Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Brown.
Whitney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up in East Tennessee, I never thought I’d leave the mountains. In college, I studied religion and sociology, and that’s also when I felt called to ministry. I wanted to be a source of light and work for justice in my community, and I thought that would ultimately pull me deeper into Appalachia. Experiences on my college campus that revealed deep-rooted racism in our community pushed me from my comfort zone and eventually led me to follow my call to ministry into seminary – in Memphis.
It was in seminary that my call to ministry became more clear (to me) and yet more difficult to describe to others. I did not feel called to stand behind a pulpit every Sunday, to preach, teach, or even work in the traditional roles of the church full time. I envisioned something more deeply rooted outside church doors- a space for creativity and community that also served the needs of the neighborhood, wherever that neighborhood might be. For a while, I still thought the neighborhood I’d find myself in would be nestled in the mountains somewhere.
After a bit of back-and-forth and soul searching, I eventually came back to Memphis. I moved in next door to the founder and Executive Director of Room in the Inn – Memphis (RITI), Lisa Anderson, who was also a friend. I began volunteering to stay overnight at a couple of RITI’s host congregations. I met dozens of people experiencing homelessness in Memphis. We played ping pong and Scrabble. We shared meals. We sang, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” And I felt I had found my place.
I was RITI’s first paid staff member and started very part-time. At one point, I was working 5 part-time jobs to follow this dream and this call. I started as RITI’s Volunteer Coordinator and after a few years became the full-time Program Director.
For several years, RITI operated a small day shelter in addition to congregational overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness, and in that space I was able to see that initial dream for ministry come to life. We had space for art, music, and wellness classes as well as space to just come and be and have a warm cup of coffee and conversation with guests and volunteers.
Last year, RITI experienced a lot of growth. We expanded our programming and moved to a new location, and my role shifted to Creative Director. I now get to spend my days sharing the story of Room in the Inn and the many beautiful stories of our guests and volunteers. I’m grateful for the journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to ordained ministry was a little longer for me than is typical in my denomination because I didn’t fit the traditional mold for pastoral ministry. However, finding a space and a ministry like Room in the Inn helps the church see itself where it truly exists – outside its own walls and in community with one another.
I have always believed the church was bigger than a building and its work further reaching than its walls. At Room in the Inn, we see people from different faiths and over 15 different denominations come together for the one, sole purpose of sheltering those experiencing homelessness. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Room In The Inn – Memphis?
Room in the Inn – Memphis (RITI) shelters those experiencing homelessness in a safe environment of hospitality. For over a decade, that shelter has (and continues to) take place in faith communities throughout the Greater Memphis area. Congregations open their doors to serve through Room in the Inn and provide a safe and welcoming space for our neighbors who are unsheltered. In 2021, RITI’s programming expanded to include the Family Inn and Recuperative Care Center. The Family Inn, in partnership with MIFA, provides a safe and stable shelter space for families experiencing homelessness while they search for housing. The Recuperative Care Center works with area hospitals to shelter people experiencing homelessness who are discharged and in need of a non-medical space to recuperate from illness or injury. RITI’s vision for all of our work is what we call, “holy hospitality.” We seek to create spaces, build relationships, share stories, and provide essential shelter in a way that brings respect and dignity and acknowledges we all bring gifts, light, and love to our shared community.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I now take pride in the fact that I was, and am, the “weird” kid. When I was a child, I loved bright colors, funky patterns, and found my own style and way of doing things. Eventually, “weird” became a bad word, something no one seemed to want to be through their adolescent, teen years, and beyond. I was lucky to land back into an art community early in high school and begin to “embrace the weird” again, but it took some time for me to realize that it was also in being myself that I found not only myself and could hear God’s call more clearly, but that I also found my place and my people and could feel truly known.
Contact Info:
- Email: whitney@ritimemphis.org
- Website: https://ritimemphis.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritimemphis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RITIMEMPHIS/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritimemphis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ritimemphis
Image Credits
Homelessness_51A6934 copy.jpg and Homelessness_51A6949 copy.jpg image credits: Justin Fox Burks
