Joie Brackett first learned about Habitat for Humanity while she was living in Florida where a friend was in the process of acquiring a Habitat home. She returned to Connecticut and began conducting research regarding the program. Joie attended an AIM meeting and decided to pursue the opportunity for her daughters and herself. Since that time Joie has been an ardent supporter and participant in the Habitat for Humanity family. She continually demonstrates a determined commitment to provide her daughters, herself, and her community with an improved quality of life.

Whether she is navigating an elementary school bus through the busy streets of Hartford, or helping on a Habitat house, Joie’s enthusiasm and passion for life is contagious.

Like many young women today, Joie multi-tasks through her daily life. After she gets her children and her neighbor’s children off to school in the morning, she heads off to work as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant for Vitas, a hospice agency. Joie also attends to private duty patients weekly. When school gets out in the afternoon, Joie drives a school bus, dropping children safely at their stops.

Joie considers her most important job to be that of raising her two beautiful, energetic children. Daughters Ellisa, 7, and Kadia, 5, were both born with Ocular Albinism, a rare genetic condition identified by a lack of pigment in a person’s hair, skin and eyes. Both girls experience visual impairments that require a safe and consistent environment. Joie planned on choosing materials and color schemes for the house that promote the girls independence while ensuring their safety. The whole family is looking forward to meeting their Habitat neighbors and sharing in the community garden.