By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – The saying goes it takes a village to raise a child. In Graham County, a collaborative effort has fast-tracked the Sunrise Re-entry and Preventative Center to assist those arrested on minor drug or drug paraphernalia charges.
A combination of a private building donation, a grant to renovate and run the program, and cooperation with the Graham County Superior Court, Attorney’s Office, and Sheriff’s Office, has enabled the Sunrise Re-entry and Preventative Center’s opening.
Pastor Sherry Brady of the United Methodist Church blessed the building at 2111 N. Calle Mesa Verde off Airport Road during a ceremony on Wednesday and thanked those who were involved in the making of the building and program.
The building was previously a community center owned by Gary Jordan who had it for roughly 15 years. He chose Sunrise LLC for his community center because he felt it would rise again one day. When the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition heard that, Executive Director Kathy Grimes asked Jordan if they could use the name for the new preventative center.”
“It’s unbelievable what they’ve done with this here,” Jordan said. “I couldn’t have picked a better cause for the property to be used for.”
Sunrise Project Coordinator Kristen Johnson is a recovery support specialist with first-hand experience with local law enforcement and the judiciary. She said her experiences assist her in connecting with those she is seeking to help while now having the tools to do so.
“As a person who has struggled with incarceration and addiction, I know the importance of having someone attend court with you. I know the importance of having authentic people to support you. Authenticity connects us and genuine connection is what heals. We have brought together a whole team of people dedicated to keeping participants from returning to the justice system and overcoming addiction. Upon completion of the 12-week program, the participants’ accomplishments are noted in sentencing with the judge.”
Participants of the Sunrise Program are enrolled in substance abuse classes, receive trauma therapy if needed, receive mentoring, and participate in community events with the Coalition. Johnson said that one of the most important components of the program is the Monday Night Group Meetings, which often feature speakers who have been down the substance abuse road and back.
Participants who do not follow the required protocol soon find themselves back in front of a judge deciding their future for them instead of taking control themselves.
Judge Peterson spoke at the ribbon cutting and associated the Japanese art form of Kintsugi, which translates to “joining with gold” with those recovering from substance abuse or other ailments. The art form is about taking a broken piece of pottery and repairing it with gold, making it more exquisite than it was before.
“Substance abuse robs people, primarily and mostly, of their belief that they are worthwhile, that they matter,” Judge Peterson said. “The people that I work with are often very broken. They may have had traumas. There may have been other challenges that they faced. I cannot change them as much as I would like to, but I can help them through the processes that we’ve adopted to try to rebuild their lives, to try to become a beautiful version of themselves, albeit a broken one, a beautiful one. Broken doesn’t mean bad. The reality is, I do try to tell them, and it’s true, that no one who has ever lived on this earth is just like you, and no one ever will be. You matter, and we’re going to do everything within our power to try to help you, to restore you to become the best version of yourself.”
The project has been operational since Aug. 1 and so far has a 60 percent success rate. Graham County Jail Commander TJ Perez who was instrumental in getting the project going believes the success rate could be as high as 90 percent after a full year.
Perez said the cooperation with Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson and County Attorney L. Scott Bennett was critical in getting the program going. He said Graham County got its re-entry program up and running within one year while it took Yavapai County 10 years.
The building also serves as a business office for the Substance Abuse Coalition and has a room where they will record podcasts for the coalition and youth advocates. The center also features a full bathroom with shower and other amenities.
Part of the office furniture includes a desk donated by Marge Shade, former CEO of Southeastern Bottling. Shade was a driving force for multiple substance abuse projects and the Marge Schade House of Hope Sober Living Facility serves men transitioning from rehab to the community and a new living facility for women is being constructed nearby. Shade also donated a chair used at the facility and a painting now hung on its wall.
“Marge is the one that got us started in our recovery world with the House of Hope,” Kathy Grimes told the Gila Herald. “And I look for Marge to be part of everything that we do with a caring heart.”
Sheriff P.J. Allred said that if there is a demand for illegal drugs, there will always be people attempting to smuggle them and supply that demand. He said law enforcement will continue to work on curbing the supply but that the biggest help would be if programs like this one help curb the demand.
Judge Peterson left on a positive note of change and that the center will provide necessary assistance to make a positive change in people’s lives.
“I’m hopeful that this will be an opportunity for us to help these individuals more quickly,” Judge Peterson said. “I would like to leave you with the following thought – this is from a Jesuit priest in France. ‘We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a healing experience.’ Each one of us has infinite potential and worth. One of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life is to watch someone claw their way from the darkness into the light. It’s the most exhilarating feeling in the whole world to watch someone become the best version of themselves. And thanks to you and your support we continue to be able to be here today.”
