Granby native Briana Haggerty, has accepted a position as a one-year missionary intern in what was once touted the eleventh most dangerous neighborhood in America. Over-the-Rhine (OTR), a bedroom community of Cincinnati, has seen shadier days. Back in the 80s people were afraid to walk there and outside help wasn’t much appreciated. But a combination of gentrification and police observation has made social help safer. The people who grew up there have also begun to embrace the improvements. That is partially thanks to ministries such as Grace Covenant Church of Philadelphia.
The church Haggerty attended for four years while attending the University of Pennsylvania is a sister church to The Living Water of OTR. Both are under the umbrella of AMI or Acts Ministries International. After co-administrating vacation Bible school, she will be teaching Sunday school and plans to spend a great deal of her time engaging residents and college students in conversation about the Jesus whom she holds dear.
The Visual Arts major is pictured here donning an origami tutu of her own design. She was graduated from UPenn in May, magna cum laude, with the distinguished thesis award. “Her professors called her fearless,” reports mom, “fearless in her studies and in her hopes and dreams.” Briana was home educated for grammar school and was a gifted honor student at GMHS. She credits Spanish teacher Rachel Schaumburger, among others, for inspiring her to apply to the Ivy League college. Other local influences include the Marquis of Granby fyfe and drum corps. It was during her time with this group that she participated in a grand muster in Basel, Switzerland. A self-described naturalist, Briana has commented, “The variety of nature intrigues me. My dad, a very spiritual man, took us on long hikes and spoke so much about our heritage in the environment here. I began to have a heart for inner-city and intercultural ministry in high school through my experiences during The Hartford Project summer missions trip.”
Briana continues, “Playing with light and color schemes has become an important way to express what I see. Sometimes I like to pretend that my photographs are paintings.” Briana is also an avid student of Latin and ballroom dancing.
You may follow her arts on Instagram: ricochetimages