Brookwood encourages the public to go on an inspirational and informational walking tour in which they can take an up-close-and-personal look at Brookwood citizens in action and learn about the community’s educational and enterprise programs. In addition, the community’s grounds contain an art gallery curated with a variety of original paintings, jewelry, pottery, Western art and bronze sculptures gifted by Texas artists.
Walking tours require a reservation and may be scheduled Monday through Friday at either 9:30 AM or 12:30 PM and may be combined with shopping at the gift and garden center and lunch in the café.
Most walking tours last about 90 minutes and are available for groups of 10 or more, however, individuals or groups with less than 10 people may be added to an existing group tour. Prospective family tours also are available. It is recommended a tour be scheduled at least one month in advance, especially during the spring, fall, and Christmas seasons.
RESIDENT WORK & ADMISSIONS
Not only do the retail sales from buying at Brookwood help to fund its mission and operational costs but it also provides meaningful work for its citizens, who help create many of the pieces the community sells.
Both citizens and day residents are employed in various areas of the community’s campus which encompass working in the café or gift shop, as well as in ceramics, stone casting, packaging, soap making, and horticulture, to name a few. Transportation to work at Brookwood is provided for the 130 Day Residents who come from Sealy, Brenham, Bellville, Wallis, New Ulm and Houston.
To reinforce their sense of value and purpose, Brookwood works closely with the Department of Labor to ensure every citizen is paid fairly for their work. Pullen said Brookwood uses the social enterprise model (prioritizing social or environmental goals over profit and using said profits to achieve those goals) to provide its residents with work in enterprises that are compatible with each citizen’s unique talents, inter-
Comment
Comments