It takes a group of passionate people to create and build something meaningful...
These are those people.
Beau Jeska, 71 Five Justice Director, 71 Five Ministries and Lead Chaplain at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center
As the lead Chaplain at the Juvenile Detention Center here in Medford, I see first-hand the impact addiction has on the lives of kids and their families. I have made it my life’s work to reach the lost and broken in our community and the Recovery Café model is an incredible system that is truly effective. I am honored to be a part of the team to bring this program to the Rogue Valley where it so desperately needed. Together we can be difference makers in breaking the cycles of addiction—to help people in reclaiming their lives and to see them rejoice in freedom!
Bill Maentz, Board President, Owner of 5:00 Marketing and Founder of Grander Vision
The heart of Reclaiming Lives drew me to volunteer and to donate. When you find the opportunity to work with people that truly love the people they serve you get inspired. The inspiration leads to action and then a relationship that will help to heal those that are hurting. This will be a tough road for those that embark on this journey. It will be hard for those serving and for those that serve. The need, the hurt, the celebrations, the setbacks and the victory we will share along the way will be worth every moment for me.
Cynthia Levesque, MS, NCC, CADC II
I have always held the belief that recovery requires an integrative, whole-person approach that honors mind, body, spirit, and community. I hold a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and before entering the world of mental health and addictions, I enjoyed an extensive career in business administration and program development. In addition to my duties as Director at Kolpia Counseling, I also serve as an adjunct professor at Southern Oregon University in the Psychology department and I am the Board Vice President of Reclaiming Lives, a local non-profit that provides hope and stability through recovery planning and long-term support for people living with addiction.
Heather Philp
I believe miracles happen, dreams come true, and life is full of unimaginable opportunities. The day I started participating in life, rather then reacting to it, is the day I put more meaning to my goals and began accomplishing more than I ever thought possible. After attending the Grand Opening of Recovery Cafe, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I was introduced to loving and kind people with no hidden agenda.
My recovery date is 4/28/98. Prior to this, my bouts of abstinence meant nothing. My life had no direction, I didn’t feel as if I had close relationships, and I didn’t like who I was. Today I am able to share hope as I have worked at the VA for 14 years, have earned an LCSW, MAC, and CADCII. Through this process, I have had many positive leaders, friends, and loved ones. Without these relationships, none of this could have happened. Reclaiming Lives gives me hope and I feel secure in knowing the recovery community is growing strong.
Katrina Bywater
As a child I was surrounded by addiction and abuse so, it was no surprise that at a young age I entered into the lifestyle I was familiar with. I had a child when I was 15, she changed my life. My addiction was the direct result of seeking fulfillment or escape from a life of pain – pain too heavy to carry, but also too dark to confront. It’s been a long road, with many ups and downs, but I’m grateful to be freed from the chains of addiction. My resilience and determination helped me overcome the hard road I was on.
My heart desires connection and giving to our community. My hope is that my story can give others hope. I graduated from University of Oregon in 2007 after attending community college for several years. In all, it took 8 years to finish. In 2017, also after many years of trying, I became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Serving our community through Reclaiming Lives is a humble honor and an opportunity to change lives.
Kiki Parker-Rose
When I was contacted and asked to become a Board Member for Reclaiming Lives, I was apprehensive. After attending a meeting with Bill and Stephanie, reading and learning about Reclaiming Lives and Recovery Café, and attending the first Board meeting I was “all in.”
I worked in community corrections for over twenty-six years, I have seen firsthand how difficult it is for people struggling in their addiction. Providing others with opportunities to connect and feel welcome and to be treated as a “person” regardless of their circumstances creates a lasting impression. This is exactly what Reclaiming Lives and the Recovery Café provide.
In our souls we need to be part of something, and for me seeing what Recovery Café and Reclaiming Lives offers may be exactly what someone struggling with addiction needs.
I am honored to be a Board Member and be part of this incredible journey.
Tony Mendenhall, Shelter Coordinator, Hearts With A Mission
I am often asked why our family chose to do this. Why people with addiction? My answer is that we did not wake up one morning and decide that these were the people that we would devote our lives to. We simply decided as a family that we would say yes. We would say yes to what and who came our way. We would say yes to sharing our resources, our time, our energy, our food, and our home. We believe that everybody has a purpose. We live in a messed up world that has left a lot of people broken and without purpose. We believe that every person should have a seat at the table and deserves to love and be loved. We believe that there are many paths to overcome addiction but that food, connection, gentleness and kind words go a long way in the healing of individuals and our community. We have all those things to offer, so why can’t that be us? I am so excited to have helped launch Reclaiming Lives and Recovery Cafe. I believe that people will find hope and healing through sharing life together in relationship with others, good food, learning, and amazing coffee.
Stephanie Mendenhall, Executive Director and Founder, Reclaiming Lives
There’s a time and a place for everything. I believe this is my time and my place to do this. If you’d have asked me 5 years ago whether I thought I’d be helping young people face their addiction and find recovery, I’d have said no. This was not my plan but one day I woke up with a new perspective, I opened my heart to someone I just met and I said yes to hard things that made someone else’s life better. I saw young people on the streets of my hometown, hopeless and filled with regret, looking for someone who would take a minute to listen and to care. It started small with a handful of people, then those people helped more people and it grew. My heart and vision for Reclaiming Lives is to provide the opportunity for people to make connections, to grow, and to inspire others to face their addiction and find recovery.
