Sherry Early Aden

By Deborah C. Gerbers

Sherry Early Aden is the vice president of operations at Brightpoint, a local organization helping communities, families and individuals overcome the causes and conditions of poverty. She is passionate about spreading the agency’s mission for a vision of a world without poverty and is committed to ensuring every individual has access to opportunities and is treated with dignity.

Brightpoint has been in Fort Wayne for 54 years, inspired by Lyndon B. Johnson’s ‘War on Poverty’ legislation. Aden first came to the organization in 2009 as the asset development coordinator. Ten years later, she helps lead the operations department in developing funds to help people build wealth individually, branching out from the social service aspect of the agency proper.

“There is not typical day for me,” she laughed. “Every day is an adventure.”

In addition to helping provide family stability with energy assistance, health coverage assistance and supportive housing, Brightpoint is involved with children’s programs, such as Early Head Start, Head Start and On My Way Pre-K. The agency also helps families become more self sufficient with programs offering childcare assistance, family development, housing solutions, supportive services for veteran families and weatherization. It also has a community investment dedicated to financial education, housing rehabilitation and development, poverty simulation and small business loans. Brightpoint also has a grant program with funds directed toward local entrepreneurs hoping to succeed and grow in their businesses.

Working for an organization that helps people of the community succeed is something Aden truly believes in. She credits her mother, Lydia M. Early, for her love of learning and being authentic. Many of her positive personal traits she inherited from her mother continue to guide her in her life, as well as with her work at Brightpoint.

“I hold myself to a high standard,” she explained. “I would hope that the people and families I have helped can see me as a positive example.”

Aden also hopes to be a role model for her daughter. “I believe in being authentic and vulnerable and I want her to know that it’s ok to really be yourself,” she said. As for what the future holds, Aden said she hopes to live a happy, fulfilled life. She wants to remain committed to our community for years to come, and said we are all collectively responsible to uphold that commitment.

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