Bert Nash Center case manager celebrates grandmother and Black history every day

DeCorey Pittman’s grandmother, Nancy Dixon, wasn’t around to celebrate when he started working at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center late last year.

But he feels like she was with him.

“She’s in here, always,” DeCorey said, putting his hand on his chest.

DeCorey is a Community Based Services case manager for the Bert Nash Center. His grandmother, Nancy, who passed away last fall, used to work at the Center.

“I feel like she is watching over me all the time,” DeCorey said.

DeCorey grew up in Lawrence and attended Lawrence High School. After graduation, he attended Fort Scott Community College, where he played football. He took a year off to be a paraeducator and work with kids. He then went to Coffeyville Community College where he resumed his football career until an injury ended his playing days. He came back home where he continued to be a paraeducator and camp counselor. He began working at the Bert Nash Center on Nov. 16.

“I think my grandma would be super excited about me working here,” DeCorey said. “I honestly feel like she knew I was going to work here.”

With Black History Month, DeCorey said it is a time to honor those who have led the way like his grandmother, but not just in February.

“Black History Month to me is a celebration of life and culture. It’s something we as African Americans can be proud of,” DeCorey said. “Not just for a month, but all the time. And not just for African Americans, but for everyone. If we just take care of each other, at the end of the day it will be a better world that we live in.”

DeCorey tries to celebrate and honor Black life and culture through his work.

“Being a case manager, I’ve had people tell me they’ve never had a Black person in their home. That’s just the world that we live in,” he said. “Honestly, I see that as a positive, that I can be the first African American person in their house.”

Besides breaking down racial barriers, DeCorey said it is important to break down mental health barriers that keep people from asking for help.

“Growing up, asking for help was seen as a weakness. But, really, it is a strength. Being able to say that you need help is a big step in your recovery. I’ve gone through it with anxiety and depression at a young age. People thought I was weak or just get over it. But now a lot of singers and rappers are talking about mental health and

bringing it to light that it’s not a negative thing. It’s not bad to ask to for help. People should be encouraged to ask for help. That’s why I want to be a part of Bert Nash is to help people and to break that stigma.” 

DeCorey often thinks about something his grandmother used to tell him.

“Her biggest thing was she would tell me ‘no reason,’” DeCorey said. “Her reason for ‘no reason’ was to give people no reason to judge you. Just do the right thing. Give people no reason to think bad of you. She always said that to me.”

DeCorey had a chance to see his grandmother one last time shortly before she passed.

“The last time I saw her and talked to her was when I was saying my goodbyes to her at her house. My family was there. I just held her hand and told her I loved her and that I was super thankful for her,” he said. “That was the last time I saw her.”

But he thinks about her every day.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my grandma,” DeCorey said. “I feel like she’s watching over me all the time. Honestly, I just had a dream about her last night and she gave me the biggest hug.”