The founders story:

“My name is Bryant Brown, I am the founder of new dawn beginnings- a non profit based right here in Spokane and Spokane valley. This work is deeply personal to me. I grew up in a house with 19 people, surrounded by drugs and chaos. I remember when I was little, seeing my uncles and cousins shooting up and watching women come and go. To me, that was normal. My mother was incarcerated my entire life, when I was in junior high, she took her own life while still in prison. I never knew my father. My grandparents raised me, but I was surrounded by other kids whose mothers were in prison or living on the streets. We never had a real childhood, we just learned how to survive. Even though I managed to graduate high school and go to college, I followed the same path as my family selling drugs, getting arrested and being in and out of jail. Deep down, I always dreamed of owning my own business and building something better, but I couldn't break free from that cycle. After serving 4 and a 1/2 years in prison, tragedy struck. My little nephew died from drugs. That was my turning point. I got clean, I got sober and I made the decision that I would not be another product of that cycle.

That's why I started new dawn beginnings, too many women leave prison with no safe place to go, no clear path to recovery and no way to reconnect with their kids. They face homelessness, legal barriers, stigma and the constant challenges of staying sober in an unstable world. Existing programs often overlook mothers and especially overlook the unique hurdles of family reunification.

New dawn changes that, we provide safe, sober housing for up to 10 women at a time. We connect women with recovery resources, legal aid, parenting classes, counseling, and job readiness training. Not just to survive, but to thrive. Through our partnerships, we make sure they can attend court dates, meet with CPS and take the steps necessary to bring their children back home.”