I often say “I wasn’t always this semi well adjusted great grandfather that I appear to be today.” And that’s true!
It’s a long story that involves my own chaotic drug use, incarceration, homelessness, working professionally with street and incarcerated addicts, professional radio journalism and community organizing with poor and low wealth people in urban and rural communities. Everyone deserves a chance and to be treated with human dignity while getting it!
While I did receive a Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate at California State University, Sacramento. I believe that most of my education comes from the street and experiential learning over the years. I have 15 years experience working as a chemical dependency and dual diagnosis counselor and program manager in both the governmental and nonprofit sectors. I’ve also worked (for 15 plus years) as a radio journalist and newsroom director covering local, regional, state, national and international stories along with working doing community organizing in California, Idaho and Nevada and running a regional Americorp program. As I alluded to, I have personal experience with IV Drug Use, Homelessness and Incarceration with (currently) 40 plus years of recovery.
As the host/producer of “KBRP’s Weekly Magazine” I found out about CHR and had the ED on the show a couple of times. That led me to appreciate what the organization was doing in the community!
Personal Motivation? One of the best human beings I ever knew died as a result of Hep C that he contracted when he was a heroin addict. I was diagnosed as having antibodies to BOTH Hep C and B but somehow managed to not get either disease and (fairly miraculously) dodging the HIV bullet in San Francisco in the 1980’s. I was fortunate to be healthy enough to take advantage of the chances that life conspired to give me. I’d like to help others have the same opportunity!
Hobbies, passions, or favorite things? Still a “News Junkie”! Particularly related to the Middle East as a result of my previous reporting from there; Playing Congas and Percussion; Being a Septuagenarian “Gamer” and HUGE fan of “The Last of Us”!