This month, we honor Ben Brouillette, a Program Development Manager from Open Sky Community Services as our June 2026 Caring Force Workforce Hero!
1. Tell us about your background. How did you decide to pursue a career in human services?
I was born and raised in Worcester and grew up in the Main South neighborhood. Like many people, my path wasn’t linear—I experienced significant challenges, including homelessness, substance use, and cycles of incarceration and treatment.
Over time, I was able to find my way out of that cycle, and that turning point changed everything for me. I rebuilt my life, began working in more stable roles, and focused on creating a better future for myself and my family.
When COVID-19 hit, I was laid off from my job at a plastics company and spent that year homeschooling my daughter. During that period, I started to reflect on what I really wanted my life and career to look like. As things began to reopen, a friend who was working in Behavioral Health for Justice Involved (BHIJ) encouraged me to apply, pointing out that much of the work—supporting people navigating similar challenges—was something I had already been doing informally.
That opportunity shifted everything for me. I made the decision to fully commit to the human services field, and I’m now approaching my five-year anniversary with Open Sky. Today, I truly feel like I’m doing the work I’m meant to do—supporting justice-involved individuals and helping connect people to resources and opportunities that didn’t exist or weren’t accessible when I was working to rebuild my own life. Now I am running a drop-in service in the neighborhoods I grew up in.
2. What does a typical day look like for you at your organization?
I currently serve as the Program Development Manager for The Community Compass, a drop-in service located on Chandler Street in Worcester. At our site, we support individuals who are justice-involved, in substance use recovery, or experiencing homelessness. While our primary focus is justice involvement, that can look different for each person—including those who may simply be at risk due to the environment and circumstances they’re navigating.
Because of the nature of our work and the community we serve, no two days are the same. It’s a very dynamic and active environment. Much of my day is spent supporting staff and ensuring that The Community Compass is running smoothly, safely, and in alignment with our mission.
We provide essential resources like food, clothing, and connections to services, but just as importantly, we offer a safe and welcoming space where people can come as they are and begin to explore a different path forward. My role is to do whatever I can to support that environment—whether that’s troubleshooting challenges, guiding staff, or responding to situations as they arise.
I also make it a priority to stay connected to the people we serve. I spend time in the milieu, engaging directly with community members, and I facilitate a monthly group where I can hear feedback and build relationships. Those moments of connection are incredibly meaningful to me and help keep the work grounded in what matters most.
3. What is your favorite professional memory?
There are a lot of meaningful memories in this work, but one that stands out to me is from when I was working in BHJI. I had a client who had spent about 45 years incarcerated, and one day he asked for help going grocery shopping. I brought him to Walmart for the first time, and he was visibly overwhelmed—it was something completely outside of anything he had ever experienced.
He came in with a list, and we took it one aisle at a time. I walked him through how everything worked, showed him different sections of the store, and helped him navigate what felt like an entirely new world. Something that most of us take for granted—going to a big store—was incredibly daunting for him. But by breaking it down step by step, it became manageable, and eventually even enjoyable.
After that, shopping together became a weekly routine, and it turned into an opportunity for connection as much as support. That experience really stuck with me because it highlights how different the world can feel depending on your experiences, and how important it is to meet people where they are. It was a powerful reminder that even small, everyday things can have a big impact.
4. This question is from our May Workforce Hero, Alyssa O’Keefe: If you weren’t working in this field, what would you be doing?
Before transitioning into human services, I worked in management at a plastics company, and earlier in my life I was a chef. If I hadn’t entered this field, I would likely have continued building my career in the for-profit sector and progressed further in business management. That was where most of my time and energy were focused prior to COVID-19, and I imagine I would have continued down that path.
5. Do you have a question for the next person we spotlight?
When things get difficult in the work we do, how do you ground yourself in the purpose and stay focused on the solutions?
Have someone you’d like to nominate a Workforce Hero? Email ilee@providers.org
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