As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration this year, Brighton center has introduced a “50 Years, 50 Stories” series to highlight some of the customers, volunteers, donors, community partners or supporters who are part of its history.
The Northern Kentucky Tribune has partnered with Brighton Center to share some of those firsthand accounts with our readers.
In the coming weeks, the Trib will publish individual stories that demonstrate the breadth of services Brighton Center provides in Northern Kentucky.
Occasionally some slight edits may be made in the text and, to protect confidentiality, we might only provide the first name of the storyteller.
These testimonials, however, describe some of the programs and services Brighton Center has provided in its first 50 years, in the words of the people who have benefited from them.
“Brighton Recovery Center gave me the tools that would help me stay sober and continue on this journey called life,” Christina
From the time I walked into Brighton Recovery Center in February 2009 to today the changes in myself and my life are incredible.
Brighton Recovery Center gave me the tools that would help me stay sober and continue on this journey called life. I am very grateful I was able to go through the program when I did for I don’t know that I would still be sober today or alive if I had not.
My sobriety date is June 1, 2009. Over the last six years I have gained so much. It hasn’t always been easy however, at the end of every situation and every day no matter what I have to go through or face it’s worth it. Without my sobriety I wouldn’t have anything.
I have been able to become a good granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and employee. I have been able to keep the same job for over five years which may not seem like a lot to you however, for someone like me that is amazing. I am able to be a productive member of society again by working every day, voting, and paying taxes.
All of this is possible because I got sober and have remained sober since.
I stay connected to my sobriety foundation, I have a sponsor, I work with others, go to meeting, and all of these are the things that help me stay on this path.
My family trusts me again.
I am able to stay the night with them without worrying if they think I am going to steal something. I get to go on family vacations again. I get invited to family events. All of these are possible again because I learned the tools I needed to make it through life sober!
It has been an adventure that I love to be on. This is how I want to live, I know what it’s like to live drinking and using, it’s living sober that I didn’t know and it is a blessing I get to do today.
I love meeting friends from all over on the same path I am through traveling to different state conferences. I can’t wait to see what this year will bring.
From its beginning in 1966 as a modest Newport storefront, Brighton Center has grown to provide a range of programs and services which include meeting basic needs, adult and early childhood education, workforce development, substance abuse recovery for women, affordable housing, financial education and counseling, and neighborhood based programs.
Last year Brighton Center impacted the lives of 60,892 individuals from infants to senior citizens through 37 programs in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
For more information about Brighton Center and its programs and services, or to become a volunteer, click here http://www.brightoncenter.com/