From Lived Experience to Lifelong Purpose

For fifteen years, she was a stay-at-home mother to three girls and a full-time caregiver to her daughter, Cheyenne Dominique, who is on the autism spectrum. Cheyenne was nonverbal, struggled with transitions, and at times became frustrated to the point of violence. As her daughter’s primary source of support, Brenda was on call 24/7, often making vital decisions with limited information while navigating challenges related to therapies, medications, school services, and hospital visits.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Lewis said. “The only way to find out was to get involved and learn as much as I could so I could ensure my daughter would receive important services to enhance her quality of life.”

When Lewis first learned her daughter might be autistic, she knew nothing about the diagnosis but wanted to do everything in her power to advocate for her child. That determination led her to agencies, support groups, and a community of parents who shared resources, tears, and constant reminders that they were in this together.

In 2012, Cheyenne passed away in her sleep at just 15 years old due to an undiagnosed heart condition. The sudden loss left Lewis in shock, grieving deeply for years. Eventually, she knew that she needed to make a choice: to stay frozen in sadness or to seek help, heal, and invest in herself so she could help others. “I promised my daughter I would continue what we started,” Lewis said.

Her Path to Touro

That unwavering commitment to give back to others in need led Brenda to NYSCAS, where she is excelling in the Human Services program and expects to graduate in 2026. She credits her professors for encouraging her to seek on-the-ground experience through an internship as a counselor for ninth and tenth graders in Brooklyn. In this role, Lewis is forming meaningful connections with students and finding joy in her work.

Her dream career is to work with children and teens on the autism spectrum or in the broader field of social work, and she plans to remain in the Touro family as she heads to the Graduate School of Social Work after receiving her undergraduate degree. She brings with her not only academic training, but many decades of lived experience as well as skills in advocacy, public speaking, successfully navigating social services systems, and connecting with people from all backgrounds.

“It’s not hard for me to tell my story anymore,” Lewis said. “If it helps someone else, that’s part of the healing.”

This NYSCAS student’s journey is also one of personal transformation. Lewis has been sober for nearly forty years, quit smoking cigarettes thirteen years ago, and credits her second chance at life and the support of her community and Touro faculty for making her new life and career path a possibility.

Her advice to other NYSCAS students is simple and powerful: “Go for what’s in your heart. You may not know exactly where it will lead, but it will open doors.”

For Brenda Lewis, that insight is the result of hard-won experience. She’s proud to carry her daughter Cheyenne’s legacy with her as she works alongside families to assist them in feeling seen, supported, and understood when it matters most.