Brilliant Mornings: A Safe Space for Honest Conversations and Community

The Notebook
Written By Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

How Are You, Really?

Last month’s Brilliant Mornings was quiet and honest. It was one of those gatherings where the emotions sat a little closer to the surface. Where the simple question, “How are you doing?” opened the door to deep truth.

We heard about isolation. About the feeling of being one of the only people in your child’s life who truly understands them. About how lonely it can be to carry that understanding without a community to share it with.

One caregiver said it plainly: “Islands of Brilliance is my community. I have you, my husband, and my kid. You’re it.”

Another parent, new to the group, reflected on how rare it was to find a space like this where they felt safe…not just as a caregiver of a neurodivergent child, but as a neurodivergent person themselves.

There was gratitude, too, for a place to ask questions without judgment. For the courage it takes to tell your story. And for the comfort of hearing someone else say, “me too.”

There was sadness about what’s happening in the world. About resources that we are already seeing get denied. About the fear that our kids might lose access to the care they need.

But as one parent put it, IOB is leading the way. Not with fear…but with creativity, love, and innovation. We’ll find a way forward…together.

As the seasons shift, so do the rhythms of our lives.

Fall can bring new beginnings. A return to structure. A little quiet. And maybe even space for hope.

Our families are holding on to that hope:

  • That schools will follow through on their promises.

  • That their children will be seen and celebrated for who they are.

  • That they won’t have to do it all alone.

If you’re a parent or caregiver looking for a space like this, we hope you’ll join us.

Brilliant Mornings is a free monthly gathering held on the third Saturday of every month at our studio in The Eagleknit in Milwaukee’s Walkers Point neighborhood. It’s welcoming. It’s real. And it’s for you.

If something in this post resonated with you, we invite you to share a thought in the comments. A win, a worry, a hope. You are not alone here!

Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

With a background in both special education and graphic design, Matt blends these two disciplines creating unique, engaging learning opportunities for the participants at Islands of Brilliance. In his corporate marketing and agency days, Matt was a strategic and empowering Creative Director. Guiding with compassion and kindness, he formed and led high performing teams who brought their best selves to work. As an educator, Matt takes a similarly holistic approach to each of his students.

With a passion for learning and an ongoing commitment to self-improvement, Matt is an avid reader and explorer of process. An advocate for mental health awareness, he believes that by sharing our stories we find common ground and connection, creating communities of support and understanding. He enjoys spending time playing board games, crocheting, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.

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Welcome Home: A New Studio for Our Neurodivergent Community in Milwaukee