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.