Brenda Rose may have retired as a community advocate in 2010, but she means as much today to her colleagues as she ever did.
"Brenda is an inspiration in Callaway County," said Kellie Pontius, family development supervisor at Central Missouri Community Action. "She was an advocate for low-income families and educated the community about issues regarding poverty. To me, Brenda Rose is the epitome of community action."
Rose was honored on Thursday by community members and former coworkers at Central Missouri Community Action with red punch, red-trimmed cake and many tears. A conference room at the Fulton office, 610 Collier Lane, was named for her by the organization's executive director, Darin Preis. Also, a video prepared by Kelley Lucero, CMCA special project manager, brought many to tears and laughter.
Preis read aloud from a plaque bearing her picture and information about Rose: "In her role as supervisor, Brenda built new partnerships, strengthened existing relationships, developed a strong family development network and implemented leadership training and supports for low-income families."
Rose, a lifelong Callaway County resident, said she grew up in Millersburg and has been married to her husband, Danny, for 46 years. They have two children.
She has progressed through life with a never wavering mission: "Helping people to thrive," she said. But her initial goal was to teach, she added.
"I went to college to be a home economics teacher," she said.
Rose's her passion soon jumped into the area of human development: giving people skills necessary to get through life. She became an active community volunteer, then went to work for the local community outreach program SERVE, Inc., holding several positions.
In 1995, Rose started working for CMCA as the Callaway County supervisor. The office staff grew from one to seven employees, and Rose also served on state-wide committees for community action.
Giving people tools for life cannot be done overnight, she added.
"You have to chip off one piece at a time," Rose said of her work to educate others. "You have to take it in small steps. It's long term. It's life-investment skills. You don't see the fruits of your labor for a long time."
Believing in people is a core element in Rose's philosophy, she added.
"So many people don't have people who make investments in them," she said.
Rose's serious commitment to enact change is what many people love about her, according to Pontius.
"I believe people here are as involved in issues regarding poverty as they are because of Brenda Rose," she said.
Tad Dobyns, CMCA community organizer, said Rose's recognition on Thursday was well-deserved.
"She is a pillar in the community and one of the people I look up to when I think of community action in the communities we serve," he said.
Angela Hirsch, CMCA community services director, said she remembered the first day she met Rose.
"She quickly became an amazing confident and friend," she said. "The day she told me she was going to retire, I went home with my first migraine ever."
Rose was a huge influence to Hirsch, she added.
"I am so grateful to you," she told Rose through tears during the ceremony Thursday. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done."
As part of the ceremonies, Gary Jungermann (presiding Callaway County commissioner) and Fulton Mayor LeRoy D. Benton both read proclamations.
"I'm humbled," Rose said. "Beyond humbled, and I appreciate the compliment."