CRISIS TO CAREER A ROAD TO RECOVER IN KENTUCKY

Drug addiction, alcohol abuse, missed educational opportunities, shattered families, shattered lives, and the associated criminal consequences of living in and with addiction is something just about every American has dealt with, either directly or indirectly. Many in the motorcycle community have their roots deep into such struggles in life.

As a society, substance abuse costs us $600 Billion annually in health care costs, workplace productivity loss, criminal justice costs and associated social services that are responding to the real attack on this Nation’s soul – drug addiction. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It affects veterans, doctors, healthcare professionals, students, professional athletes, clergy and sadly, stealing the life of our youth and socioeconomically crippling others.

One of the three tenets of Backroads of Appalachia’s mission is addiction recovery opportunities for those in east Kentucky through workforce development. It’s no secret that with the slow down and eventual dismantling of the coal industry in Appalachia, people leaned on and were consumed by substance abuse.

to lifelong recovery through peer-to-peer camaraderie. Or as the technicians say, “changing lives while changing tires.”

All of Second Chance employees are enrolled in the nationally recognized Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification program. The certification process is five months long and after a comprehensive test of knowledge, skills and ability, aspiring wrench turners become certified Automotive Technicians.

One such technician is Daniel Cooper. Daniel, a professional driver for 18 years, fell to alcoholism, losing his license, his family and his freedom while serving time in prison. Daniel enrolled in ARC’s addiction recovery program and, with the help of sponsors like Jon Storms, also in addiction recovery and Co-Manager of SCA, put Daniel to work as an intern. Daniel recalls acknowledging his denial and his skepticism, “all the people who were telling me there was hope for a future were just like me... time for me to listen.”

After years of working for SCA, and still in recovery, Daniel applied his second chance and is pursuing an advanced ASE certification and job placement with a national automotive chain.

Affecting thousands across the eastern Kentucky region, one agency, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) is mobilized to take on this epidemic. They offer clinical treatment services, vocational programs that offer tangible skill development and upward mobility from a life of addiction and more importantly, funding educational and transitional programs.

One such success is Second Chance Auto (SCA) in Louisa, Kentucky. Second Chance Auto employs those in active addiction recovery. James Keeton, manager and mentor at SCA offers the reality of it, “I’ve seen people that came through this program and basically never thought they had a future that now have had fulltime employment.”

Second Chance Auto is more than an auto repair garage. Sure, its technicians do the day-to-day requisite work-oil changes, brakes, suspension repair and so forth, and they’ve done it so well that the garage just celebrated its 5th anniversary having serviced over 3,000 cars last year alone. But it’s more than that. It’s the Crisis to Career motto that provides the motivation, the meaning and the path

Eastern Kentucky is truly blessed with magnificent vistas, traditions, and lore that is rich with diverse nationalities of pioneer coal mining immigrants that make up Appalachia. We are proud of what the people of the region have accomplished for almost 100 years, and our people continue to be pioneers in revitalizing Kentucky through programs like Second Chance Auto Care.

Second Chance Auto is smack dab on Country Music Highway 23 on our Backroads of Appalachia Mobile App. If you’re in the area, stop in and say hi to these great people.

--Indian Rider Bill IndianRiderBill@yahoo.com

Perseverance, dedication, courage, and devotion. These four words describe a woman who has been the pinnacle of a woman’s motorcycle club. Jennifer Chaffin created Leather & Lace MC 40 years ago and she still reigns as the club’s National President. Jennifer’s dedication has gained the respect of motorcycle clubs across the world.

Jennifer is passionate about riding motorcycles and the freedom it brings. In the early 1980s, it was time to create a woman’s motorcycle club that would encompass the passion she had for the freedom of the road. What has evolved from her 40 years of hard work is an international Women’s Motorcycle Club that has broken barriers and attitudes. As the club’s name depicts, ‘Leather’ is for the inner strength as well as the physical strength to handle their bikes. ‘Lace’ is for our femininity which is important to each of them. The Sisters of Leather & Lace MC are a strong, united group of passionate women who work hard in keeping the early vision alive and moving forward. Leather & Lace MC helps women and children in need all across the country.