Reclaiming Lives - Recovery Cafe Letter from the Executive Director

Stephanie Mendenhall, Executive Director and Founder, Reclaiming Lives

There’s a time and a place for everything. I believe this is my time and my place to do this. If you’d have asked me 7 years ago whether I thought I’d be helping young people face their addiction and find recovery, I’d have said no. This was not my plan but one day I woke up with a new perspective, I opened my heart to someone I just met and I said yes to hard things that made someone else’s life better. I saw young people on the streets of my hometown, hopeless and filled with regret, looking for someone who would take a minute to listen and to care. It started small with a handful of people, then those people helped more people and it grew. My heart and vision for Reclaiming Lives is to provide the opportunity for people to make connections, to grow, and to inspire others to face their addiction and find recovery.

Stephanie Castaneda

Welcome! Bienvenidos! Stephanie Castaneda She/Her/Ella I support our Latinx Group El Camino Seguro here at Reclaiming Lives I am first generation, Daughter, and Sister, Friend. Experiencing substance use happening in my family motivated me to support families and individuals who suffer from substance use/alcohol. Being part of this community has allowed for me to help individuals make the next steps for recovery, community resource support and ability to provide support to our Latinx community with compassion and heart. Being a part of Reclaiming Lives is such an honor creating a welcoming atmosphere filled with connections and a loving environment for all.

Hello and welcome. My name is Sam and I have been clean since February 5th, 2018.

I am a Certified Recovery Mentor. My goal here at Reclaiming Lives is to create a safe place for everyone to come and get connected to likeminded people in our community. I love to meet people where they’re at emotionally and spiritually. Let me help walk you through the hard stuff, for what we cannot do alone, we can do TOGETHER!

My Name is Ricky, I am a person in Long-term Recovery. My clean date is 2/17/2018.

Recovery to me is learning how to love myself, so I can love others. Since I decided to get clean, I have graduated from Recovery Opportunity Court, and Rogue Community College with honors in the Human Services program. I have worked at Ontrack Rogue Valley as a Peer Support Specialist in the Dad’s program and Options for Southern Oregon, which is the biggest provider in our area for people suffering from mental health and substance abuse. I have also provided support and resources alongside the Medford Police Livability Team on the Greenway. I was in direct collaboration with all the agencies we worked with. In 2024, I was offered a DREAM JOB as a Peer at Reclaiming Lives/Recovery Café. I am married to an amazing woman, built an amazing foundation of support, and I have a life worth living and enjoying. My life is an example of a life reclaimed.

Hello!

My name is Monie, and I am an addict in recovery. I’ve been in recovery since December 18, 2018. I am a bilingual peer support specialist, working in a field that allows me to help individuals in my community who are experiencing homelessness and addiction.

My name is Doug Du Vall and I have been clean from all mind- and mood-altering substances since 7/22/2017.

What recovery means to me is changing all aspects of my life that lead to me using and compromising all of my morals and values in active addiction. To me it is putting in the effort to change all of the character defects that lead to my addiction. Forgiveness for myself and others has been a key component to success in early recovery. For the first time in my life, I have been able to build a life that I am proud of . It has been through my experience of being led by peers and their lived experience that lit a fire within me to want to give back to the community that I caused so much havoc on.

I have been a Certified Recovery Mentor working in the field for close to 5 years now and it has been so rewarding to my heart to be able to walk alongside others facing the same struggles that I did early in my recovery. I am grateful to be able to work back at the organization that gave me my first opportunity at being a peer. Being a part of the Reclaiming Lives family is an honor, and my heart is filled with gratitude to be able to walk alongside individuals searching to find their journey in recovery.

My name is Brandon Orr, and I am a person in long term recovery. My clean date is March 25, 2017.

Recovery to me is changing my beliefs and thought patterns for a new way of living. Since I was able to get clean, I have done so much. I married an amazing woman; built an amazing foundation of support and I have a life worth living and enjoying.

I am a huge part of my community and give back wherever I can. I believe that giving the right support and walking along side anyone who wants to change, and is willing to do the work, helps them succeed. Part of believing in someone is never giving up on them. In my recovery, I choose to help others get clean who have not been able to on their own by showing them how I was able to do it and the options that are available for them they may not have known about. It has been my pleasure to do this with passion and love every day here at Reclaiming lives/Recovery Café Medford.

Angie Robles

In 2018 I lost my oldest son to a fatal overdose, forever changing the course of my life. Though I have not personally struggled with addiction to drugs or alcohol, my life has been continuously touched by it. It is my heart and passion to see every soul cross the line from active addiction into recovery. I believe that community, love, people, and purpose are key components to making that happen. I also believe that we are stronger together, and that all things take a village to succeed. I am the founder of the You Are Lovely project and through lots of prayers for an open door, I am now a Communication Specialist at Reclaiming Lives/Recovery Cafe.

Tony Mendenhall, Shelter Coordinator, Hearts With A Mission

I am often asked why our family chose to do this. Why people with addiction? My answer is that we did not wake up one morning and decide that these were the people that we would devote our lives to. We simply decided as a family that we would say yes. We would say yes to what and who came our way. We would say yes to sharing our resources, our time, our energy, our food, and our home. We believe that everybody has a purpose. We live in a messed up world that has left a lot of people broken and without purpose. We believe that every person should have a seat at the table and deserves to love and be loved. We believe that there are many paths to overcome addiction but that food, connection, gentleness and kind words go a long way in the healing of individuals and our community. We have all those things to offer, so why can’t that be us? I am so excited to have helped launch Reclaiming Lives and Recovery Cafe. I believe that people will find hope and healing through sharing life together in relationship with others, good food, learning, and amazing coffee.

Staci Hughes

I was born and raised in Southern Oregon from a good family that lived on the east side. I was an excellent student, played sports and attended church. This wasn’t enough to keep an addict like me from turning to drugs to mask my insecurities and cope with pain that turned into trauma. When I found recovery, I had no sense of who I was, what I stood for or where I belonged. My heart, passion and commitment lie with this organization because I’m a living example of how the support offered truly reclaims lives, as it’s done for me since early recovery. The resources provided in the beginning of picking up all the pieces turned into becoming a part of something that’s both community and family. This kind of connection propelled my self-worth and sense of purpose back into a great career in the real estate industry, a beautiful family and service giving back to the community I once burdened. This addict found recovery, healing and connection, just like so many others, with Reclaiming Lives and the beautiful people I call family within it.

Sharon Pittman, Secretary; Counselor with Continuum/OnTrack

It is an extreme honor to be a part of such a life changing organization. Though my career path has been in the legal field, my exposure to working with people with addiction issues began several years ago with my church. Since that time, I have become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and work full time as such. It is especially gratifying to work with people who not only understand addiction but are willing to put the action behind their support. I am so grateful to be able to attend meetings and gatherings at the Recovery Café on a weekly basis and to witness lives change. Great things happen at the Recovery Café – come join us and be welcomed home!

Sarah Robbins

Sarah graduated Cum Laude from Southern Oregon University in 2003 with a BS in Criminology and Psychology. She earned her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to the Oregon State Bar the same year in 2007.

For the past 17 years, Sarah has worked with Southern Oregon Public Defenders, Inc., with the last 16 years dedicated exclusively to juvenile law, representing parents and children in juvenile dependency cases and youth in delinquency cases. Sarah’s commitment to the juvenile law community includes serving on the Oregon State Bar Juvenile Executive Committee, the Juvenile Court Improvement Program, and other initiatives supporting vulnerable youth.

Sarah’s work has been recognized with the Oregon State Bar’s New Attorney Advocacy Award in 2010 and the Professional Advocate Award in 2016. She also co-authored the chapter “The Ethics and Standards” in the 2019 Juvenile Law: Delinquency Handbook.

Passionate about advocating for the rights of the vulnerable, Sarah is committed to being a voice for those in need and defending the voiceless.

Katrina Bywater, Treasurer

As a child I was surrounded by addiction and abuse so, it was no surprise that at a young age I entered into the lifestyle I was familiar with. I had a child when I was 15, she changed my life. My addiction was the direct result of seeking fulfillment or escape from a life of pain – pain too heavy to carry, but also too dark to confront. It’s been a long road, with many ups and downs, but I’m grateful to be freed from the chains of addiction. My resilience and determination helped me overcome the hard road I was on.

My heart desires connection and giving to our community. My hope is that my story can give others hope. I graduated from University of Oregon in 2007 after attending community college for several years. In all, it took 8 years to finish. In 2017, also after many years of trying, I became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Serving our community through Reclaiming Lives is a humble honor and an opportunity to change lives.

Heather Philp

I believe miracles happen, dreams come true, and life is full of unimaginable opportunities. The day I started participating in life, rather then reacting to it, is the day I put more meaning to my goals and began accomplishing more than I ever thought possible. After attending the Grand Opening of Recovery Cafe, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I was introduced to loving and kind people with no hidden agenda.

My recovery date is 4/28/98. Prior to this, my bouts of abstinence meant nothing. My life had no direction, I didn’t feel as if I had close relationships, and I didn’t like who I was. Today I am able to share hope as I have worked at the VA for over 20 years, have earned an LCSW, MAC, and CADCII. Through this process, I have had many positive leaders, friends, and loved ones. Without these relationships, none of this could have happened. Reclaiming Lives gives me hope and I feel secure in knowing the recovery community is growing strong.

Bill Maentz, Board President, Owner of 5:00 Marketing and Founder of Grander Vision

The heart of Reclaiming Lives drew me to volunteer and to donate. When you find the opportunity to work with people that truly love the people they serve you get inspired. The inspiration leads to action and then a relationship that will help to heal those that are hurting. This will be a tough road for those that embark on this journey. It will be hard for those serving and for those that serve. The need, the hurt, the celebrations, the setbacks and the victory we will share along the way will be worth every moment for me.

billm@reclaiming-lives.org

Beau Jeska, 71 Five Justice Director, 71 Five Ministries and Lead Chaplain at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center

As the lead Chaplain at the Juvenile Detention Center here in Medford, I see first-hand the impact addiction has on the lives of kids and their families. I have made it my life’s work to reach the lost and broken in our community and the Recovery Café model is an incredible system that is truly effective. I am honored to be a part of the team to bring this program to the Rogue Valley where it so desperately needed. Together we can be difference makers in breaking the cycles of addiction—to help people in reclaiming their lives and to see them rejoice in freedom!

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