As she prepares to enter retirement following decades of work that have left an everlasting footprint in the local community and area, Teresa Briggs received quite the sendoff from her friends, colleagues, and family Monday evening.
Many individuals gathered inside Casa Ramos to wish Briggs well in her retirement during a surprise party that left Briggs grateful and tearful. Briggs and her family came to Emporia back in 1990. She wasted no time in getting to work to support her community, joining and later becoming the executive director of Emporians for Drug Awareness before moving on to the Regional Prevention Center in the early 2000s. She remained with the organization until 2014, when she founded Healthier Lyon County, where she currently serves as the grant facilitator.
Briggs says her work in the community began with a simple question:
After founding Healthier Lyon County, Briggs hired the now United Way Director Daphne Mertens to oversee the organization. Briggs says, aside from marrying her husband, choosing Mertens was the best decision she has ever made.
Mertens shared Briggs’ sentiment, saying she has been a true mentor and inspiration for her.
Mertens added that while Briggs is best known for her work with Healthier Lyon County, she has truly made an impact on countless organizations across the local community.
When asked if she could sum up her career in a single word, Briggs paused, gave it some thought and stated:
Briggs’ final day is June 30.
