Advocacy, volunteerism, youth work, television production and engagement in a number of extracurricular activities including sports and culture in her youth, prepared Andrea Bryan-Garner for the challenges of giving hope to herself and a group of mothers of children born with multiple disabilities following the Zika virus outbreak in January 2016.
“I have had to put together all my earlier learned skill set, advocacy, volunteerism, youth work to help me, and other parents to represent ourselves and our children who are voiceless. It is like everything has come together from the past and the present. I am like the mother of the group. They reach out to me when they need help in any way. I provide information. I have to be positive. Some in the group talk about giving up. We keep each other thinking positively,” she said.