The partners in the evolving recovery to work program – Communities of Healing – are holding their Winter Gathering Monday, Dec. 4, at Fruits of Labor, 313 Neville Street, Beckley, WV.
The Gathering, to share with the public the program’s recent progress and next steps, will feature Drema Hill, Vice President of Community Engagement and Chief Operations Officer at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM). Hill is a Boone County native who has dedicated her career to community-based public health solutions, and she was recently honored by the American Public Health Association at its national meeting for her many contributions.
Hill has more than three decades of experience in public health leadership. She joined WVSOM in 2016 and became a vice president of the osteopathic medical school in 2019. Hill also serves as a consultant on issues relating to opioid settlement funds for the Office of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
Her past honors include the Excellence in Rural Health Award from the West Virginia Rural Health Association; the Small Communities, Big Solutions Advocate Award from the Alliance for Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, the West Virginia Community Development Hub and Coalfield Development; and West Virginia Executive magazine’s Health Care Hall of Fame award. She received the Neil Diehl Award for Innovation and Excellence in HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment from Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The public is invited to participate in person or virtually – register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-2023-gathering-virtual-and-in-person-tickets-
The Communities of Healing program has provided an additional 551 entrepreneurs/business owners with recovery-to-work information and training and created more than30 new jobs.
Current cohort graduates include: Ashley and Bill Chouinard – Wild Blue Adventure Company, Fayetteville; Adam Starks – MNDYRR Technologies, Inc., Philippi; Candice Meade – Posh Manna Cake Art/N600 – Shady Spring; Ansel Ponder – Blue Appalachia, Bluefield; and Wauketa Okoli – Get Lifted, LLC, Fayetteville.
Tammy Jordan, president of Fruits of Labor, said “Three years ago, Communities of Healing was just a dream that had been stirring in my heart since 2017. To see the magnitude of impact in the recovery community over the last 36 months is overwhelming and inspiring. We are grateful to be able to provide an opportunity for individuals to engage in the hard work of transforming their life, moving forward in career paths through education, training, and employment, reconnecting with children, while simultaneously encouraging other businesses and social enterprises to join the journey. The partners in Communities of Healing are devoted and passionate about recovery efforts,and the network of businesses that continues to grow is full of encouragement for the future.Together, we will continue to see healing in our communities one person at a time.”
Judy Moore, executive director of the West Virginia Hive and deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, said the WV Hive looks forward to continuing the work with Fruits of Labor and the other Communities of Healing partners for years to come. “Being a partner in the Communities of Healing program has been an amazing experience for all of us at the WV Hive,” said Moore. “We couldn’t be prouder of the work and the business owners we have had the opportunity to serve who are opening their doors and their hearts to individuals in recovery to allow them a second chance.”
The Communities of Healing program was funded in 2020 by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The innovative program is designed on the success of Fruits of Labor, a culinary program that has worked for 11 years with those in recovery and 22 years in business. The successful Communities of Healing program includes a partnership group consisting of Fruits of Labor, Region 4 Planning and Development Council, Seed Sower, Inc., Wright Venture Services, Region 1 Workforce Development Board, and West Virginia Hive. More information about the Communities of Healing program can be found at http://www.communitiesofhealing.com.