Building Community Through Food: Brooke-Lynn Jeffries and Culinary Team Create Unique Dining Experiences
When Brooke-Lynn Jeffries toured Lenbrook during her job interview, she knew immediately it was where she wanted to work based on the sense of community she felt. Since joining Lenbrook as Assistant General Manager of Dining in December 2022, she has helped create community through food, leveraging her educational background and passion for connection.
Brooke-Lynn manages Lenbrook’s daily meal service, orchestrates fun themed dinners, and helps families honor their loved ones through memorial gatherings. Her influence extends throughout the dining operation as she supervises dining servers, supervisors, floor managers, and the chefs and their teams. This passionate and innovative team works hard to create connections and memories for residents through their delicious food in Lenbrook’s four dining venues and bake shop.
“You can always find me in the dining room. That’s my real office,” Brooke-Lynn said.
Brooke-Lynn’s path to Lenbrook began in Colorado, where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Geriatrics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This education, combined with experience in creating activities for residents at long-term care communities, made her perfectly suited for her Lenbrook role. Her commitment to professional growth continues as she pursues a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Mercer University.
Her leadership style emphasizes empowerment and creativity. She helped establish Lenbrook’s monthly Chef’s Table event, for which different members of the chef team plan and prepare a unique meal.
“My favorite thing is to give people who work with me creative freedom. I give them the budget, how many courses are needed, and remind them to use food that is in season. They create the menu, and I get to help bring that to life. I enjoy seeing the team flourish and delight residents, too,” she said.
For special events like Murder Mystery Dinners, she organizes open auditions for associates from all departments—Housekeeping, Concierge, Transportation, Sales and Marketing, and more—to participate as actors. The Dining team and actors draw inspiration from the themes that include a 1920s mafia night and a royal wedding, transforming the dining experience into something magical for residents.
“Food brings people together,” Brooke-Lynn said. “Whether you’re eating, serving, or participating in an event, it creates connections. Community is very important, and Lenbrook does a great job ensuring associates and residents are connected.”
The Dining team represents a wealth of cultural diversity, with team members from many countries. Brooke-Lynn likes learning about their culture and food. She also enjoys the relationships she has built with residents. Through her work, Brooke-Lynn demonstrates how food can be the heart of a thriving community where residents and associates feel valued, connected, and inspired.
“It’s fun to see the team members light up when they see what they have created for residents. And it’s great to see how the residents like what’s been thoughtfully planned and prepared for them.”