Empowered Voices: Pulled from the Fire
At Empower and Link, our work is guided by a simple, powerful belief: those who have navigated the most difficult journeys possess a unique wisdom that can light the way for others. Our "Empowered Voices" series is a space to honor their stories, told in their own words.
Lauren’s story is a testament to resilience, a raw and honest account of the cycle of crisis and the incredible strength it takes to break free. It’s a story about finding a pathway to independence when none seems to exist.
This is her journey.
I have a long history of substance misuse and criminal charges. To date, I have multiple misdemeanors and 3 felony charges. My last felony ended me up in prison. I was 7 months pregnant. Consequently, my daughter was born in prison. She was with me the whole 14 months I was there.
I got out and relapsed for a very short period. I knew I had to do something quick or I'd lose her. I went and self-detoxed at my Aunt's house in Pennsylvania. CPS showed up there and I ended up on a safety plan. I successfully completed that and moved back to West Virginia only to relapse again a few months later. This was a hard run, my use was out of control and I wasn't the best parent.
At 23 months old, CPS showed up again and removed her this time. I went off the deep end. When they took her from me it was like they took the air right out of my lungs. I couldn't breathe.
At this point I was using because she was gone, but she was gone because I was using. I didn't know how to get off of this hamster wheel.
Family treatment court was offered to me. At the time I thought I could get her back without their help. So I struggled from June until August. On August 4th I made an appointment at a rehab in Pennsylvania because I didn't know how to get help in WV. My aunt came and got me and I never looked back.
I completed family treatment court and got some custody of my daughter. In the time I was on family treatment court, I completed inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, completed a sober living house, was employed, held a job as a peer Recovery coach, got an apartment and saved up for a car.
Present time, my daughter and I have been reunified for 4 years. On August 5th, I celebrated 5 years of continuous abstinence. My daughter and I celebrated her birthday and my sobriety date in Punta Cana where we got to swim with dolphins and feed cute little monkeys. Sobriety has blessed me so much. I got to make my daughter's dreams come true.
For the last 5 years (since I was 60 days sober) I have been working in the substance use field, helping countless people find their path to recovery however that looks for them. I help people get housed and be employed. I believe my higher power pulled me out of the fire so I could go back and pull other people out.
The Blueprint for Independence
Lauren’s phrase, “I didn’t know how to get off of this hamster wheel,” is the reality for so many people trapped in a cycle of crisis. Her journey isn't just inspiring; it’s a living blueprint of the Empower and Link mission.
1. Lived Experience Leadership: Our first and most important belief is that we must honor and amplify the voices of those with lived experience. Lauren’s final words are the perfect embodiment of this principle: “I believe my higher power pulled me out of the fire so I could go back and pull other people out.” She isn’t just a survivor; she is a leader, using her unique wisdom to guide others.
2. Building Pathways, Not Just Providing Services: Lauren didn't just need one thing; she needed a pathway. Notice the sequence: treatment, sober living, employment, an apartment, a car. These are the exact pillars—housing, employment, life skills—that Empower and Link focuses on. We believe in providing the tools for long-term transformation, not just temporary fixes.
3. The Graduation Mindset: Most importantly, Lauren’s story perfectly illustrates our ultimate goal. We measure our success not by how many people we serve, but by how many people, like Lauren, graduate out of needing us entirely.
She went from needing support systems to becoming a support system. She went from needing help finding housing and employment to helping others do the same. This is what true, sustainable change looks like. This is why we don’t just focus on meeting immediate needs; we focus on building pathways that eliminate those needs for good.
Lauren’s journey from the fire is the reason we do what we do. Her voice, and others like hers, are not just an inspiration—they are our guide.
Empowered Voices: How One Man Broke the Cycle
C.N.'s story isn't just about overcoming obstacles; it's a powerful testament to how holistic, 360° support can fundamentally change a life. For years, he was caught in a relentless cycle, a product of a system that often addresses symptoms but rarely the root causes. His journey, marked by early struggles, fleeting stability, and repeated setbacks, highlights a critical truth: when support is fragmented, true progress can feel impossible.
A Childhood Defined by "The System"
C.N.'s path into "the system" began at just 14, with a petit larceny charge "to help my mom pay her rent." Lacking parental guidance, his choices escalated, leading to more serious offenses before he even turned 18. "Teachers and principals had written me off," he recalls, but one adult remained steadfast, telling him, "you are going to be my success story." This unwavering belief became a beacon in his darkest hours. Against all odds, he completed "credit recovery in December of my Senior year and graduated in May—first in my family to graduate from high school."
The Unbroken Cycle of Crisis
Despite this early triumph, C.N. soon found himself homeless after a relationship ended. "She kicked me out and I found myself homeless." This initiated a series of crises that became all too familiar: from "moving back with my mom who was using drugs again, to getting arrested and spending a month in jail." When he got out, he "crashed on a friend's couch until I could scrape together enough for an apartment—four walls and nothing else." His financial struggles continued. He found a job paying "$11 an hour, but with no transportation, I was spending $10 a day on cabs just to get to work." When his mom returned to town with his siblings, he "knew I needed to earn more to help support them." But a temporary "better-paying job" left him without steady income. "The shut-off notices and eviction papers started piling up."
Each time he tried to get ahead, another setback pulled him back down. "Traditional services would have addressed each crisis as it came: housing assistance here, job placement there, maybe substance abuse counseling somewhere else." But what they missed, he emphasizes, was "how everything connected—how my housing instability fed my stress, how lack of transportation limited my job options, how family responsibilities influenced my decisions, how each setback triggered coping mechanisms that created new problems."
The Breakthrough: Comprehensive, Connected Care
C.N. hit rock bottom after another arrest. "I got drunk, made poor choices, and found myself back in jail for trespassing and criminal misconduct. Three days behind bars until my mom could scrape together bond money. The cycle was repeating itself, and I felt powerless to stop it." But this time, something was different. "What saved me was having one constant adult who'd known me since I was 14." This wasn't just about bailing him out or covering bills; "they gave me the comprehensive support I needed to see how all these pieces fit together."
This person helped C.N. see how everything was interconnected. "They helped me understand that my housing, employment, transportation, family responsibilities, and coping strategies were all interconnected." With someone truly in his corner, who saw the whole picture and committed to walking alongside him, "I got a job and have been working steadily for two weeks now." He even earned an $800 paycheck, which allowed him to pay his rent and bills for the month!
Empower and Link's 360° Framework: A New Path Forward
C.N.'s experience perfectly illustrates the power of Empower and Link's 360° Framework. "This is exactly what Empower and Link's 360° Framework provides—that constant, comprehensive support that sees the whole picture." This approach isn't about addressing individual symptoms; "instead of bouncing between different services that only address symptoms, the 360° approach recognizes that sustainable change requires addressing all the interconnected factors that keep people stuck in cycles of crisis."
It’s about building a robust support system that helps individuals not only overcome immediate crises but also develop the resilience and strategies to navigate future challenges. "It's not just about finding housing or getting a job—it's about building a support system that helps you navigate setbacks and keep moving forward." As C.N. powerfully states, "I know there's no guarantee I won't face another setback, but having someone who understands the full complexity of my situation and is committed to walking through it with me—that's what gives me the courage to push through whatever challenges come next."
This commitment to holistic, interconnected support is what makes all the difference. It's not just about fixing problems; it's about fostering a lasting transformation.