From Clients to Caregivers George Burson transitions from the beauty industry to nonprofits BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON For nearly 50 years, George Burson worked in the beauty industry. He was an experienced makeup artist; did facials; and owned a Downtown Phoenix salon called Salon Georvid alongside his husband and longtime partner, David Samora, for nearly 30 years. In his second act, though, Burson has transitioned to working at a local nonprofit called Duet: Partners in Health & Aging, assisting family caregivers in their journey to care for their loved ones and themselves. “I was doing makeup, facials and was a salon owner for so long that that, when I retired, I wanted a change,” Burson says. That change came by chance in the fall of 2016 when Burson and Samora connected with Duet. Duet is a nonprofit organization that has a mission to promote health and well-being through vitally needed services to homebound adults, family caregivers, faith communities and grandfamilies, according to the organization. At the time, the nonprofit was shooting videos for its “Finding Meaning and Hope” discussion series and wanted to include a diverse array of caregivers. The video series, created in partnership with Pauline Boss, Ph.D., is free for family caregivers led by peer volunteers. The series is based on Boss’ book, “Loving Someone
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Burson and Samora know what a life-changing journey it is to be a family caregiver, as they both cared for their aging parents for decades until they passed. “I wanted to do something else (after retiring). I was thinking about what I could possibly do, when as fate would have it, in September of 2018, I was offered a part-time job working for Duet,” he says. “After being here more than two years, I cannot tell you how rewarding this job has been. Every day I get to pay it forward and help people who are in the same position that I was in not so long ago.” Burson shares that his mom passed one year ago, and it’s George Burson, left, owned a Downtown Phoenix salon called Salon Georvid with his husband and longtime been a difficult journey bouncpartner, David Samora, for nearly 30 years, before eventually transition to working with the nonprofit Duet: ing back after being a family Partners in Health & Aging. (Submitted photos) caregiver for decades — but volunteering and working for Duet has Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope now had a name.” The video shoot, Burson adds, helped helped him in the process. While Coping with Stress and Grief.” “We (he and Samora) learned the im“We found out about Duet through them both to understand their caregivportance of taking care of ourselves, bea client at the salon who knew we were ing journey better. “Learning about the things that Dr. cause if something happens to us, then caring for my mom,” Burson recalls. “We started shooting the video series in Octo- Boss teaches in her book, like how to deal who will be there to take care of our loved ber 2016. We — and those shooting the with guilt and how important the work of ones? I was not a support group kind of video series — wanted to be sure that a caregiver is, really helps us to deal with guy, but I soon realized the importance of having a group of people you could talk LGBTQ caregivers were seen and repre- the challenges,” he says. From that video shoot, Burson and to,” he says. sented in the series.” “We learned patience with each othTwo weeks before filming Samora began to volunteer for Duet. began, Samora’s mom passed They attended and facilitated support er and my mother. I know that as things groups for family caregivers (including a continued to progress in my mother’s illaway. “Still grieving, we wanted to men’s-only group and a group for those ness, had it not been for what I learned by participate in the video series who are LGBTQ+), they served as men- volunteering for Duet, going to support and see what good we could tors for other caregivers, and they vol- groups and reading Dr. Boss’ book, I honunteered at a variety of the nonprofit’s estly don’t know if I would be here talking do,” Samora says. to you today.” According to Burson and events. For those looking to transition to a In 2018, because of his active volunteer Samora, the video shoot expeservice, Burson was offered a part-time completely different career, he suggests rience taught them a lot. “Like a lot of people who role with Duet helping family caregivers choosing something you’re passionate provide care for loved ones, we by facilitating support groups, assisting about. “Duet has a lot of new things going didn’t realize that we were fam- with community referrals and guided asily caregivers,” Samora says. “It sistance, being supportive on their care- on — for example, many of our support was a very moving, eye-open- giving journey, facilitating the “Finding groups are virtual now because of the pandemic. Working here helps keep my ing experience for us. A lot of Meaning and Hope” series, and more. “After so many years in the beauty in- mind sharp and keeps me active. Find what we had been through dustry, my customer service skills really something you’re passionate about and George Burson works at a local translated to what I do at Duet,” Burson go for it. I don’t think my transition from nonprofit called Duet: Partners in says. “I’ve learned to be open and to lis- beauty to nonprofit would have been as Health & Aging, assisting family caregivers in their journey to care for ten to those we help. I also can empathize smooth if I wasn’t passionate about helptheir loved ones and themselves. ing other family caregivers.” with them because I’ve been there, too.” www.LovinLife.com
