Derek Jones, an alumnus of the Healing Transitions program, continues to give back in meaningful ways. He employs individuals currently in the program at his business, sponsors men in their recovery journey, and plays a key role in the culinary planning for our annual Recovery Champions’ Gratitude Dinner. In his interview, Derek shared, “Giving back…
Listen in as we talk to Christine Wagner and Cris Clemmons, members of the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program, who have been volunteering at Healing Transitions for 10 years. They visit both campuses to tend to the gardens, working hands-on with participants and teaching them how to maintain a garden year-round and utilize compost.…
Adam Cohen and Cooper Heins, founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit ArtGivers, have a mission to make the healing power of original art available to more people in more places. They purchase art from emerging artists and donate it to mission-driven organizations, including free and charitable medical clinics, shelters, and drug rehab centers. ArtGivers’ artwork is…
Josh Zinner, a vibrant 23-year-old known for his warmth, friendliness, and adventurous spirit, tragically passed away on March 10, 2023, due to fentanyl poisoning. This heartbreaking loss inspired Josh’s family to spread awareness about the fentanyl poisoning epidemic, determined to break the stereotype surrounding addiction and honor his memory. Josh’s father, Cliff Zinner, his aunt,…
Jay’s journey into recovery wasn’t so much a planned path as it was finding himself at the end of the road. He describes his years in active addiction as “wallowing in a mud puddle,” a period of life marked by pain and a loss of hope, where each day was a routine of finding ways…
You might recognize Alex Warren from leading Track Tuesdays at Saint Augustine’s University Track or catching him trail running around town. Either way, he’s doing what he loves—running and helping the community. As the owner of Runologie, a specialty running store, Alex strives to offer more than just running gear. Runologie provides coaching, run…
Jason was 18 when he first experimented with cocaine and pain pills, marking the beginning of a 3-year spiral of heavy drinking and substance use, which eventually resulted in a car wreck while driving the wrong way down a highway, leading to his first arrest. Shortly after the accident, Jason met a woman who…
From the outside, Joy seemed to have it all together. She had a job as a paralegal, was married and had raised her children. But deep down, she was struggling to keep it all from unraveling. “It was a mess,” she says. “I started drinking heavily and suddenly decided I needed to move. I…
Ashley’s addiction-to-recovery journey was a quick spiral from a sheltered, middle-class childhood with her family to being homeless. “I had my first drink at 16, and I immediately fell in love with it,” she remembers. “I grew up in church. My life was very structured and protected. After I started drinking, I used drugs…
You may have seen Jackie’s work when you’re walking through downtown Raleigh at her public-facing art studio at Artspace. Or maybe you’ve heard some of the inspiring conversations she’d had with other career-minded artists on her podcast, the Level Up Artist Podcast. But what you might not have known about her is her heart for…