Today for #MeetUsMonday, meet Flora, 37, who will graduate from REAL LIFE tomorrow! After being incarcerated numerous times, she had finally had enough. Through Ballard Health she learned of REAL LIFE and felt this was what she needed. She applied to the program, and within a week she went to court and was released to REAL LIFE. Ballard Health purchased her ticket and put her on a 300 mile bus ride from West Virginia to Richmond. Flora says she felt God had a hand in this and suddenly the ground beneath her feet felt solid.
Flora grew up in West Virginia in coal mining country. Her father was a miner and her mother was a nurse. She graduated top in her high school class and attended Concord College and National University. She obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant certification and was working on her Licensed Practical Nursing certificate. Her oldest sister was addicted to drugs and her 5 children were “drug addict babies”. Flora felt responsible for her sister’s children. The stress and pressure she was under made Flora turn to drugs. She thought she could keep it under control, but her life went into a tail spin. She lost her son, one of her sister’s children died and her mother, who was her best friend and rock, died. She ended up in jail and that is when she heard about REAL LIFE.
Flora was scared and anxious when she arrived at one of the REAL LIFE houses. She was met at the door early in the morning by Jasmine, who asked what she could do for her and ordered them a big breakfast from IHOP. That is the first time she felt true help, with no strings attached.
REAL LIFE has given her so many blessings: a roof over her head, a warm bed, food, clothing, and kindness. She says “people at REAL LIFE advocate for you with loud voices and no shame.” Flora is proud to be a Lifer and loves the positive response wearing a REAL LIFE t-shirt brings.
The module workbook is awesome and lessons made her think, according to Flora. She was provided with the tools and knowledge of how to maintain a positive and productive life. The staff is extremely supportive and relates to them on a personal level; many are in recovery themselves.
Flora works as a cashier at The Market at 25th and is training to become a bookkeeper. Starting in August, through AmeriCorp, she will work as a Recovery Navigator at REAL LIFE. Her future plans include purchasing a car, housing for herself and keeping her life in order. She is so proud of her daughter who just graduated high school and will enter training with AmeriCorps. She also wants to have her son back at home.
Her advice to others is “Always stay the path. Only you have control over how bright your light can shine. Your future is what you make it. Do not judge your success against others; just what you have accomplished.”
