Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorenzo Jones.
Hi Lorenzo, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I first came to Frederick County in a rehab transportation van on November 5, 2018, after being picked up from a Maryland Correctional Facility in Jessup. Before then I’d never even heard of Frederick County. I was heading to a 6-month inpatient addiction treatment program and feeling a little nervous but excited and eager all at the same time. I’d never been to rehab before and didn’t know what to expect. Little did I know, that program would change my life forever and I would still be here in Frederick 5 years later.
After completing that treatment program I ended up going to a halfway house in the city of Frederick where I would begin a new life and begin the process of becoming the man that I wanted to be. I started off working in restaurants as many people do in early recovery and stayed consistent with employment, something that was a struggle for me before. I’d built a strong support network using skills I’d learned in treatment and that ended up being beneficial in my recovery journey. I utilized my network and resources that were available to go to college, find employment, purchase a vehicle, and get my first apartment.
I’d changed careers from the restaurant industry to real estate and became a licensed real estate agent at a local brokerage. This was a goal that I had for years and I’d finally accomplished it. It was an amazing feeling and while I did enjoy it I still felt as if something was missing. That’s when I was introduced to the world of peer support and found out what a peer recovery specialist was.
Soon after, I signed up for a Recovery Coach Academy class and was on my way to becoming a CPRS. When I started working as a peer recovery specialist, I knew then that this was what was missing. Working as a recovery coach has been the most fulfilling job that I’ve ever held before. I enjoyed doing what I do so much that late last year I opened Penda Lane Recovery Coaching to provide peer support services to the community. We offer virtual, over-the-phone, and in-person coaching to individuals in recovery.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Recovery isn’t simple or easy. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to a new way of living. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 the restaurant that I was working at shut down and I like many others became unemployed.
It was a stressful time for everyone especially those in recovery. It was during this time that I created A Felons Voice, the Instagram page where you found me. I wanted to create a space where people could see a person who had just come home from prison and experience my journey with me and let people know that change is possible. I wanted to get involved with social activism and do something to try to help lower the recidivism rate because I too was one of the people caught in that cycle for years.
I found that one of the main reasons people re-offend is because of substance use and mental health disorders and that they’re usually contributing factors. That made me want to lean into my recovery coaching work even harder when I got into that.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a recovery coach, I use my lived experience to share insights, practical advice, and strategies that empower individuals to set goals and work toward self-empowerment.
I provide help and support without judgment and support the use of multiple pathways to recovery. I’m excited about the National Recovery Month celebration and resource event I’m having this September. It’s my first time doing anything of this magnitude by myself and in my business.
Any big plans?
Soon, I plan on providing stable housing for individuals in early recovery. Just as there is an opioid and substance use crisis that we’re battling, there is also a housing crisis that we face.
Finding stable housing is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. So utilizing my experience in real estate, I plan on acquiring and opening affordable recovery homes in my area where people can live and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pendalane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pendalanerecoverycoaching/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PendaLaneRecoveryCoaching
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzojonescprs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pendalane
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pendalanerecoverycoaching
- Other: https://dot.cards/pendalanerecoverycoaching
Image Credits
Terrence Banks Photography
