15 Jan Staff Appreciation
Sojourner appreciates its staff. We recognize the challenges their tasked with in counseling our clients struggling with addiction and mental health. Every day we see our coworkers go above and beyond in exhibiting compassion, patience, strength, hard work, motivation, willpower, inspiration, care. You get it. Today, we take some extra time to appreciate Darryle Short, our Director of Staff Development.
Darryle was recently recognized by Journal News reporter Rick McCrabb for being one of the most intriguing people of 2015. In the article, “Reporter Rick McCrabb Presents ‘Most Intriguing People of the Year,'” McCrabb writes:
“‘Every wonderful thing’
The first time I heard Darryle Short speak during a United Way breakfast, I knew I had to interview him.
We sat down in the office at Sojourner Recovery Services in Hamilton, and for more about an hour, he told his amazing story from being homeless to his journey of being sober for 18 years.
He said that on Dec. 27, 1997 he was hiding from the winter weather under the West Middletown bridge — a hideout for the homeless — with all his possessions: a trash bag full of clothes and a 19-inch cable ready TV in case he could watch ESPN where he spent the night.
He closed his eyes for a second, then a large TV appeared on an I-beam under the bridge. His life flashed before him.
It was the G version of his R-rated life.
‘Every wonderful thing that ever happened to me,’ Short explained. ‘Not the trauma, nor the abuse, none of that.’
He eventually reconnected with his mother and stepfather, earned his GED at Middletown High School, and paid off the $77,000 in child support he owed in Butler, Warren and Preble counties. He works as director of staff development at Sojourner, the same place where he became sober, met and married his wife, and started as a resident assistant.”
Darryle Short is the physical embodiment of Sojourner’s Mission, Vision, and Beliefs. We sure are lucky to have him!
For McCrabb’s full article, click here.