Brookwood Community Builds Purpose

Adults with special needs deserve a chance to live fulfilling lives. They deserve an opportunity to find meaningful work. They should be able to continue growing emotionally, socially and spiritually. They can find all of that and more at the Brookwood Community.

Brookwood Community serves adults with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, development disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, dual diagnosis and/or aging care needs. The organization helps provide their “Citizens” with job skills, a sense of community and purpose.

Yvonne Streit is the force behind the creation of the non-profit. Her daughter Vicki had encephalitis and meningitis due to complications from mumps which caused multiple seizures when she was just a year old. The seizures continued for years, and by the time she was 8, she appeared non-responsive to stimuli. Determined to help her daughter, Yvonne went to specialist after specialist. Eventually a doctor noticed that Vicki responded to movement.

Yvonne began working with Vicki and other children with special needs. Her exercises were designed to stimulate their brains. In 1973, she was able to move her Briarwood School out of her backyard and into its own building. In the 1980s, she founded Brookwood, a 485-acre educational, residential and vocational program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Vicki, now 64, is an active Brookwood Citizen.

Today the campus features eight group homes, a gym, pools for water therapy, café, gift shop, dental clinic, health clinic, administration building, 48 greenhouses, support buildings and worship center. Citizens work at the café, gift shop, handcraft studios and greenhouses. Every Citizen has a job to do.

Funding for Brookwood Community comes from tuition, donations and sales of plants and products crafted by Citizens. The café is open for lunch Monday through Saturday and can also be rented for weddings and events. The money raised by the retail enterprises is not enough, however. Brookwood also holds fundraising events and relies on donations of money, time and goods.

You can help Brookwood Community during the Cross Creek Ranch Give Back, Build Hope campaign. This month, if you purchase a new home in our community, we will make a monetary donation to Abigail’s Place, Brookwood Community, Family Hope, Fort Bend PAWS, Rainbow Room and Texana Center.

Even if you aren’t planning to purchase a new home, you can provide much-needed items to any of these charities. Simply purchase an item on the organization’s wish list and drop it off at the Cross Creek Ranch Welcome Center, 6450 Cross Creek Bend Lane.

As an added bonus, those purchasing a new home in November or December will be entered into a drawing for $3,000.