NEWSLETTER

October was an incredible month to show support and provide information for Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence. The Lorain Club of Negro Business and Professional Women (NBPW) joined P2R with two programs dedicated to awareness and prevention.  

Stacey Murry a Registered Nurse and Breast Cancer Survivor gave a transparent and light hearted presentation about her journey through her diagnosis and recovery. Her story was informative and compelling. Attendees were touched by her presentation and asked questions about prevention and were moved to commit to schedule mammograms. Felicia Baggett facilitated the event and provided each client with information and gift bags with special memorabilia for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Special thanks to Loretta Jones who provided the ribbons acknowledging Breast Cancer Awareness.

Robin Jones is the data clerk and outreach specialist at P2R, she’s a proud Army Veteran and a survivor of Domestic Violence. Robin gave a riveting presentation about domestic violence. She gave a vivid account of how her love story turned tragic with a devastating end involving the death of her husband. Robin’s story provided insight to the progressive nature of domestic violence, warning signs and escape plans. Attendees were provided information on how to handle various aspects of Domestic Violence and where to get help. 

Both presentations were impactful with women and men in attendance. Special emphasis was made acknowledging that breast cancer and domestic violence are relevant for all gender identifications. 

Thank you Stacey Murry and Robin Jones for being courageous in sharing your stories and being strong advocates for prevention.  

On November 11, 2022, P2R joined the rest of the nation in honoring our Veterans. Isrom Johnson, Outreach/Workforce Supervisor coordinated the event and collaborated with Veteran Organizations across Lorain County to participate in a program to uplift, support and recognize their service. Lorain Club of NBPW made donations toward the meal and provided a commemorative video to acknowledge Veterans in our community. VIDEO

Denise Weller from Hearts of Patriots was our Guest Speaker, and she provided information to help support veterans and their families. She spoke of how mental health disorders can impact the households of veterans and the necessary support for the family. Residents of the Valor Home and Veterans throughout the community attended the event. This was an extraordinary event giving our unsung heroes some well deserved praise. Thanking all who served!!

We celebrate Keith Lamont Jackson, P2R Administrative Assistant, for graduating Veterans Treatment Court in November. Keith recently joined our team and afforded us some much needed technical support. He is a father, a caregiver to his mom and a proud Veteran. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Keith was mandated to complete the Veteran Treatment Court. He took advantage of the life lesson and kept a positive attitude. You can tell by his reaction that he takes pride in everything he does. Congratulations Keith, welcome to the team and thank you for your service.

Chronicle -Telegram Article by Kevin Martin

P2R is a strong advocate for recovery from all life circumstances. We provide opportunities to celebrate life without a crutch. With that said, we sponsor events and trips that embrace a recovered lifestyle. On November 14, 2022 - P2R took 10 women to the “Unity” Women’s Luncheon in Westlake, OH.

Thanksgiving is a special time to show gratitude for community, family, and life. We took this opportunity to break bread with family and friends connected to P2R. We operate with a spirit of faith and unity. This incredible meal was a symbol of our commitment to servitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

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P2R combined support groups (Life on Life’s Terms, Chance to Change, and New In Recovery) to celebrate the season of giving with a special event, “Jingle Bell Bowling.” 23 clients and 6 staff joined in this activity to spread Christmas Cheer. It included bowling, a delicious meal, gifts, and a presentation focused on the MHARS Board’s pamphlet, “Coping with Stress During the Holidays.” Felicia Baggett, Certified Peer Support Supervisor and Walter Atwood, Reentry Specialist facilitated the event. It was an auspicious occasion and each attendee expressed their joy of having a holiday gathering. Many of our clients are in crisis and going through tumultuous times, this event gave them a sense of normalcy and a reason to smile. Good job Team P2R, well done!

We are busy, but we still find time to do “boots on the ground.” Every month we join God’s Kngdom in delivering food boxes to their home bound members and P2R clients. We participated in outreach programs at Lorain County Community College, American Legion, an EXPO sponsored by Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, Second Harvest Mobile Pantry and other events. We also provided Reentry Seminars at Grafton Correctional Institution and Grafton Reintegration Center.

Shakim Mandela was released from Grafton Correctional Institution on December 19, 2022 after serving over a decade in prison. He agreed to participate in our Chance to Change Program after hearing a Reentry Presentation by P2R while in prison. Upon release, Shakim took advantage of our @ the Gate component where we pick inmates up from prison and bring them to the agency for a Reentry Reception. This is our attempt to provide a seamless transition into the community and make direct connections to supportive services. Shakim was accepted into the Chance House, our 90 day residential workforce program. We look forward to assisting him in reaching his goals and coming home to stay.

Our dedicated staff have demonstrated growth, expertise, and commitment. The following were named Employees of Month in the last quarter of 2022:

Robin Jones, Data Clerk/Outreach - October

Betty Gibson, Certified Peer Specialist - November

Phoebe Kirk, Case manager - December

Employee of the Year for 2022 is Angela Brightwell, Outreach Specialist/Personal Assistant to the Executive Director

Volunteer of the Year - Anna Maria Caldwell, Virtual Executive Assistant

All of the staff is so committed it is hard to pick one person to acknowledge, but each individual selected showed consistency, resilience, and integrity in the month they were recognized.

To acknowledge all staff contributions, the Executive Director surprised them with special gifts and lunch along with their in-service wellness training. We are extremely proud of TEAM P2R and appreciate the challenging work they put in day-after-day.