Meet and Greet: Betty Levingston
Corinn Johnson, B.S

Betty Levingston is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) who works in the Male Enrichment home. She is/has been a valuable part of The Baddour Center family for about a year and a half. Betty is easy to spot around campus, with a big smile and a "boot" that she wears on her foot due to an old injury. In her spare time, she enjoys playing computer games.

Betty is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She moved to Mississippi many years ago ("It's been a long time! I don't remember how long I've been here exactly!") and settled in the town of Olive Branch. Betty had been aware of The Baddour Center for several years, but only decided to fill out an application in 2007. She was drawn to the type of work offered at Baddour because of her relationship with her cousin, who has Down Syndrome. Says Betty, "Before she could go to school, she had to have mastered certain skills, like using big crayons to draw. I worked with her on these things so that she could go to school – I loved it!"

The day that Betty came to The Baddour Center to fill out her job application, she fell in love. She says, "I had finished filling out my application at the front office, and was greeted by two residents on my way out. They said hello and asked if my foot was okay. I told them that it was fine. Then they said, ‘Well, we'll be praying for you!' And that was it! I was in love with this place!" Since beginning her job as a DSP in September 2007, Betty has faced many challenges, the biggest of which she says is cooking for a full house every night. However, the good parts of her job more than make up for having to cook. The sense of community that drew Betty to The Baddour Center initially is one of the best things about her job today. When asked what her favorite thing about working at the Center was, Betty replied, "The people! They're my family!" Editors Note: Betty was nominated for interview by an anonymous respondent to the 2008 Newsletter Survey. More articles on requested topics will be forthcoming in 2009!