September 2014
Pro-Act Recovery Walks! Artist spotlight:
Casey Montana Rogers
Association of Recovery Schools A Village of Recovery & Vision www.rockersinrecovery.org
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Rockers in Recovery Magazine
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Info
Credits Publisher
Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions
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Philip Salvagni philipsalvagni@gmail.com
Contributions by: Carol Harblin Association of Recovery Schools Pro-Act
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articles Casey Montana Rogers - Battling Scars One Song at a Time........................6 Pro-Act Recovery Walks!..........................8 Association of Recovery Schools........ 10 A Village of Recovery & Vision............. 12
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Rockers in Recovery Magazine
Contents
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Articles
Casey Montana Rogers
Battling Scars One Song at a Time
the outside as well as from a very personal side.
By Carol Harblin
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ddiction is a well-traveled road that several million people walk down everyday, and next to that is the road less traveled, also known as Recovery Road, which is the longer and more scenic route, but also holds more promise and there is always assurance that there will be peace of mind in addition to a better quality of life as long as people stay on track. Casey Montana Rogers (Casey Montana) is a 19-year-old college student who hails from Canton, Georgia is already an accomplished singer/songwriter and acoustic artist with many more miles yet to travel. Montana is transferring to Kennesaw State University this fall of 2014, from Reinhardt University, to further her studies in Music Business.
Excerpt from Battle Scars: “But I’ll go down before I let you die A war was waged within yourself, The fallen before you too many to count, But now I see your changing eyes You’re close to it now but breathe back to life You’re warrior in the dark and all that’s left are battle scars.”
No matter how tumultuous a person’s battle is, recovery helps that person arrive alive on the other side with more strength, beauty, and clarity than before. No matter how isolated a person may feel, there are always other people to help give a hand.
Everyone knows someone fighting an addiction battle, which is why addiction is all in the family. Each battle is quite subjective and unique to the individual; however, the concepts are familiar, which is why we can all relate to each other as well as through song. Montana is no stranger to being a supporter in recovery, because her older brother, Mason, has overcome his own battle of addiction too. Her brother is not only her best friend but her biggest inspiration. Montana is the youngest Rockers In Recovery singer/songwriter and also the winner of RIR’s 2014 song of the year for, “Battle Scars.” Montana’s brother, Mason, is the sole inspiration behind Battle Scars, because she had watched his battle from 6
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Casey Montana
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Montana was just previously introduced earlier this May when she sang at a treatment facility in Baltimore, Maryland, in affiliation with RIR. She alternated from singing her own songs with popular songs from Alman Brothers, Black Crows, and Amy Winehouse. Now, her next stop with RIR is on the West Coast in Aberdeen, Washington at the D & R Theatre. “There is no doubt that this is what I was meant to do,” said Montana after performing in Maryland, “Singing in a rehabilitation environment inspires the residents on spiritual levels and in turn helps and inspires me.”
A few of her newly recorded songs are “Tipsy Kisses,” and “Spirits Like That,” which are available on iTunes. Many of Montana’s songs are also available to view on YouTube and Amazon. “It is an honor that my songs are touching people on such profound levels,” said Montana. Montana also sings at local businesses near her hometown in Canton, GA, in addition to having sung at her college. Her songs are also playing at her University’s radio station too and can also be heard online at www. reverbnation.com/caseymontana as well as her website www.CaseyMontanaRogers. com. «
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Articles
Always Second Chances In Albany, New York
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very business is conceived from a thought and a dream. To progress from idea to successful business requires undying and unconditional nurturing and support. When a seed is planted beneath the soil all that is required is water, support and patience for it to grow into a beautiful and thriving plant or tree. In addition to love and support, a business also requires sponsors and fundraising to help boost the business off the ground. Even in recovery, it takes unconditional support and a sponsor to guide people along the right path again. In the recipe for recovery, there are two essential ingredients: unconditional support and tough love. Addiction creates a series of potholes in our path, but then in recovery, tools are given to us to maintain and smooth out those potholes and pave the road ahead of us. Second Chances Opportunities, founded in 2001, began by helping and guiding newly recovered people get back into living in the real world again and has shifted into creating a housing opportunity, in 2007, of independent apartments with a supported living environment among other newly recovering individuals. It began as a recovery guidance program and grew into a supported housing program in addition to the guided lifestyles program. These Second Chance recovery apartments are not halfway houses, they are independent apartments with supported living situations. It is a place to start life fresh, clean and sober. SCO offers a place to live, with the chance
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to rediscover and “re-learn” how to live on your own while maintaining sobriety. There is an unspoken accountability with people who are living among other recovered people, whether they are familiar to each other or not. Residents are assisted in budgeting their finances and taking their life back. SCO helps people how to juggle everyday life while sustaining sobriety. There is no set time-frame to live in the recovery apartments, but the average stay is about two years. In two years, it gives people a feasible time-frame to get a steady routine going between working, meetings, and being accountable for their own finances until they feel a shift to move forward in another apartment or home. There is a zero tolerance with relapsing and anyone who relapses goes straight back to a treatment facility. THE VISION AND EXPANSION PROJECT: SCO is fundraising money to set forth this vision into fruition. In recovery industry, the money doesn’t flow as swiftly as people hope it to be. Donations may be made by referring to her website as well as her other fundraising ideas such as selling t-shirts and even having more recovery concerts. The vision comprises of 14 two-family homes with 83 beds total, with either four to six bedrooms in each house. Among the recovery road creation, there will also be a community house that will be a place to meet up with each other for cooking classes, activities or to just sit and talk. Currently, there are two recovery houses and are to capacity with 12 beds. To help donate to the vision go to their website: www.happyjoyusandfree.com. To donate directly to the SCO project, go to the “Gofundme” site at: www.gofundme.com/ bdsfm4.
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Association of Recovery Schools By ARS The Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 that has been supporting Recovery High School efforts since 2002. We prepare and inspire starters and operators of Recovery High Schools to perform at their very best. We believe that while addiction thrives in isolation, recovery is a process of hope and healing that thrives in the positive peer communities of recovery schools. Connected through principles, disciplines and tools that set the gold standard for educating and supporting students in recovery, ARS continues to collaborate with a broad and diverse global network through our membership. We provide a variety of expertise, resources and datadriven best practices to Recovery High Schools through training, consulting and accreditation services, while serving as advocates for the educational inclusion of youth recovery. The oldest operating Recovery High School in the country is P.E.A.S.E. Academy,
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located in Minneapolis, MN. The school has supported hundreds of recovery students over the past twenty-five years. Helping each one navigate the challenges of high school through recovery support services. The Bridgeway School, located in Philadelphia, PA, is another example of one of the thirty highly effective Recovery High Schools operating today. Founded in 2011, The Bridge Way School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and provides a challenging academic program for students in grades 9 – 12. The school’s policies and procedures require and supports recovery utilizing 12-step principles and other recovery services. The school’s Founding Director, Rebecca Bonner, is honored to be at the helm of such an innovative program and welcomes inquires from those who may be interested in learning more about The Bridge Way School framework. If you would like more information about the Association of Recovery Schools or want to support our efforts by joining ARS, please go to www.recoveryschools.org or email the Executive Director, Kristen Harper at kharper@recoveryschools.org. «
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Articles
A Village of
Recovery & Vision By Carol Harblin
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t indeed takes a village to get things done, and Recovery Village is one of the steadfast supporters and sponsors of Rockers In Recovery 2014 concert series. Without sponsors, there would be no television programming, nor there would not be any concerts, shows, or sporting events anywhere. Sponsorship is a two-way street, just as how one hand washes the other. A helping hand goes a long way, particularly in recovery. The founder of The Recovery Village, Mitchell Baumann, would never had thought Recovery Village would have been possible six years ago while he was going through his own treatment. Baumann always had a vision for helping people and his drive and vision helped bring his success into fruition. His recovery anniversary will mark six years on December 7, 2014. When people are first in treatment for their addiction, support and unconditional love makes the recovery process even more successful. Baumann’s biggest inspiration while going through treatment and his on-going recovery is his daughter. His daughter redefined the meaning of support and love for him. She showed him her unconditional support and love, as well as tough love, every step of the way. “Unconditional support is crucial,” agreed Baumann, about the successes of recovery, “In order to grow in recovery, we need emotional sobriety too.” Baumann’s two older brothers and his business partners have also proven tremendous support through his recovery and Recovery Village work. Faith also played an integral role in his recovery success as well. This July 6, 2014 will also celebrate the one-year
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anniversary of Recovery Village. Baumann has not stopped dreaming and envisioning more for his village creation, because Recovery Village is growing. Baumann has always wanted to give back to the youth and support them. He is opening an adolescent facility in Sebring, Florida. In addition to helping adolescents, he also intends to open a spiritual and faith-based facility as well. Faith and support are of equal importance in recovery, and part of Baumann’s vision is to create more faith-based facilities. “We need more strong faith-based programs in recovery, in this country,” said Baumann, “There is a growing population [in recovery] who hold their religious and spiritual beliefs near their heart.” Recovery Village helps those in need of drug and alcohol detoxification, prescription drug abuse, eating disorders, and also offers outpatient programs as well. Recovery Village came into fruition after the realization that many clients with a dual diagnosis are in more need of support, without having to move to more than one facility to get that specialized care. The Recovery Village takes on a holistic approach to recovery in that they look at the whole person. In addition to Cognitive Behavioral therapies and the use of the 12-step program, The Recovery Village also enhances its therapies to meditation, yoga, and spirituality. Recovery is about reconnecting with yourself again on a profoundly spiritual level. To really make a strong impression and success in recovery, “You need to do whatever it takes and stop lying to yourself,” Baumann said, “You cannot make excuses anymore, and you just have to do it.” «
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