I am a person in Long Term Recovery. What that means for me is that it has been 10 years since I have used any mind-altering substances to change the way I feel. I am also a graduate of No Longer Bound from 2013. Since graduation, I have worked in the field of Recovery from 2016 to present.

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I was able to obtain my BS from Liberty University in 2020. From there I earned my CAC1 through GACA, followed by one of my favorite certificates CPS-AD through the Georgia Council for Recovery. Later that year I earned my Forensic Peer Mentor through the GMHCN.

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This hard work has paid off through the years as it has led me to have so many opportunities to meet and see peers that remind me of myself all those years ago. I continue to speak out for recovery because I see how much I needed someone like myself back when I was battling addiction and mental health. I see just how much being a friend to someone in recovery really can make an impact. I am honored to serve as the Director of the Community Connection Team here at Coweta F.O.R.C.E. and have to chance to work with this excellent organization and their amazingly talented staff.

I serve as the Coweta Connections Team Lead. I am a person in long term recovery from any substance use, and what that means to me is I have not felt the need to use any substances since January 16, 2018.

 

I am committed to living recovery out loud and I believe in multiple pathways to recovery for the individual, family and communities as a whole.

 

I am a mother of 3 beautiful, young children. Today I cherish the moments I have with them. Because of my recovery, I am able to be a role model in their lives and the mother they deserve. I am so grateful that my lived experience of losing custody of my children and being hopeless in addiction can now be used to provide someone with hope that no matter where they are, recovery is possible. 

 

Today I share my lived experience and message of hope in my community in order to find their own pathway to recovery. It has been a humbling but gratifying experience. I am passionate about my recovery and continue to speak out loud because I want to support and advocate for peers and reduce the stigma of addiction.

For the past seven years, I have been on a remarkable journey of long-term recovery. This journey has liberated me from the chaotic lifestyle of alcohol and drug use, allowing me to reclaim control over my life. Originally from Flint, Michigan, I am now a mom to two beautiful children and serve as a Peer Recovery Coach for the Recovery Connections Team at Coweta Force.

 

Recovery has gifted me with self-acceptance and invaluable coping skills to navigate life's challenges. I've learned the importance of pausing before reacting and establishing healthy boundaries. Even in the face of adversity, recovery has brought me inner peace and fulfillment, ultimately leading me to my dream job at Coweta Force.

 

Since April 28th, 2023, I have been utilizing my training from The CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© and certification as a Peer Recovery Coach by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to support others. I am also accredited as a Certified Peer Specialist - Addictive Disease by the Georgia Council for Recovery and hold certification as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist through the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association.

 

Beyond work, I find joy in outdoor activities like kayaking down rivers, enjoying bonfires, playing volleyball, and hiking. These pursuits remind me of the beauty and serenity that life in recovery has to offer. I openly share my recovery journey to inspire hope and dismantle the stigma surrounding addiction, demonstrating that recovery is not only possible but also transformative.