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<\/a>Ashley Browning, project manager for the SARDI Program in the Boonshoft School of Medicine, opened The Heartbeat to distribute goods and foods to those affected by the Memorial Day tornadoes. (Video by Kris Sproles \/ Photo by Chris Snyder)<\/p><\/div>\n
Browning stayed in Lexington, Kentucky, for the next four years, working in a substance abuse treatment center for women and a mental health agency. She said the experience taught her how to treat people and made her realize that she herself could have been in their shoes had she made different life choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is how I got into the field of helping others, being able to give back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Browning returned to Dayton in 2013 and founded SoLoved, a project-based organization that assists different populations through community outreach with monthly initiatives. She also began working with homeless military veterans.<\/p>\n
In 2018, she was hired as a project manager for the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues (SARDI) Program<\/a> in the Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine<\/a>. The program seeks to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, including those with behavioral health issues, by conducting research, developing intervention approaches and training, and disseminating information.<\/p>\n At SARDI, Browning oversees a grant program designed to make college students aware of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and reduce their rates.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, she began working on her certificate in nonprofit administration<\/a> in the Wright State School of Public and International Affairs<\/a>. She wants to learn more about the operation of nonprofits and eventually would like to own her own nonprofit.<\/p>\n Browning says Wright State is a great space and atmosphere for growth and learning.<\/p>\n \u201cI love my job. I love my co-workers,\u201d she said. \u201cI love everything that Wright State has to offer and I love the program I\u2019m in so far for nonprofit administration.\u201d<\/p>\n Browning said she is also getting an education in how to help people who have lost their homes because of the tornadoes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe put out a mass call on Facebook and got a ton of donations,\u201d she said. \u201cSocial media is powerful. We were able to use that tool in that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Browning said the tornado victims are very grateful for the donated food and supplies, telling her that they didn\u2019t know what they would have done without that.<\/p>\n The Heartbeat opened July 28 at 1573 Guenther Rd. in northwest Dayton. It is open one day a week, but tornado victims are welcome to come anytime by giving advance notice. As many as 25 volunteers work at the site on any given day.<\/p>\n For Browning, even the smallest of gestures can help someone whose world has been turned upside down.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m able to help one person I\u2019m happy with that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ashley Browning, project manager for the SARDI Program, opened The Heartbeat to distribute goods and foods to those affected by the Memorial Day tornadoes. Continue reading