At Brightview Senior Living, our commitment to sustainability extends beyond buildings and green design; we encourage it to take root in the people living and working in our communities. With our new Sustainability Champion initiative, community associates are stepping forward to bring greater awareness and environmental stewardship into their communities.
One such champion is Patti Williams, Senior Vibrant Living Assistant at Brightview Perry Hall, who has transformed her passion for learning and nature into an inspiring movement of resident engagement. Patty joined Brightview Perry Hall over seven years ago, and what began as a part-time opportunity quickly became a calling. “Whatever I do, it has to have meaning, and it definitely does here,” Patti shared.
When she initially began her journey as a Sustainability Champion, Patti took it as both a challenge and an opportunity. “I wasn’t sure what it entailed at first,” she recalled. “It went far beyond my wildest imagination.”
Over the year, Patti’s creativity and passion have blossomed into a series of programs that have drawn residents, families, and even local experts into the fold.
The Sustainability Garden Sanctuary
Gardening was a natural launch pad for the community’s sustainability efforts throughout the year. Patti helped the Gardening Club redevelop its previous garden beds into a new Sustainability Garden Sanctuary. Residents filled five raised garden beds with various flowers and vegetables, including designated Community Garden planters filled with vegetables and herbs. The harvests from those planters were shared with residents and the Brightview Perry Hall kitchen.
They filled a sixth raised bed with specific plants, plus birdbaths and wildflower seeds, to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and birds. Patti also worked with local Master Gardeners to give presentations and hands-on workshops.
Raising Butterflies
One of the highlights of the summer was raising butterflies. A local butterfly expert, the Butterfly Lady, captivated residents with a presentation and release of Monarch butterflies. After that, Patti led the community in raising Black Swallowtail and Monarch butterflies throughout the summer. She transferred eggs laid on parsley and fennel plants in their Sustainability Garden to habitats, letting residents and associates witness the entire lifecycle of a butterfly in the community. She would often wheel a cart holding the butterfly habitat throughout the halls and dining room to give all residents a chance to take part in the program.
Once the butterflies hatched, the entire community delighted in the releases. “Residents were so engaged; they never had a butterfly land on their finger before,” Patti said.
In August, Brightview Perry Hall hosted a Sustainability Garden Celebration and Butterfly Release party. This event brought over 125 residents and families, ages 3 to 105, together to celebrate the community’s accomplishments with their gardening and butterfly projects throughout the year. Residents helped release over 50 butterflies, and the excitement from participants was evident.
“Seeing the expressions of sheer joy and fun was incredible,” Patti said.
Spreading Awareness Through Education and Conversation
After homeschooling her children for over 20 years, Patti loves teaching, and she incorporates that in her approach to sharing sustainability with the community. Through interactive programs, she’s introduced residents to key ideas in environmental stewardship — from composting and biodiversity to pollination and habitat protection.
Residents have viewed short documentaries, discussed real-world environmental issues, and explored what sustainability means for Brightview. “We talked about what other communities are doing, like solar panels, composting, green roofs, and asked, ‘What can we do right here in Perry Hall?’” Patti said.
She also looks for holidays and observances, like Arbor Day and Greenpeace Day, to tie education and celebration for an engaging event with residents. Plus, she incorporates tasty treats, like dirt cake or hummingbird cake, to entice the crowd!
The continued conversations are increasing awareness of sustainability among the community. “People are understanding what I’m talking about, and they’re more and more familiar with the topics,” Patti said.
Thanks to her work so far, Patti’s own interest and passion for sustainability are growing. “It’s made me more aware of how everything in nature works together,” she reflected. “Even the tiniest things, like insects or soil bacteria, have a role. It’s all connected.”
As she plans for the year ahead, Patti’s eagerly generating new ideas. She hopes to expand the Sustainability Garden with new birdhouses and wildflower areas, plus an observation window in the community bistro so residents can watch butterflies and birds up close.
She’s also considering more guest speakers, including a return visit from the beloved Butterfly Lady, and perhaps even a field trip to a local composting facility.
“It’s been such a good journey,” Patti said. “Learning through each little segment, seeing residents’ enthusiasm, and realizing how much we can do together — that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
