After 40 years of service to children and families in need, there’s no doubt that Christopher Barry fits the description of a dedicated leader. September 14th 2012 marked Chris’s official retirement from his post as Executive Director at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children.
Chris dedicated his administrative career to shaping programs to meet the ever-changing needs of children at risk. He energized and mobilized his colleagues to position Kurn Hattin Homes as a role model in a society searching for ways to help children and families overcome challenges and break the harmful cycles of dysfunction and abuse.
Over the years, Chris shared his reflections in many insightful and inspiring messages written to those who make up Kurn Hattin’s extended family.
The following excerpts, in Chris’s own words, bear testimony to the depth of his dedication to his work and commitment to the children entrusted to Kurn Hattin’s care.
Christopher Barry, on bringing joy to one’s work
A number of years ago my son, Patrick, gave me a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work as a Christmas gift. I have kept the book in my office and take the time each month to reread one of the 101 stories of courage, compassion and creativity in the workplace. The stories make a good day better and definitely improve a challenging day. One of the first quotes in the book is: “Where our work is, there let our joy be.” My years at the Homes have been filled with a rich history of stories of young men and women who were given help and hope. They have certainly brought joy to my work.Collectively, the Kurn Hattin community must never underestimate the life changing effect we have on children and their families.On trees
Much like Kurn Hattin itself, the trees that surround the property here have been an integral part of student life since the beginning. Tall and proud, they are also very giving, in terms of providing sustenance as well as structure and comfort. The apple trees unselfishly bear their fruit year after year and ask for only water in return. Apples are harvested in our orchard for cider, baking and a crisp snack on an autumn day. The maples have provided a stable tradition through the gift of their sap and the inquisitiveness of our children to discover how through hard work and patience, that sap becomes a sweet reward. The sap is boiled in the early spring in the Kurn Hattin sugar house, a century-old tradition at the Homes, to make pure maple syrup. The trees of Kurn Hattin also provide structure, with their strong fibers that allow them to bend instead of break, and to be formed to serve the greater good for all who call Kurn Hattin home. The stand of hemlocks behind the camp is representative of the trees used to build that structure, lovingly crafted by staff and students. The trees of Kurn Hattin indeed have a purpose, not the least of which is to show the children by their mere presence, that living things can endure and thrive even through a dark winter. And that the glory of a renewing Spring is right around the corner.On having an impact
Every human being leaves a memorial of his or her building; it is the impact of one life on those interconnected with it. Emotional and compelling stories that speak to the need for our services are abundant: children living in cars, unsafe neighborhoods with gunfire, incarceration, substance abuse, grandparents struggling to care for grandchildren, abuse or an overwhelmed single parent, to name a few.” We know and research validates that early intervention and support given to families in crisis works. Thanks to sound management, board support and the generosity of volunteers and donors, Kurn Hattin is a strong and vibrant organization, and joyous stories will continue to be told well into the future.On kindness
I remain invigorated as the Board and Administration plan for tomorrow while meeting the challenges of today. Our creative and innovative energies will allow us to thrive. Kindness will sustain our mission.On friends and family
I have developed numerous friendships with donors over the course of many years. Early on, I heard the term “friendraising;” I now understand these special, sustainable relationships. There is a real sense of kinship and connection in the “Kurn Hattin Family.” I will deeply miss such connections when I retire. As the years go by, I occasionally look forward to the day when I can look back at my working career. But most of all, I look around and see the many wonderful friends I’ve made, and how the Homes has grown and prospered during my watch.On memories
Each of us, in our own life, is the sum total of many diverse memories. Forever our memories are filed away in our spirit; they are connections that will last a lifetime. Intangible riches are handed down from one life to the next through words and deeds. And we remember.As we at Kurn Hattin continue Chris’s legacy of caring, we will always remember and be inspired by his words and deeds. We thank Chris for bringing joy to our collective work, for bending but never breaking, and for providing sustenance, structure, and comfort like a tree. We thank him for his kindness and his devotion to having an impact on children’s lives. We will always be connected as members of the Kurn Hattin Family, and Kurn Hattin will always be home.