The Local Lens is a public health podcast going inside one community's experience with the drug epidemic. Everyone in the town of Stanton, KY sees this drug issue differently from each other, either because of their personal lives or professional roles. This show aims to showcase those different perspectives by having honest, in-depth interviews.
Over the course of running The Local Lens, we have heard plenty of people speak about how important having structure is to their recovery (Misty DeHart and Joshua Jones, to name a couple). In our previous episode, Will Arvin does the same. An interesting detail of Will's comments on work, though, is job training was actually a part of his recovery program.
Will went through Addiction Recovery Care's (ARC) Crisis to Career program. They address one of the largest challenges: getting convicted felons back into the workforce. To help us learn more about second chance employment and what ARC does to help, we brought on a second guest: Brandon Hill.
Brandon Hill is (at the time of the interview) the deputy chief of staff, and is in long-term recovery, himself. In this episode, we get to hear from two people who have lived through the turnaround and have both experienced how vital employment is to their new lives.
Employment does so much for people in recovery. Immediately, it gives people a way to spend their time -- something to focus on. The job also gives a income that will support an independent life. More than anything else, though, a job gives people a sense of worth. It shows people there is potential for a better, brighter future, and that is the goal of ARC. From their website, “We create opportunities for people to discover hope and live their God-given destiny.”
These are our people, using our voices, telling our stories, because no one sees it like we do.
Keep up with The Local Lens on Facebook, Instagram (@thelocallens_podcast) or on their website.
The Local Lens is sponsored by Kentucky Opioid Community Healing (from the Kentucky Rural Health Information Organization) and Powell County CARES (from the Powell County Health Department).
Find Powell County CARES on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/powellcountycares
Instagram: @powellcountycares