Hello, my name is Coreen Braden, and I am a person in long-term recovery. To me that means being able to have an open and honest relationship with my family, including my mother, something I thought never would be possible. Long-term recovery has given me the ability to create a safe environment for myself, set appropriate boundaries for those around me and to develop self-confidence. In addition, long term recovery has given me the capacity to live my life to the fullest both holistically as well as enhance my way of thinking. Overall long-term recovery has given me the empowerment I have been searching for my whole life.”
Long-term recovery has given me the ability to create a safe environment for myself, set appropriate boundaries for those around me and to develop self-confidence.
Young People in Recovery’s mission and values align with my core values in supporting all pathways of recovery. Through YPR’s platform, I am able to provide recovery support services to those in or seeking recovery, creating opportunities for people to get well every day! Being involved with YPR brings feelings of empowerment to a different level as I provide recovery support services to the Arapahoe and Jefferson counties in Colorado through two YPR chapters that I lead. Hosting different events such as pro socials, community engagements, workshops, all recovery meetings, and advocacy at the local and state levels allows the chance for more people to live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential.
The community building activities and educational programs offered though YPR have set the bar for the recovery community. In addition to the chapter based activities provided, I facilitate life skills development workshops through YPR’s Phoenix program. The Phoenix curriculum equips individuals with skills and tools that empower them to take charge of their futures and have better opportunities for success. Through coordinating the program with local judicial districts, I have the opportunity to share these tools and skills with individuals in or seeking recovery, and witness the differences they begin to make in their lives as they develop confidence. It is incredible to watch their transformations. People who enter this program usually do so with little to no self-confidence. In a world where society deems one to be a failure if they experience a substance use disorder are in recovery, our programming supports them in building confidence and empowers them to use their newly acquired knowledge and improve the quality of their lives.
By working with YPR I have endeavored to persevere; this has given me the ability to help those in need and that folk’s is what inspires me about YPR. It’s the overall devotion to give this gift to the community, the gift of RECOVERY!
