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 CHS.

Finding love at CHS

“I came to Children’s Home Society when I was six, seven, or eight. I think I was here for a couple of years,” he says.

“It was a good experience for me. I was around people who were willing to show me love.” Bobby 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 here were 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 me 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.”

Life after CHS

When Bobby left CHS, he was transitioned back into the first adoptive home. After a few years, the mother’s rights were terminated.

“I always had a dream of being adopted,” says Bobby. “And when I was a young kid, I thought that everyone went through this process of finding the perfect home, the perfect family. I was in fifth grade when I found out that’s not the case.”

Bobby had another adoption, in Minnesota, which didn’t work out. Finally, he came back to Sioux Falls and went to a foster home. “I stayed there from age 12 to 20, and they are basically still my parents,” he says.

Bobby attended Patrick Henry Middle School and Sioux Falls Christian for high school. “During my junior year in high school, we started a class on video shooting and editing. In my senior year I ended up being a teacher’s assistant for that class,” he said.

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.”

Today, Bobby works full time for Collision, a Christian organization that teaches students how to do outreach and share the Gospel. He’s also started his own company, Peacock Entertainment, doing video content for nonprofits and small businesses and serving as a DJ for various occasions.

Most recently, Bobby cofounded the Hazard Film Project, a nonprofit that uses film to tackle difficult conversations. They produced The Black Project, which features intimate portraits of Black people in South Dakota, speaking their truths. “That project really took off,” he says.

“We have some other projects coming up. We want to tackle difficult conversations, so we’re hoping to try to create a project that will build a bridge between the queer community and the church community. It’s a super difficult conversation that I’m even uncomfortable with, but we need to try it.”

Creative 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 always 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 of crap internally, they would create opportunities for creativity—to let kids be kids,” he says. “And so, some of that stuck with me—the ability to use my imagination. I feel like opportunities like that helped me to use my creativity.”

Faith in action

Another chapter of Bobby’s story concerns the role God has played in his life.

“My faith has played a huge role,” he says. “I’ve had encounters in my life where God has met me in a place and redirected me. Growing up in the foster care system—a lot of foster kids aren’t succeeding. They’re ending up in jail, ending up in prison, and that just absolutely breaks my heart.”

“Something 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.”

Bobby recalls a pivotal moment when he was in fifth grade. “I was in Minnesota at the time and I remember going out and asking God, ‘Hey what do you want me to do with the rest of my life?’ And I just remember Him making it so clear that ‘Hey, I want you to be in ministry.’ I kind of grew up in the church, worked for a church and learned film in the church. Now I work for a Christian organization and have my own business and I get to create for ministries and nonprofits.”

What’s next for Bobby?

“Being a father is my number one priority,” he says. He has a young son who is everything to him.

“I would love to make a feature length film and do more film projects. And I would love to get people to ask questions, instead of automatically assuming they know the answers.”

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