event, saw storybook characters making porch dropoffs.
Through it all, Brooks said the organization has felt “unbelievably fortunate” to have the support of major sponsors such as the James Boughner Family Foundation that’s been funding Kids Can Fly since its inception, the Dorothy and Bill Campbell Fund and Paul Williamson, who agreed to get on board before the organization had even done anything.
Board member Jeanne Smitiuch, who has worked with Brooks for 17 years, said she feels the secret to her success has been providing a different perspective.
“She puts herself in the place of a young mom who needs support or a child who doesn’t have parental support. Sharon has always been about finding what’s missing in the community.”
Richard Cook, current chair of the group’s board, said Brooks has affected the lives of thousands of local families.
“Our community has benefited immensely from Sharon’s years of dedication, endless energy and incredible passion for advancing early childhood learning, and creating supports needed by parents to help them be the best they can be,” said Cook.
He noted the board has begun the process to find a new executive director. Meanwhile, Brooks will assist with the transition period, finalizing her retirement in late summer.
Brooks said her retirement will give her an opportunity to spend more time with her grandchildren, who live in Kenora, Ont., and return to a major love – dressage.
“I’ll volunteer and, for sure, I’ll be doing something that will involve children.”
@EXPSGamble