Alumni Check-In: Bobby Peacock

Posted on July 28, 2021

Sioux Falls resident Bobby Peacock, age 28, got off to a rough start. Born in Columbus, Ohio, his mother gave him up for adoption to a woman who had adopted an older sister of his, Arlinda.

But the adoptive mother was very abusive, physically and emotionally. Eventually Child Protection Services stepped in and removed the children from the home.

“In total there were 10 different foster homes, three different residential facilities and two failed adoptions,” Bobby says. Part of his journey included a stay at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota (CHS).

Finding love at CHS

Bobby came to CHS when he was around seven and stayed for a couple of years.

“It was a good experience for me,” Bobby says. “I was around people who were willing to show me love.” He remembers a staff member named Troy Miller who mentored and cared for him.

Another CHS employee he has happy memories of is Crystal Wilkinson. “She made sure my sisters and I were still connected as a family unit. And so we would take trips…our favorite thing was to go to the Dollar Store, to get gifts and stuff like that.”

“The staff was absolutely amazing,” Bobby says. “Pouring into me, working with me, whether it was my anger issues or my sadness—and really just stopping and saying ‘hey, we want to help you process this.’”

“The counseling they provided to help get through some of the trauma was very helpful as well.”

Bobby remembers taking part in the Christmas program and other fundraising events while at CHS. “When people would come to visit, they would take along a couple of kids to give tours,” Bobby says. “I would be one of those kids who had the opportunity to give tours to visitors. I always loved and enjoyed that.”

From ages 12 to 20, Bobby stayed in a Sioux Falls foster home. “They are basically still my parents,” he says. He attended Patrick Henry Middle School and Sioux Falls Christian for high school, where he began learning about video shooting and editing.

Growing up and glowing up

After graduation, Bobby went to SDSU for a year. Eventually he got a video production internship at Celebrate Church in Sioux Falls. “It turned into an apprenticeship, then a residency and then a full-time job.”

Finding inspiration

Bobby gives credit to CHS for helping him develop as an artist—and to use creative expression to deal with his feelings.

“I remember being at CHS and during free time we’d have these ‘talent shows.’ My sister and I would pretend to be rock stars, and we used these play blocks as guitars and mic stands,” Bobby laughs.

“The cool thing about being at CHS was that even though we were going through a lot internally, they would create opportunities for creativity—to let kids be kids,” he says. “And so, that stuck with me—the ability to use my imagination.”

“Something else that was important to me growing up was my relationship with God, and not only that, but a community of people,” Bobby says. “And to be always able to have that—I call it my construction team—if there’s dent in my road they can help me fill it up—was huge.”

Shining bright

Today, Bobby works full time for Collision, a Christian organization that teaches students how to share the Gospel. He’s started his own company, Peacock Entertainment. Most recently, Bobby cofounded the Hazard Film Project, a nonprofit that uses film to tackle difficult conversations. He also has a young son, to whom he’s completely devoted.

With creativity, community, and God on his side, Bobby has every opportunity to achieve—and even surpass—his goals.