Denese Brown’s Faith Inspires Her Work at Huron Valley PACE

As Denese Brown, Center Director for Huron Valley PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Ypsilanti, explains it, her 35-year social work career has led her to work with people “from the cradle to older adults.” During this time, she has worked in child welfare, tutored first-time offenders, and taught classes at Concordia University.

“The social work field has so much variety, and you can do so many different things. The main thing is just helping people,” says Denese who, since 2019, has helped ensure that the older adults who participate at Huron Valley PACE have what they need to live independently and safely in their own homes and communities.

Denese has coined the term “good hard work” to describe her service to older adults at Huron Valley PACE. “It’s some of the hardest work I’ve ever done, but it’s the most rewarding,” says Denese. “It’s a beautiful thing when we coordinate all the moving parts to create an individualized care plan for each PACE participant. I enjoy working with a like-minded team and accomplishing that together.”

In addition to her role at Huron Valley PACE, Denese is an ordained teacher and associate pastor who serves with her husband, Pastor Roger, at Faith Assembly Church in Ypsilanti.

“Social work is so similar to service to God,” says Denese about why she enjoys the field. “The values are very similar.”

Recently, Denese wrote a devotional book, entitled, According to His Kind Intention: A Collection of Inspirational Writings (revised edition; her first edition was written in 2015).  “I love to read, and books that talk about God have been especially meaningful in my life,” Denese says. “I feel like God led me to write this book, and I hope it can provide encouragement for others. I hope my readers will come away with a deeper understanding of God and how much He loves them.”

Denese shares that her faith inspires her work with older adults at PACE. “There is a lot to negotiate in this role. By being prayerful, and trusting God to help me make good decisions, God helps me to rise above difficulties, to forgive and work through challenges, and to model being a good person. It helps me in every way.”

Learn more about Brio’s PACE centers across the state for yourself or a loved one, or find out how you can join one of our PACE teams in a career you’ll love.