Our Story
A Butterfly’s Journey’s mission is to help individuals and families struggling with grief to find hope and resilience. We offer evidence-based Grief Recovery Method classes, a comprehensive online Resource Center, and Faces of Resilience mobile photoshoots that encourage open expression of grief, loss, and love. We also collaborate with other organizations and grief-related events. In memory of their loved ones, our founder and board are committed to helping others find their resilience.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying about our programs, photoshoots, books, and resources.
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MEDIA
Press, radio, and TV information regarding
A Butterfly’s Journey
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ARTICLES & REVIEWS
Articles and book reviews related to
A Butterfly’s Journey.
A Butterfly’s Journey
Board
Barbara J Hopkinson
Founder and Board President
Barbara J. Hopkinson founded A Butterfly’s Journey 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a Grief Recovery Institute-certified Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist, author, and founder of ‘Faces of Resilience’, who remains resilient after the loss of 3 children, her husband, and sight in one eye.
Barbara’s passion for helping individuals and families struggling with grief began in earnest in 2003, when she started a local chapter of The Compassionate Friends (TCF), an international grief support group for child loss, one year after her 21-year old son Brent died in a motorcycle accident while at college in 2002. For the next ten years, Barbara guided monthly local TCF meetings, facilitated special commemorative events for bereaved parents and families, and held events in her home to bring information and comfort to bereaved parents and others.
The year after retiring from a corporate career in 2012, Barbara published her memoir, ‘A Butterfly’s Journey’ and created a limited liability corporation by the same name in 2013. She co-authored three more grief-related books. In 2015, Barbara became a certified Grief Recovery Method (GRM) specialist, and received non-profit status for A Butterfly’s Journey. Barbara founded ‘Faces of Resilience’ mobile photo-shoots in 2015, to encourage open expression of grief, loss, and love. She published the first of a series of ‘Faces of Resilience’ photo books in 2019.
Mel Yell
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Mel Yell brings skills as a project manager for large construction projects in and around Boston in memory of his son, Travis, who was killed in an auto accident in 2014. He has set up and assisted with various fundraising events like 50/50 raffles, Walk to Remember and the Hiking Hearts Hike to Heal event.
Heidi Damiano
Board of Directors, Secretary
Heidi Damiano is a full-time bus driver for a vocational high school, and does this work in memory of her son, Travis, who was killed in an auto accident in 2014. She also set up and assisted with fundraising events like Walk to Remember as well as event promotion.
Gregg Higginbotham
Board of Directors, Events
Gregg Higginbotham spent 30+ years in the technology industry and is currently a Data Center Manager for IBM Corp. Throughout the course of his life, he has experienced several difficult situations causing him to experience grief.
Gregg wants to give back, by recently joining our ABJ board. He would eventually like to speak about grief in general as well as about certain traumatic experiences. He believes, as ABJ does, that talking about grief is very therapeutic.
Gregg is father to a son Alexander, 21 and a daughter, Jessica 18 . He is an avid poker player, cyclist, beach walker and tennis player. Gregg lives on Plum Island, MA (a barrier island) for more than 10 years and avows he will live there for the rest of his life.
A Butterfly’s Journey
Staff
Patti Rae Milliotis
Staff Photographer
Patti Rae is ABJ’s staff photographer on ‘Faces of Resilience’ photoshoots, which are held all over the USA. She is also an artist, jewelry designer, and founder of Alex’s Team and Alexandria Arts in memory of her daughter, Alexandra, lost to childhood cancer as a teenager.
Michelle Meuse
Event Planning & Photo Editor
Michelle speaks fluent German, graduated from Boston College, majored in business, is a gemologist, and owned fine jewelry stores. Her service to ABJ planning and fundraising for events, updating our online resource center, and assisting with ‘Faces of Resilience’ photoshoots, and photo editing.
Joseph Santisi, Mind body Marketing
Web Master
As ABJ’s webmaster, Joe Santisi sets up the website environment, including hosting, WordPress themes, creating the structure of the website, and technical maintenance. He is the owner of Mind-Body Marketing.
Christina Howe
Volunteer and Marketing Advisor
As ABJ’s strategic marketing advisor, Christina Howe has guided ABJ in their online marketing strategy, site design, and best approaches to social media and search engine optimization. Christina is a certified yoga instructor and owns C-Change Consulting. She has an extensive corporate background with IBM and others and currently runs her own business teaching yoga and consulting in technology.