by LaMara HunterKelly | Aug 29, 2019 | In The News
George Ballentine, left, and Larry Thomas, both former inmates, run support groups for people who have been incarcerated and provide one-on-one mentorship. STAFF PHOTO/ANDY CASTILLO
By GRACE BIRD
Staff Writer
Published: 8/29/2019 10:35:39 PM
GREENFIELD — After spending 18 years in and out of jail, Larry Thomas returned to the Franklin County House of Correction a couple of months ago.
This time, though, Thomas wasn’t an inmate. He was there to start a support group for incarcerated men awaiting their release.
“I know what it looks like to get released from jail,” Thomas said. “So we’re able to support others with the same type of stuff.”
In Thomas’ view, he can offer authentic advice to inmates as he knows how it feels to leave jail without much support. When he was released in the past, he did not have a home or a job, and often returned to “drugs and gangs,” — and would then go back to prison again.
Thomas was last released four years ago after a stint at Connecticut state prison. This became Thomas’ final sentence, he said, attributing the turning point to finding housing at the Beacon House and receiving peer support from The RECOVER Project. He hasn’t looked back, now living in a permanent apartment and working full-time at The RECOVER Project.
Thomas’ support group, overseen by the Western Mass. Recovery Learning Community, runs Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the jail.
Another group, facilitated by former inmate George Ballentine, is held outside the jail at the community center on Chapman Street in Greenfield. This group is attended by those who have already been released as well as current inmates who are transported from the jail to the center.
“Sometimes we talk about really hard life experiences, sometimes we just joke around and have fun,” Ballentine said. “It’s really nice to be in an environment where you know the individual across from you has experienced some of that same turmoil that you have.”
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Aug 27, 2019 | In The News
by LaMara HunterKelly | Jun 24, 2019 | In The News
Frank Santosus: The important role the Northampton Recovery Center plays
Hampshire Gazette -Published: 6/23/2019 8:00:16 PM
One year ago, a letter I wrote about my experience as a member of the Northampton Recovery Center was published in the Gazette. I wrote it on the occasion of the center receiving a United Way grant enabling it to move into its current location at 2 Gleason Plaza.
Prior to that, the NRC was using space generously donated by the Edwards Church. Most important to me personally was expressing gratitude toward the Edwards Church for its support of the NRC, a peer-driven center for people like me who are recovering from drug and alcohol use disorder and many other problems associated with the disease of addiction.
The center is also available to friends and family members who have been impacted by their loved ones’ addiction. The NRC provides members with a safe, supportive environment to inspire and maintain recovery. Several of our members have successfully completed training to be state-certified recovery coaches and peer advocates.
(Continue Reading…)
by LaMara HunterKelly | Jun 14, 2019 | In The News
June 14, 2019
For Immediate Release: Greenfield’s RECOVER Project Wins National Recovery Award
Contact: Peggy Vezina
Program Director, RECOVER project
(413) 774-5489
pvezina@wmtcinfo.org
Greenfield’s RECOVER Project Receives the 2019 Faces and Voices of Recovery’s Joel Hernandez Award
See: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/about/news-events/joel-hernandez-award-nomination.html
The national Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award recognizes one local, state or regional recovery community organization for its success in assessing the specific needs of their community and carrying out a vision and mission of mobilizing resources within and outside the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
Greenfield’s RECOVER Project (RP) provides trauma-informed supports based on the guiding principles that people can and do recover from alcohol and drug addiction and that competence and wisdom reside in those with lived experience. People at all points on the recovery continuum of care are offered the safe, respectful, space to develop healthy relationships, participate in a supportive community, develop new interests, attend alternative healing arts activities, practice new social skills, and hone unique talents.
The RECOVER Project was nominated for the award by former member, Jake Powers. Jake said “The RECOVER Project taught me how to become a member of a community. Early in recovery, RECOVER Project members showed me I had value, demonstrated the courage it takes to ask for and receive help, and gave me opportunities to use my strengths and passions to be of service to others. This experience was tremendously formative. Though my recovery journey has brought me away from the Greenfield area, the values I developed as an active member of RECOVER Project have come with me into my relationships with family and friends, into my work as a writer and teacher, and into the various communities I encounter and inhabit as I move through the world.” Linda Sarage, past, long time RECOVER Project Director said: “Since 2003, the RECOVER Project has been a cornerstone of peer recovery support in Franklin County. We know that healing happens in community and that being of service and giving back are core recovery principles. When people come to the RECOVER Project, they find safety and support to hope and dream and transform their lives. This national recognition from FAVOR is well-deserved and highlights the powerful impact of peer recovery on individuals, families, and communities.”
Patty McCarthy, Executive Director of Faces & Voices said of the RECOVER Projects selection, “With a long history of doing extraordinary work helping individuals and families in their community heal from the impact of addiction and trauma, The RECOVER Project is an exemplary model for other Recovery Community Organizations across the nation. They celebrate and bring joy to people in a way that creates a truly empowering peer recovery movement where opportunities for growth and success abound in the true spirit of the Joel Hernandez Award.”
As the nation’s leading grassroots recovery advocacy organization, Faces & Voices has become a model for numerous international recovery advocacy movements. Faces & Voices works to support individuals in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and their family members, friends and allies in a variety of ways, including, capacity building in support of the national recovery movement, fighting the stigma of addiction, creating groundbreaking recovery messaging trainings and more.
The RECOVER Project will join other honorees at the America Honors Recovery Faces & Voices of Recovery’s annual awards gala on June 17th in Arlington, Virginia at a ceremony which celebrates and honors the most influential recovery community leaders and organizations.
by LaMara HunterKelly | May 30, 2019 | In The News
Community members and volunteers work to build a labyrinth on the campus of the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew on Federal and Church streets Thursday in Greenfield. (Photo by Dan Little)Peggy Vezina, director of the RECOVER Project, said she didn’t know much about labyrinths until she started to help.
“I love the idea,” she said. “It’s all about building community.”
The labyrinth is open to everyone. (CLICK HERE to read full article)
by LaMara HunterKelly | May 16, 2019 | In The News
POSTED 5/16/19 on the United Way Hampshire County Facebook Page
This year, the Kay Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award was awarded to the Northampton Recovery Center.
In the three years since opening their doors, Northampton Recovery Center has become a vital regional resource in the fight against addiction and for recovery. They have grown quickly, starting in the basement of Edwards Church before moving to their own space in downtown Northampton that has allowed them to provide more services, longer hours, and increased visitations. Their peer-to-peer counseling and support for individuals, their families, and allies is nothing short of life changing.
The Northampton Recovery Center’s work in our community was recognized at the United Way’s Annual Celebration and Awards event on Thursday, May 30th at Look Park. NRC’s wonderful director Lynn Ferro, accompanied by core members/advisory committee members John Sullivan and Alexis Neubert, accepted the award.
For more photos and a link to the video of the acceptance speech, check out the NRC Facebook page.
