Victory Programs opens doors to health, housing, recovery, and hope for individuals and families facing homelessness, addiction, or other chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS.
THE DOORWAY: SPRING EDITION
Your springtime access to Victory Programs news and information is here! In the latest issue of The Doorway, you’ll get a sneak peek into an exciting project with StoryCorps and meet a volunteer yoga instructor at the BLC who bends over backwards for our members. There’s also a compelling visual recap of how we weathered 2020, and we plant some seeds about how you can support our Revision Urban Farm.
You can read the online version of our newsletter here.
If you would like to join our mailing list to automatically receive our publications by mail, please email your name and address to development@vpi.org.
VICTORY PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: 2020 WRAP UP
On March 11, 2020, the Coronavirus was declared a pandemic. On March 23, Victory Programs was deemed an essential services provider under Governor Baker’s Emergency Order.
In between those two dates, we rolled out a strategic emergency response that includes increased cleaning protocols; procedures for handling confirmed and/or suspected cases in our programs, including quarantine and isolation practices; and, of course, the enforcement of CDC and EOHHS guidelines, including social distancing and the provision of PPE for staff and clients. Every detail in what is a comprehensive plan – still in operation – is driven by our commitment to the health and safety of our clients and staff.
Click here to read more of our story.
Click Here to Watch our Virtual Panel
ECHOES OF AIDS IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS: LESSONS AND REFLECTIONS
Presented by GLAD and Victory Programs
Hosted by The Museum of Science
Panelists:
Moderated by Dawn Fukuda, Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s, Bureau of Infectious Disease. With special guest, Dr. Bruce Walker, Founding Director of the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard.
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Victory Programs' Graduate Misty Bergeron recounts her slow, painful journey through recovery, the struggle to connect with help, and the joy of reunification with her children.
Our clients share their experiences with Victory Programs in this moving video.
We are truly inspired and grateful for the continued support we've received from caring individuals, foundations, and corporations to ensure our staff and our clients remain safe and well through the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to visit our Be Inspired! page and help us acknowledge those who have supported us thus far and hopefully be inspired to take action yourself!
During this time of isolation, it helps our staff and clients to know that they are not alone — that their community cares about them.
March 13, 2020
Dear Victory Programs' community,
I am reaching out to share some updates about Victory Programs’ response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Responding to health crises has been part of our line of work for decades, and each time, our red doors have remained opened. This time won’t be an exception.
The health and safety of those accessing services, staff, friends, and supporters, continue to be our top priorities. We have developed a multi-staged response that adopts guidelines issued by public health officials and allows us to continue to foster a welcoming environment to those in need.
We provide services to more than 3,200 individuals in Greater Boston each year – many of whom have immune systems that can be easily compromised and are disproportionally burdened by health crises. Victory Programs is built on the idea that everyone should have access to services in times of personal or community crises. In light of this pandemic, we uphold that mission and plan to continue to provide the safety, help, and resources, individuals need. To date, there are no confirmed cases within any of our 19 programs, many of which function 24/7.
We are adopting the suggested actions from the CDC, Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health, and the Boston Public Health Commission including:
Sarah Porter | Executive Director
December 4, 2019
Dear friends and partners of Victory Programs:
We are pleased to announce Sarah Porter as Executive Director of Victory Programs, Inc. after both a thorough interview process and a unanimous vote by the Board in support of Sarah’s appointment.
Sarah is well qualified to lead Victory Programs’ next chapter. As interim CEO of the agency, she proved adept at managing the strategic and operational aspects of Victory Programs while also being a true leader during a transitional period for the agency. Sarah partnered effectively with the Executive Team and the Board of Directors during this time and clients continued to get the highest levels of service in line with our mission.
With Sarah and the Executive Team’s partnership, we, the Board, spent most of this past year looking at data and talking to a wide range of stakeholders about Victory Programs’ place in the community as part of a strategic planning process. This work continues today and there will be more to come as Sarah transitions into her new leadership role. What we do know for sure is that the strategic planning process reinforced the vital purpose the agency serves today and will serve into the future. It also highlighted the strength of the agency’s partners including local and state governments, foundations, private funders, and other community-based organizations.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support allowing us to advance Victory Programs’ mission each and every day.
Sincerely,
Victory Programs Board of Directors
My New Year’s Resolution this year is to start believing in myself.
I’ve never struggled to get 30, 60, or even 90 days clean. I struggle with long-term sobriety and believing I deserve all the blessings I worked hard for. When I begin to start being a part of society, working, getting a place, being a mom… I begin to tell myself I don’t deserve it.
Currently I am five months pregnant. From here I plan to go to Shepherd House’s mother and children’s program. I plan to give birth to a healthy baby girl and I never once want to believe I don’t deserve to be sober and happy. This year I will walk with dignity and pride as a woman who deserves happiness.
Ashley
For so many years, I’ve been running away from emotions and feelings, only to experience worse feelings and emotions.
I created my own Hell. The person in the mirror was someone that I didn’t recognize. I just kept shoveling drugs and alcohol into my body to numb myself.
All of a sudden, the substances no longer numbed the pain or the guilt that I feel. There had to be a something more to life. I began to wonder what my purpose is here on Earth. So many people are dying, why is it that I am still alive?
On December 31, 2018, I checked into detox. I felt so alone and empty inside. I couldn’t fathom living life correctly but I definitely couldn’t go on as I was. I made a personal vow that in the New Year I would give my all to build a better life. I am proud to say that I’m drug free, in 2019. It is only the 10th of January, but it’s a clean slate to start with.
I have a lot of work to do with cleaning up the wreckage of my past. It’s a scary thing for someone who has avoided reality for so long. However, I’m very optimistic about what is to come. I’ll accept the consequences because it is time for me to grow-up. Not everything is going to happen the way I want. I’m positive that if I keep doing the next right think, only the best can come from it.
Diane
My name is Elizabeth and I’m an addict. My New Year’s Resolution this January 1st is to become a healthy, independent, well rounded woman, in recovery.
In order to obtain this goal I’m setting small bench mark goals, for example, entering a half-way house. I will work with my counselor, Community Support Case Management Program (CSP) worker and therapist who will guide me though and help me set attainable goals. That will lead me toward my ultimate goal of being an independent , well rounded woman in recovery.
So far, Victory Programs has helped me so much. I have applied to half-way houses and have begun work with my CSP worker. 2019 is my year and I’d love to say thank you to my higher power and Victory Programs’ Women’s Hope for paving the way.
Elizabeth
My New Year’s Resolution for this year is getting my son back, and caring for him as best as I can and he deserves.
I have a seven month and year old baby boy. In my addiction, I have lost custody of him to the state. However, reunification is now the goal and I am well on my way.
I have been clean for 67 days and having weekly visits with my son. I am working very hard on my recovery and just yesterday I got a bed at a reunification program. I am going next week! So within a couple of months I will be back with my son full time.
The hard work is still ahead. I have to continue working on my recovery, getting my mind and body healthy, and making sure I am in the best space possible to make the transition to being a full time mom!
My resolution is to reunify and be the best mother I can be!
Erin
I’m trying to stick to my New Year’s Resolution by remaining grateful and remaining abstinent from all drugs and alcohol. I am grateful to places like Women’s Hope to help me get my life back on track.
Jessica
I’m Kristine, an alcoholic and an addict. I have been trying to get clean and sober for 20 years. This year HAS to and WILL be different.
For my New Year’s Resolution: I am going to control my temper and listen more – I’m going to finish a program (for the first time ever) and get everything I possibly can out of it, also I am going to do everything I have and need to do so I do not end up back in jail.
The most important resolution I have is to build a new relationship with my 13 year old son. He watched me try and fail in recovery so many times. He loves me no matter what but I want to make him proud. I was ripped out of his life and sent to prison fo`r over a year.
Reality hit me hard. It affected my family more than I could have possibly imagined. I have finally surrendered, I literally fell to my knees and cried more than I ever have before. I have no choice this time and I will do this. I’m far from perfect, and my old behaviors do sneak up on me, but that’s where the program, and meetings, and other women who are serious about their recovery too, help me and guide me back to the right path.
Every day I look forward to continuing my journey in recovery. These are New Year’s Resolutions that I am finally serious about, and I will work my hardest to follow through with. I can’t keep looking back at what I’ve done in the past. I will stay in the present and look forward to the future!
Kristine
My New Year’s Resolution is to stay free from alcohol and jails. I would like to accomplish my GED to go to college, take up some computer classes, and get a good job.
I also want to have a better relationship with my family and my daughter.
I also want to find a church where I can go to fellowship with others and I would like to have a trainer to stay in shape and a dietician to eat healthy foods and I have a sponsor already. I have to call her two to three times a week and I have a counselor and a therapist so my resolution is a New Beginning.
Renee