20 Under 40: Brittany N. Peterson — Young People Belong in the Conversation
December 26, 2026
Original coverage in the Jacksonville Journal Courier.
Brittany Nicole Peterson | Birth to Five Illinois Engagement Specialist
Tell us about yourself and your family.
For the past 17 years, I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Eric. We have four children together: Alli, age 20, a sophomore at Missouri State University majoring in marketing management and communications. She's also a Missouri State cheerleader, a high school cheer coach, and a gymnastics coach. Maci, age 16, a sophomore at Winchester High School, where she is involved in track, softball, cheerleading, Key Club, and Student Council. Ryder, age 11, is in sixth grade at Winchester Grade School, involved in basketball, football, and baseball. Brynli, age 7, involved in dance, softball, and basketball.
Eric and I were born and raised in the Winchester school district and are raising our children where our seeds were planted by many generations of our families before us. When I’m not running kids to their various activities, you will find me in the stands, usually yelling, cheering on my favorite athletes, volunteering for one of the various organizations I am a part of, or coaching the youth cheerleading program my daughters and I started three years ago.
How would someone meeting you for the first time would describe you? Why?
I’m often described as friendly, quick to laugh or smile, and genuinely invested in people. I tend to ask a lot of questions, listen closely, and look for ways to support or connect with others. I want people around me to feel comfortable, seen, and valued for what they have to contribute.
Tell us about someone or something that has influenced you, and why.
I’ve certainly had mentors and leaders in my life that have shaped who I am, but I would say that most of my influence in my professional and personal life, has come from everyday people — parents in the trenches of raising kids, teachers stretched with limited resources, children balancing classroom and activities, and all of those same people volunteering, showing up again and again in our communities. Those are the people that drive me, and the ones I aspire to be alongside them.
What changes would you like to see in your community in the next 10 years, and how can they be brought to fruition?
My lens is kind of two-fold because I work in early childhood, but also raise a family of all ages in my community. I’d like to see our community expand access for children and families, not just in services, but in opportunities to participate, grow, belong, stay, and come back for years to come. That looks like child care for all kids, youth programs that reach every family, and spaces where kids can play and feel that sense of community belonging. I’d like to see our community invest in children across all of those settings in child care, classrooms, ballfields, youth clubs, family spaces, the list goes on and on. We can only get there when we all come together, support each other, volunteer and step up, and make sure programs are built for every child.
What is something you're passionate about?
It’s no secret that cheerleading has been a passion of mine for most of my life, not just as a sport, but as a way to support youth development and community connection. I’ve coached in some capacity, across many age levels, for over 15 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how it builds confidence, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. I have focused on making it accessible to all kids regardless of background or ability, and mentoring young athletes to help them succeed both on and off the floor/field. Through this, I get to combine my love for coaching with my broader commitment to creating opportunities and support systems for children in our community.
When you imagine yourself at 60 looking back, what do you hope you’re proud of outside of your career?
When I’m 60, I hope I’m proud of the family we’ve built, and the relationships we’ve nurtured. I want to see my kids thriving, choosing paths that make them happy, building strong, loving families of their own, and giving back to their communities like we’ve tried to teach them. More than their accomplishments, I hope they still call me when they need advice, tolerate my “helpful” reminders, and know they will always have each other.
What was the moment you realized, “This is the kind of work I’m meant to be doing”?
I realized this is the work I’m meant to be doing during my time as a home visitor. Sitting with families, listening to their challenges, and helping them access what they needed showed me how much power consistent support can have. We all need consistent, trustworthy support to raise families. Those experiences shaped how I approach my work now at Birth to Five Illinois, helping connect programs and systems to work together so that families get the help and support they need.
What are you working on right now that you hope will define the next chapter of your career?
Right now, I’m focused on connecting the dots between programs, families, and community partners. My time as a home visitor showed me how much difference consistent, personal support can make in a family’s life, and coaching and volunteering reinforced the idea that kids succeed when adults work together to lift them up. I see firsthand how small gaps, whether in communication, access, or resources can create big challenges for families, and I want to be a part of flipping that script.
In this next chapter of my career, I hope to be known for helping build practical systems that actually work for children and families. That means aligning programs, removing barriers, and creating networks that support not just short-term needs, but long-term growth. Most importantly, I want the work to be tangible so families feel the difference, kids have more opportunities to thrive, and communities become stronger because we’ve built them with intention and care.
When you imagine your community 10-15 years from now, what do you hope looks noticeably different because of efforts like yours?
I hope the biggest difference is something you can’t measure on a chart: I hope you can feel the passion. I hope people keep showing up, not because they have extra time or expect recognition, but because they care enough to be there even on the long days. I hope the quiet contributors, the ones who coach after work, volunteer behind the scenes, or support young children and families in ways most people never see, feel valued and supported.
If efforts like mine make any difference at all, I want it to be that our community becomes a place where passion is visible everywhere you look, and where showing up for each other, especially our children and families, is just part of who we are.
If you could give one honest, unfiltered piece of advice to younger people in your community, what would it be and why?
Your perspective matters more than you think. When you speak up about what your community needs — child care, mental health support, fairness — you are shaping a better place for everyone. Don’t wait to be invited into the conversation; you belong in every single one. Be bold with your ideas. Volunteer. Attend meetings. Start initiatives. Because young voices often drive the change adults talk about but don’t always make.
Birth to Five Illinois: Region 1 Action Council member, Erin Tighe, was also recognized! Read more here.