the archway Celebrating 20 years of hope & recovery | summer 2019 newsletter
in this issue 2
the forward
Strength in Action
4
a spotlight on...
6
tales of hope
7
Celebrating our Partners Upcoming Events
8
Evening of Dreams
Marleen Gray Melody's Journey
the forward
Strength in Action I continue to be amazed at the strength I see demonstrated each day at Adeara. The name Adeara is inspired by the Hebrew word meaning strength. It is a tribute to the women in our care who show incredible strength each day as they continue toward recovery. When I consider some of the small changes I want to make in my own life, and how difficult it is to implement them, it gives me a glimpse into the daily grind that each of our women face. They are working toward replacing destructive behaviours and sabotaging thoughts with life-giving habits and patterns. I recently heard a message at Moose Lake Camp from pastor Bob Jones. He reminded us that it takes GRIT to live a fruitful life instead of an aimless life. 2 | the forward
G – it takes guts R – resilience is key I – inspiration that others pour into us T – tenacity, which is the capacity to face adversity This word describes the women I get to see every day. Even though they don’t always “trust the process,” we continue to walk with them through it. It’s not a quick race – it’s a long, slow marathon. This issue of The Archway highlights our processes and programs. Everything we do has a reason and addresses a different stage of recovery. Not only are our women strong, but the strength of the program itself also helps women get to a place of wholeness and wellness.
recap
Leap of Faith It’s been just over a month since our Leap of Faith event, and we haven’t come down from the free fall of emotion and gratitude we feel for all those who made this year's event so successful. To all our jumpers, donors, volunteers, vendors, family and friends and Edmonton Skydive: we celebrate, recognize and THANK YOU! Together, we raised more than $83,000 for the women, children and families we support at Adeara! We are so thankful for our collective efforts and for the impact these funds will have on the current and future generations of women struggling with addiction, poverty, trauma and abuse. Thank you for helping us break the cycle. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for our eighth Annual Leap of Faith, which we have already began planning. Mark June 20, 2020 on your calendar and get ready to jump! Be a part of Adeara’s
2020 Leap of Faith June 20th, 2020
the forward | 3
Marleen Gray, Program Director of Adeara
a spotlight on...
Meet Marleen Gray, Program Director at Adeara She is a mother of three and grandmother of nine. Early in her life, Marleen was a stay-at-home mom. She gradually went into retail sales before returning to school. As a result of her personal journey, she studied to become a social worker, motivated to learn how to help her own family in addictions and domestic violence. She has worked in the addictions and domestic violence area for more than 33 years. Over those years, her work experience included AADAC, NAIT, Norquest College, CNR, Tallcree First Nation, Alberta Health Services, running her own business, facilitating personal development workshops, staff coaching and team building. Because of her continuous passion, Marleen continues to engage in education in all areas of her life: physical, mental, spiritual and emotional/social.
4 | spotlight
Through her education and career journey, Marleen learned many things, one being the need to believe in something greater than herself. For Marleen, that is God. Daily disciplines, understanding what her values are, learning how and when her values are compromised and what influences that, and how important her contributions are to the world – these elements paint a bigger picture of her direction and purpose. Marleen was created to help women and children who may have experienced or are experiencing situations similar to hers. She continues to learn how to help these women and provide them with tools they can use to build a better future for themselves and their families, elevating the communities they live in.
26% Mental
27% Spiritual
21% Physical
26% Emotional
Programming at Adeara In the addiction field we talk about recovery in a wholistic manner and refer to it as a bio-psycho, social, spiritual disease. How does one recover from this? With programs that include all topics to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual areas of their lives. So, at Adeara we address addiction and mental health with programming to help women and children heal after the damage they’ve experienced. Our programs are facilitated by our professional counsel team and volunteers providing individual counselling and group therapy. Programming includes life skills such as: time management, money management, cooking, cleaning, hygiene, scheduling, resume writing, safe internet use, volunteer and employment preparation, addiction and the brain, which enters the mental component of recovery. In the spiritual area, the women engage in devotions, learn about pride and humility, bible study, Alpha, battlefields of the mind, art and music therapy and attending church. In the physical arena we engage them in working out at the gym, going for walks, outdoor activities, food prep, doctor’s appointments, dentist’s appointments and eye checkups. The emotional and social component of the recovery plan is not necessarily as obvious. It involves much internal awareness and work to change belief systems and identify values and new behaviours. The women are taught about codependency, rational emotive therapy, boundaries, staying sober and limiting beliefs. Our program is well-rounded, the women are safe and their daily needs are met. They develop
strategies to live a functional, family-supported and community-enhancing life once they leave. We know recovery is a lifelong journey and we work at setting up support systems for when they leave the program as well. We have a “transition” program whereby they continue to get encouragement and direction to appropriate community resources. Women come to Adeara in what they believe to be a hopeless state. The goal is that they leave with hope and purpose, equipped to live a healthy, fulfilled life.
Adeara’s programming reaches deep into the lives of women, bringing long-term hope and healing. Long-term recovery is vital to sustainable change. Treatment is short term, and does help, but our program addresses workable recovery with valuable contributions to society at large. Take one quadrant out of the circle and you have clear and obvious brokenness. That is what happens when you rush people through treatment and recovery.
spotlight | 5
tales of hope
Melody's Journey I have been in and out of treatment centres since age 17. This is the longest I have been sober, ever! I have lived at Adeara for 20 months and not only am I sober, but I am fulfilled, too. I love God and trust that He has a plan for my life. Before coming here, I had reached rock bottom. I’d lost my children, my home and myself. I was desperate, angry and scared. In the program, I found the structure and stability I lacked in my life. I used to order takeout and pay people to clean my house, so the chores and routines that were implemented into my program, even though I resisted, were very beneficial. The weekly one-on-one sessions and group therapy sessions helped me realize that I am not alone. I started to face the issues I have been 6 | tales of hope
running from for the last 15 years. Boundaries class and Boundaries with Kids (the parenting class) have helped me grow exponentially. I now have both my children back in my care and am at a point in my recovery where I can start giving back. Over the last 20 months, Adeara has poured into me, and now I want a chance to contribute. I have been given the opportunity to start volunteering here at the centre. God put it on my heart to lead the women here in a book study. Breaking old patterns and stepping into more of a leadership role in the house has helped me see myself as the person God has designed me to be. Because of Adeara and God, I know now that I am a person with value. It’s such a blessing to be able to share and pass this gift to other women.
sponsor spotlight
Barcode Construction
Special Thanks
Barcode Construction’s top priority is quality. With professional and personal service, we are able to make your ideas come to life. From a simple bathroom renovation to a new home build, we aim to exceed your standards with the quality and craftsmanship we bring into our work.
Every week, our facility manager takes a trip to the Edmonton Food Bank to stock our pantry and fridge. The supplies we receive, and the money we save because of this fantastic organization, is overwhelming. One way you can support Adeara is by continuing to support the Food Bank.
Barcode Construction is EOD’s Platinum sponsor this year. Their continued financial and onsite support has been instrumental in the recent upgrades and renovations we’ve experienced this year. Thanks to the team at Barcode!
Donate to Adeara today so that our mission of helping women grow forward can be realized.
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Embrace the Wonder
Evening of Dreams
Be a part of Adeara’s
Have you ever wondered if you have the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life? Is it possible to positively impact an individual’s existence? Have you ever imagined what our city would be like if everyone was the best version of themselves? And what if you could help another person get there?
8th Annual Fundraising Gala Oct 4th, 2019
At Adeara, lives are being impacted. Women are becoming the best version of themselves, one woman at a time, as they let go of pain, trauma and addiction. There’s never a quick fix. It’s a long process, a process that is never experienced alone, but rather as a community. Adeara exists to see communities changed by changing lives. We invite you to create impact with Adeara – together we can make a difference. Women are building hopeful futures as they embrace the wonder of what could be.
Phone: 780-423-5516 | Fax: 780-429-1090 | office@adeara.ca | Follow us @adeararecovery
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Box 68169, 162 Bonnie Doon Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4N6