April Brooks
Tupelo, MS
Content Manager
Q: You and your family live in a tiny house. What made you decide to do something that some may consider a drastic change like that?
I realize tiny house living is not for everyone, but for my family, it has been the exact change we needed at the precise time we needed it. The last few years have taught us that material possessions are just things and that a minimalist, decluttered life can be so freeing. A simpler life has freed our minds for worship, better health, and learning how to be content with solitude, quiet, and contemplation. It felt amazing to give away so many of our household goods when we moved. It made us realize how much we rarely used them or even noticed them, and it allowed us to bless other families in the process. Downsizing also forced us to prioritize what was important–family, faith, and time spent together. I highly recommend it!
Q: You attended eight different schools before you graduated high school. How would you say that affected the kind of adult you became?
While it was a painful struggle as I walked it out, I can certainly see how moving so many times shaped me into the person I am today. I was exposed to many different cultures, places, and people, and in that experience, I grew to love humans in ways I don’t think I ever would have, had we lived in one place our entire lives. I attended some huge schools and some very tiny (we’re talking 10-in-the-graduating-class tiny) schools. I particularly remember an art class at one of those larger schools–we were taught to screenprint t-shirts, construct stained glass windows, and paint lithographs. The smaller schools taught me the hard lessons of cliques and their wariness of outsiders, but one such school also brought me two of my lifelong best friends, so even that was not all bad. I feel as if we are all a sum of our experiences, and I am no different. I consider it a blessing to have learned tolerance and love for so many kinds of people. Human psychology fascinates me, and I think my childhood is part of that reason.
Q: What made you decide to join the One America team?
The One America Movement stands for so much of what I just described above—seeing a person for who they are, without regard to their skin color, religion, or group membership. The meaningful work of peacemaking I see the One America team doing daily, in very tangible ways, is so encouraging. I am incredibly grateful to be a small part of an organization that wants to make a difference with the end goal of helping to heal our great nation.