The Pennsylvania Treatment Alliance is a recently formed collaboration between three organizations focused on combating the opioid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania, with a specific emphasis on treatment for women and families. The Alliance is a combined effort between Sojourner House, which provides compassionate, faith-based addiction recovery services to women and their children; Family Links, an organization committed to building healthy communities by strengthening individuals and families through provision of comprehensive, quality services in matters including addiction; and POWER, whose mission is to help women reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction and to reduce the incidence of addiction in future generations. The trio of organizations has been working together for … [Read more...] about Sojourner House, Family Links and POWER Join Forces to form Pennsylvania Treatment Alliance, Combating The Opioid Epidemic
Community
Since 2012, MFA program candidates from Chatham University have consistently visited Sojourner House residents every Thursday during Fall and Spring semesters. The purpose: to help our women use the written word to help them cope with their respective journeys to recovery. This past semester of the Words Without Walls writing program proved to be another semester for our residents to bring self-awareness, vulnerability and talent, not to mention compassion for each other in an open-hearted environment. Resident Kari Childs graciously shared the work to be published not only in the booklet published at the end of each semester, but also on Sojourner House’s blog: “A Stand” Look at her she chose to just leave. She preferred to be with a man that beats her. Shame & Guilt … [Read more...] about “Words without Walls” collaboration with Chatham University
Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh hosted a community forum on Nov. 19 called “Hopeful Responses to Addiction,” geared toward addressing issues related to addiction in the Pittsburgh region. The event took place at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill. Approximately 50 guests listened to speakers representing a mixture of faith leaders from various local religious organizations, community experts on issues related to addiction, and first-person experts on the subject matter. The forum consisted of three main segments: defining addiction; the impact of addiction; and how to respond as a community. Two of the event’s speakers were people with connections to … [Read more...] about Sojourner House Among Proud Participants of “Hopeful Responses to Addiction” Community Forum
For someone who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, Maelene Myers has been nothing short of a lighthouse in the East End community for more than two decades. And for Sojourner House MOMS, Myers has played a pivotal decision-making role forming and developing Sojourner House MOMS since it opened in 2004. As a matter of fact, Myers, who is Executive Director of East Liberty Development, Inc. has sat at the helm of the Sojourner House MOMS board as its president for a decade. She plans to step down from that role after next week’s MOMS board meeting adjourns. When asked why she has taken on Sojourner House MOMS as a decades-long project she holds close to her heart, Highland Park resident Myers said the following: “Providing safe and stable housing is very important during recovery. The … [Read more...] about Maelene Myers to be 2019 Pearl of Hope Recipient
Shadyside Presbyterian Church’s 25th annual Strawberry Festival, which took place on June 8 on the lawn of the church, was once again an evening full of great fun and great camaraderie. Proceeds from the event have benefited Sojourner House for the past eight years. Read all about the festival in the Summer 2018 of issue of Shady Ave magazine. … [Read more...] about 25th Annual Strawberry Festival
At Sojourner House's signature fundraiser, the 14th Annual Victorian Tea, 350 guests attended the on Sunday, April 15, 2018, raising over $60,000. The event was chaired by Nancy Davis, Sojourner House board member. Special thanks to honorary chair, Karin Mayr, Founder and CEO of Sabika Jewelry. This year's Pearl of Hope recipient was Lynne Chadwick, CAO and Director of Risk & Compliance at BNY Mellon, and long-time Sojourner House supporter. Shannon Perrine, reporter for WTAE-TV's Action News, was the event emcee. The event featured a silent auction, basket raffle, and program that included a poetry reading from a Sojourner House graduate, and a live musical performance from Eric Granata and Nina Sainato. The program also included a proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh … [Read more...] about Thank you, 14th Annual Victorian Tea Supporters!