The Clubhouse by Ashley and The Roots Project's Approach to Addiction Recovery

Thanks for joining the conversation, where we explore the stories and experiences that shape our world. I'm your host, Rich Bennett, joined by my cohost, Wendy Beck.
Today I’m excited to introduce our esteemed guests of The Clubhouse by Ashley and The Roots Project.
Marcus D. Webster II is a graduate of Aberdeen High School and serves as the Children & Youth Program Manager of The Clubhouse by Ashley and The Roots Project. He began his professional career at the Glen Mills School as a Counselor before moving to Pittsburgh where he continued his career as a member of the leadership team at The Bradley Center, and as a Service Coordinator at a faith-based non-profit located in Pittsburgh's Hill District. Since returning to Maryland, Marcus has also served as the Crisis Intervention Team Specialist for Eastern Shore Crisis Response Services in Cecil County, as the Program Advocate for Voices of Hope, a member of the Board of Session for Grove Presbyterian Church, and the Building Association President for the Beta Chi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity.
Sydney Shupe was born and raised in Bel Air, Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland. Sydney uses her lived experience to connect with adolescents and their families by helping families engage in what the Clubhouse and other community resources have to offer. Her favorite part about her career is seeing the growth and resiliency in the individuals she works with. Overall, Sydney puts her compassionate and uncompromising efforts into all she does.
Joey Young is a proud Alumni of Harford Community College and has called the area home for over seven years. He was inspired to enter the mental health field after completing inpatient treatment at Ashley in the summer of 2016. He has been with Ashley for over five years now as a Peer Support Specialist with an expertise in the emerging adult demographic. Joey now works side by side with academic staff to support the student population that is impacted by substance use. 
Lydia Bongiorno is a graduate of C. Milton Wright High School. She began her recovery journey in May 2018, after battling addiction for many years. She began her professional career working in, in-patient treatment settings. Lydia has a very loving wife and a 1-year old daughter. She has loving parents and much appreciated support, by her friends and family.



Rich Bennett 0:00
We have a full table this morning. We have a good friend of mine who one of these days I'm going to see him in the ring. I know I am. 

We have Marcus and several others with the clubhouse at Ashley of Ashley, by Ashley by Ashley of Nice. By Ashley. Well, either way, it's Ashley's clubhouse. Absolutely. 

Marcus Webster 0:25
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 0:26
So we're going to go around and have everybody introduce themselves. And of course, I am joined by Wendy, who is actually she's going to take the lead on this. 

Wendy Beck 0:35
So I'm taking the lead today. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 0:37
Well, those are age talks, right? 

Wendy Beck 0:39
Yeah, Well, you know, welcome, everyone. This is a radio talk episode. And like Rick said, it is a group of people that are near and dear to my heart. They work on the addiction side of things when it comes to kids that have been affected. So I just want to introduce everyone and I'm going to start off on my left. 

Lydia Bongiorno 1:02
Look, 

I. 

Rich Bennett 1:05
Always this is videotape. 

Group 1:07
I'm of. 

Rich Bennett 1:09
First thought. 

Group 1:10
First. 

Lydia Bongiorno 1:12
I'm Lydia, and I am the Roots. Peer over in Ebony Middle School. I also work for Ashley Addiction Treatment Clubhouse, and I am peer support for the kids in the middle school. 

Sydney Shupe 1:26
I'm Sidney. I'm the young adult peer recovery coordinator for the Clubhouse by Ashley. So along with offering peer support, I also do some of the intake side of things like processing applications, meeting with families, offering resources, all that kind of stuff. 

Joey Young 1:44
And I'm Joey. I'm one of the peer support specialists in Aberdeen High School, and I joined the clubhouse team about two months ago in the fall. 

Marcus Webster 1:53
Absolutely. And I am Marcus Webster. I guess I got to come up with the ring name now, 

but I am the official title Children and Youth Program Manager. I helped to supervise a team of amazing peers, helped to, you know, oversee operations of the clubhouse as well as the Roots project. So very excited to be here and grateful. 

Rich Bennett 2:12
All right. First of all, you know, you've been thinking about it. I cannot deny. 

Marcus Webster 2:17
I have not denied it. That has been one of my lifelong dreams, actually. Believe it or not, it's on my bucket list. Before I turn 35, I will wrestle one professional wrestling match online. 

Rich Bennett 2:27
We already have another guest on here, too. Did Ali. I mean, Jordan Allawi, I'm sorry, from the Allawi family. 

Marcus Webster 2:34
Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, wow. They do some amazing work. I did not know that Jordan wrestled. 

Rich Bennett 2:38
One one time. 

Marcus Webster 2:39
One time. 

Rich Bennett 2:40
One time for his birthday. Yeah. The one organization does the birthday thing. 

Marcus Webster 2:47
Oh, from CW. Yeah. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 2:49
So he went down there for it and they said, Well, all right, well, you're going to wrestle. Yeah. And he said he had a blast. 

Marcus Webster 2:56
I, I begged my wife last year to, to plan me for my 30th birthday, which is actually coming on next Friday. I said, can you please give me an M.C. W birthday party so I could live that and then give you little promo cards. You sign autographs. But unfortunately, that's a dream that's not going to go fulfilled this year. 

Group 3:12
So you never know. Yeah. 

Marcus Webster 3:14
Maybe next year. 

Rich Bennett 3:15
You never know. Just might not be this week. 

Marcus Webster 3:18
Well, I don't know. Maybe I'm just waiting for someone to call me out. 

Group 3:24
All right, Go. 

Rich Bennett 3:25
Ahead, Wendy. I'm sorry I out. 

Wendy Beck 3:27
He diverges. Well, anyway, welcome, everyone, and thank you. I have known Marcus and Lydia for quite some time now, working with Ashley. And on the addiction side of things, we have connections through rage, and we had a rage club. So we would partner with you doing something. Sydney was there. We had Christmas parties and different outings for the kids. And now that the Ashley Clubhouse is up and running, we have kind of become a resource broker for them. So if anybody comes to rage with any kind of need for resources, we would funnel them to you. So it's it's actually nice to be able to see you guys, you know, thriving and growing in this setting. I am part of the Ashley Clubhouse Advisory Board. Yes, that's kind of cool. I'm sorry I missed the last meeting. 

Marcus Webster 4:22
We do. We actually one of the things that we try to do is have a community advisory board. So it's kind of a very much informal board of directors, but it's made up with our community partners, representatives from the Harford County Recovery Community, leaders of recovery, community organizations, because we want, you know, everybody's input when it comes to serving these children and and the specific needs. So Wendy graciously accepted the invitation to take part in the board. 

Rich Bennett 4:45
So how many different boards are you going? 

Are you trying to compete with me? Oh. 

Marcus Webster 4:51
Okay. Well, Rachel might have to get you on there, too. 

Wendy Beck 4:55
But I think one of the things that we should probably start with is maybe like the history of the clubhouse, like kind of start there and then how it branched off into the rooted program and what that means to Hartford County. Now, because this is a pilot program that has not existed as far as I'm aware of. So tell us about the clubhouse, how it had started and it is grant funded. 

Marcus Webster 5:17
Yes, is absolutely. So it's funded through the State Opioid Response Initiative. The clubhouse model started in working with mental are sorry adults with mental health disorders helping to provide job and employment opportunities. So when the state looked at a way to kind of address this, you know this never ending opioid crisis and and kind of break these generational cycles they looked at that model to to start building adolescent clubhouses throughout the state. We are the only clubhouse in the state that is associated with the treatment facility, which makes us, you know, very unique. But I actually when it passed over Sydney, you know, Sydney has definitely been there since the very beginning. So absolutely. 

Sydney Shupe 5:56
Yeah. So like Mark said, I've been there since the beginning in that little trailer on the main campus of Ashley. 

We first started off as virtual, so we would have a zoom open during the week for kids to jump on, kind of talk. It was more sort of like a one on one setting, so it was pretty intimate. And, you know, we like Wendy said to we would try to get out in the community and partner with rage and also the health department as well, trying to get the message out there for the clubhouse. 

Rich Bennett 6:32
What do you do that start with the trailer. 

Sydney Shupe 6:35
We did in 2020. 

Rich Bennett 6:37
One. 

Marcus Webster 6:39
During work. 

Wendy Beck 6:40
Yeah, well, I'm interested how how did we get to the point where these kids were coming to your virtually like, what was the you know, how how were these kids introduced to the program? What did the virtual meeting provide to them? 

Sydney Shupe 6:59
So a lot of our members came from referrals and stuff. Um, our previous director, Laura, she would, you know, get the message out to schools and other community organizations. We would kind of just provide the one on one peer support for them, you know, say, Hey, what's going on at home, What's going on in school? You know, are you using are you affected by substance use, kind of just trying to get a whole picture with the kids and then scheduling meetings after that with them? So like weekly. Almost. 

Marcus Webster 7:35
Absolutely. And it was you know, it was about building those relationships at the beginning. I mean, this is you look at a clinical treatment setting and then you're looking at a peer run, peer led program stemming out to work with adolescents that are as soon you said, at risk and impacted. And risk is very broad. I was like, I hate to say it, but it's the truth is that the state of where we're at, there's not a single kid that I know of or ever come across in my career or personally that is not at risk for substances. That's just the reality. But that impacted by is something that we really, really stressed and honed in on as particularly over the past year. And when I say impacted by that means that, you know, that student, that member has a parent or a loved one in their immediate family that's in active addiction. They may have lost their family member or an immediate family member to substance use, or they're an adolescent that is currently using or has used substances themselves. And it's been really unique to especially as we've shifted from that virtual that physical setting to see all of these kids come together as one community. And I think in that we're not just, you know, building a sense of community, but we're mirroring the community that exists broadly around the county as well. 

Wendy Beck 8:42
Okay. I mean, that's that's actually really it's cool. But I think that when you guys before you started, the families were able to come to a recovery weekend. Is that is that correct? Like the recovery program, The family. 

Marcus Webster 8:58
Absolutely. The Children Caregivers program. 

Wendy Beck 9:00
Which this kind of like branched off from. 

Marcus Webster 9:02
Absolutely. So the family wellness division that exists on on the main campus is, I think what sets Ashley apart from for most other treatment programs is understanding that we're not just hoping to serve the individual what we want to heal and serve the entire family as a whole. So Laura, who was over top of that, was in charge of the Children Caregivers program that worked with caregivers who had children ages 7 to 11 to help them understand how addiction impacts that child. And luckily, we're actually going to be running that program again next week after a long COVID hiatus. So I'm really excited about that. It's been a lot of hard work, but it really grew from that. So it's not just meeting with them, you know, once a month, but how do we serve those caregivers in that adolescent, you know, every single day or every weekday, one day we'll go open up on the weekends. I've been struggling, Sidney, for a year. We're going to open up on Saturdays one day, but we're not quite there yet. But that's where that stemmed out from, is is holistic support for the family and the adolescent. 

Wendy Beck 9:59
And they need it in. I guess it was around 2000 and maybe 2008. I was enrolled in the family weekend. 

Marcus Webster 10:08
I did not know. 

Wendy Beck 10:09
That I had a family member. So I was I went through that and it really at that time I did not know a lot about addiction. So I really gained a lot of information. And then part of the the Kids program I got to through the Rage Club, go and participate and see that. And I really thought that that was an amazing 

way to approach things because you guys do like a lot of activity that I just would never have thought of. I guess it's more of almost counseling, you know, having like the backpack, the puppet shows. Yep. All of these kind of things. And I think that now you're you're amplifying that in in the daily after school program. Can you explain that a little bit? 

Marcus Webster 10:52
Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, the Circle of Caregivers program really originates from that clinical setting. We have an amazing team of family therapists who helped execute that program and really look at it from the clinical lens of let's help understand what's happening here. When I look at, you know, what's happening at the clubhouse and kind of the expansion of that through the after school program and and even in the school, it's pure peer support. And I think that's, you know, we over the past couple of years, really the expansion of the role of a peer in variety of fields when it comes to helping combat, you know, this crisis has been amazing. So to be able to to create a peer led peer support program for adolescents, not just builds off of that clinical foundation. And but, you know, my my personal feeling is that it makes it, you know, a stronger outcome. A lot of data shows that individuals are five times more likely to engage in treatment or to engage in a process of change when they're linked with a peer. And that's showing. And I think, you know, I'm sure Joey and Lydia, I'll get into we've seen some amazing successes, particularly when you link an adolescent or student with a peer and work that can do for them in a relatively short amount of time. 

Wendy Beck 11:57
And I know that you have not been doing this long at the high school. When did when did that start. 

Joey Young 12:03
Until your second. 

Sydney Shupe 12:04
I'm. 

Group 12:05
Don't yeah. 

Lydia Bongiorno 12:07
Yeah it's very new very very very. 

Sydney Shupe 12:09
Very now how are you received. 

Joey Young 12:11
Open arms you. 

Wendy Beck 12:12
Know by the staff. 

Joey Young 12:14
By admin students. 

Rich Bennett 12:15
Everybody. 

Joey Young 12:16
Everybody. 

Rich Bennett 12:16
That's awesome. Yeah. 

Joey Young 12:18
I mean high school has been extremely kind to me and to my counterpart Tara. The support that we received from the John we started like planning with Mark is like, I think I was a got onboarded over the summer, but the support that I saw from the summer up until now has been incredible. 

Wendy Beck 12:34
And what does it look like? What does a day look like for you and the students? Like how how do they how do they come to you? How do they know about you? What are you experiencing? 

Joey Young 12:43
I think it was in September I joined Markus and Lydia for like general assemblies, where I would just have a few minutes to talk to the entire student population and just kind of pitch to them what I'm doing here, who I am, you know, a little bit about myself and them I was or we were gifted this old Sega booth in the high school which became our office. And so we made a space. We made a space, a place that the students wanted to be. I think the the what I tell people is that the room is like college dorm. So we wanted to make it very comfortable and, you know, we can't keep them out of it now, but we wanted to make it very comfortable, very safe. And so once they that was a harder part in the beginning was trying to get them to the office. But what really drove student engagement was other students like our our clubhouse core members that were already in the clubhouse just came over to Roots really, really easily. It was a very smooth transition. You're already in the clubhouse now. You get to hang out with me in the in high school. And it was those core members that went into their daily classes and followed their regular routine who started talking to their peers, their friends about this really cool room that they're going to at launch and in between classes. And then that's what we saw. The sense is like really skyrocket is when the students were being told by other students that were already coming to see us and we just had to like alter our pitch once we were really live in the school because like, once you start talking about mental health, these students, you know, 12, 17, 13, 17 immediately think you're a counselor. They're so like, you know, trying to recalibrate their mindset of like, I'm not that I'm just a peer and then explain to them what a peer is. Really help to to disarm the stigma. And then they just see me as a person to hang out with in the school. So we really relied heavily on just word of mouth from the students to kind of spread the word. And in two months we're already over our goal of 20 enrolled. 

Marcus Webster 14:38
Students and. 

Wendy Beck 14:39
They enrolled to participate. They can't just pop in and out and. 

Joey Young 14:43
Try to. 

Group 14:44
Like. 

Rich Bennett 14:45
They need to. 

Joey Young 14:45
Be enrolled in application process. 

Marcus Webster 14:48
So it's been one of the coolest things and and a lot of this to this this is extremely personal for me from from the clubhouse to the to the Roots project born and raised or not initially born and everything but but grew up in Aberdeen to be able to go back and see the program operating in Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen Middle School and to know the team that's running it. One thing that always runs through my mind as a as it runs through most other's minds when they see the program is, Man, I wish I had this when I was here for for me it's extremely personal because I wish I had it when I was there and when Joey and I and Lydia was there as well. When we were speaking to the students at Aberdeen High School, that was the reality. The conversation we had is that for me, when I open up a yearbook, there's so many faces that I see in that yearbook that are no longer with us. And when we talk about designing these programs and rolling this out or even looking at the peers, and when I say peer, I mean somebody with lived experience that has found recovery or a family member that's been impacted by or an ally is that we're providing this peer support in the setting. And then just like Joey said and Lydia, you know, I'm sure we'll get to a too is, you know, one of the goals I had for like a program deliverables was, hey, let's get four or five kids interested in it. And sure enough, a week and a half into it, it's, Hey, I got ten kids enrolled in the program and I'm building this up over the summer. You know, one of the things was, you know, what are how are people going to react to having somebody with lived experience talking with kids about substance use in a school setting? Stigma is real and there's stigma associated with having those kinds of conversations that are not delivered in a in a dare, you know, dare to resist kind of manner, but actually really try and identify what's going on and how I can support you. So it's been amazing to watch this program grow in a relatively short amount of time. 

Rich Bennett 16:28
And what is it? 

Marcus Webster 16:29
Roots The Roots project. 

Rich Bennett 16:31
What's what's the meaning behind? 

Marcus Webster 16:33
Oh, I see. So I won't speak on it. So like I said, this this, this program is very personal to me. Even operating the clubhouse in Aberdeen is personal to me. But when I look at roots, obviously my roots are in the community. I'm a big branding kind of marketing minded person, which is I think all of us. But you look at the actually imagery of of the Oak Leaf and Father Martin saying that, you know, through death, life and the dying oak leaves becoming, becoming whole and renewed again, we wanted to be the opposite of that. We didn't necessarily we're not necessarily opposite, but in the same vein of this isn't necessarily the leaves that were serving. These are the the roots that that were hoping to nourish and strengthen as they're as they get older, plus the testament of having roots in the community. And when we asked the school over the summer, what do you guys want this program to look like, they said we want community. And with that we brought the recovery Community Living Embodiments of the Harper County Recovery Community into that school setting. We've developed a sense of community where kids are repping their hoodies as a status symbol and being proud to be a part of that and alleviating the stigma associated with being, you know, one of those kids. And it's been amazing. And I when I was doing a lot of community advocacy work, I heard somebody say addiction is the opposite of connection. And the way I've always flipped that is that recovery is the re-establishment of reconnect to oneself and getting integrated into a larger community. And we've done just that in a relatively short amount of time. 

Wendy Beck 17:58
You know, I'm going to be the adverse party here because I you know, I had a teenager that was in high school and, you know, she's no longer here. And I also had another one that experienced a lot of anxiety. And, you know, yes, a lot of things that that happened in high school settings. So you guys are really, you know, happy about the enrollment. But is there any pushback from other students in any kind of way to the ones that are participating? Because I know that there's you know, there's a stigma that, you know, you know, using or partying and that kind of stuff is is glorified in that age group. So I'm just kind of curious how you handle that. 

Joey Young 18:38
Sure. And, you know, simple as wearing a clubhouse hoodie to school, you know, that student can instantly get stigmatized, you know, because, like, imagine being like the 13, 14 year old describing to your your peer group, your friend group, why you go to this outdoor school program. You know, I'm sure they they verbalize it in a much different way than they would to us. They're very open doors and they're probably more guardedly peers because of fear of judgment. So like one thing that we that we took initiative at the high school was trying to utilize the support staff, which is like the teachers to admin to help us in that by feeding them a lot of information of what we're doing. And I think a big part of that was that if a student enrolls with us, that doesn't mean that they're they're using substances, right? You know, they're not addicts and alcoholics trying to remove that language, you know, from their vocabulary, like they're just enrolled with us because they need some in-school support. Because what we saw initially was like if they were enrolled, that automatically made them addicts and alcoholics. So that was like what we did with the support staff, with the fellow students. I actually put this mirror outside of the office. Yeah, very large, full body mirror, and I put a little sign on top of insanely fit check because I wanted some type of attention grabber for the students to have to come by the office and use the mirror, and then they would poke their head into the office and have to have a conversation with us. Like what you guys do here looks so cool and they're like, so fun. Funny. It and it was that little attention grabber that it allowed me to talk to dozens if not hundreds at this point of students who are not enrolled but are asking what we're doing in the school. And I've had lots of practice on code switching between those demographics within the student population on like how to describe what I'm doing. You know, if somebody is, you know, if I buy, if somebody is matching my energy, I'm going to, you know, keep it pretty straightforward and blunt. If somebody seems afraid or reluctant to like, you know, keep the conversation going, I'm going to be much more soft and general. But it's by talking to a bunch of students that are not enrolled in our program that I think has helped us by the most. You know, I have students who know me by first name, and I know and I've probably had one conversation with them or I've never talked to them at all. But, you know, you're that you're that guy, you know, who helps, you know, so-and-so or you're the person that they go hang out with, you know, during lunch, you know, But it's very real when you have majority that school who has no interest in, you know, staying sober or like, Absolutely. Yeah. You know, especially, you know, with you know, with all of us where you know, that age before and, you know, like to party, you know, people use substances because they like the the effect produced, you know, alcoholics and addicts and people suffering from side like myself just do it in extreme, you know. So by approaching it as with the harm reduction mindset, it has also helped us out a lot. Like, hey, we're not like a if you're, you know, like stop using or or like, you know, partying program, we're just like, hey, you know, if you detect patterns while you're using, you know, that you feel uncomfortable or or taking you in a self-injurious like direction or is in a dangerous direction, then you have me in school at all. Do you know I'm not here to tell you every day to stop doing what you're doing? I'm just here, you know, to be in school, support. Exactly. But stigma is going to be a, you know, a fight, a battle, though, You know, we're going to we're going to it's always going to be there. And it takes, you know, the team that I have right here, you know, But I'm going to pass the ball here. But again, on this. 

Lydia Bongiorno 22:08
Yeah. So I am at Aberdeen Middle School. 

Our approach was a little bit different. Obviously, we're dealing with a lot younger kids and, you know, going into it, I really I didn't put expectations, but I also didn't really know what to expect because in my head I'm like these little there's no way they're like using or they're affected or anything like that. But once I got in there and saw what was happening and it was like, you know, I had to build a lot of like relationships with admin and like counseling and then the kids and it was like I was having kids were being brought directly to me because they were caught using substances in the school. 

Rich Bennett 22:53
Wow. 

Lydia Bongiorno 22:54
So, yeah, so it was like, you know, once that happened and I think that was like my maybe like in my first. 

Marcus Webster 23:00
One, it was. 

Group 23:00
First day it was say, one day. And they're like. 

Wendy Beck 23:06
They're sitting there with. 

Lydia Bongiorno 23:07
Yeah. And we're talking about like a seventh, seventh grade. Yeah. And I just remember like sitting there when, you know, the student laughed with the admin staff member. I just remember sitting there like, there's just like, how like, you know what I mean? Because I know for a fact, like in middle school, I was the last thing I was doing, you know, And I still ended up being, you know, caught up into the, you know, cycle of addiction and hopelessness and brokenness and, you know, but an approach that, like I found and I my also my partner, Chris, he's really awesome. Oh, my gosh. But we make a really great team there. But one thing I've really found is like, especially with middle school kids, you have to take a very like, different type of approach when it comes to dealing with them. And it's taken me some time to figure out this approach, but I'll use an example, right? So we have a student, 

you know, who is in sixth grade, and she is one that we just like. My first week, they're like the admin staff member came up to me. He was like, Hey, like, I need you to work with the student. She struggles with herself on substance use, Her parents do. And I'm like, Okay, yeah. I go up to her and she literally looks at me and walks away like I just was like, Wow, how do you want me to do to work with this? He just looked at me. He said, Just don't give up on. So I was like, All right. So I was like, This has to be a different approach. 

Wendy Beck 24:36
So ask what kind of substances? 

Lydia Bongiorno 24:38
Marijuana, 

vaping, alcohol, Nothing like, you know, in sixth grade. 

Rich Bennett 24:46
I do me a favor real quick because we have listeners in like 94 countries. 

Lydia Bongiorno 24:52
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 24:53
Explaining about the age because some people don't have middle school, right. So explain the ages. 

Lydia Bongiorno 24:59
Okay. So I it's weird because like, I just look at them as six, seven, eight. So it's like, you know what I mean? Like 12, 12 to about 14, 15 depending on their birthday. Yeah. So we're talking about 12 year old and she's the student specifically is labeled as the school's one of the school's biggest bullies. Right. So when I heard that come from a vice principal, I'm like, well, me, you know, I always was, you know, you know, like, what am I going to do? And but when they look at you and say, please don't give up on them, you you do what you can to target them. So about a month went by and, you know, I would see her and I'd be like, hey, like, you know, and she'd be like, you know, like, I don't want to talk to you. Yeah. 

Wendy Beck 25:44
You know. 

Lydia Bongiorno 25:45
She literally would be like, All right, like, don't talk to me. And I'm like, That's cool. Like, slow approach, whatever. Right? So she ended up getting herself in a situation where she got into an altercation in the hallway and the vice principal called me and he's like, I'm like, you know, I can stand here, but I've tried talking to this girl and she don't understand me. He's like, I don't care if she wants this point. And I'm like, okay. So we go in and I'm sitting there and she comes in and she gives me this look and she's like, Why are like, I'm not talking to her, You know, she walks. I said, I'm not talking to her. And the vice principal was like, Oh, I don't I didn't ask you if you're talking to her. She's just here, you know, And so she's like, she's like, So you decided she gives this, like, dirty look. And I'm like, Oh, God. Okay. So anyway, that day I ended up simply just providing, like, peer support. Like, I didn't say I'm Lydia. I like, I didn't say I'm Lydia, but I was like, I literally was like I challenged her. I forgot exactly what it was, but I challenged her on a response that she gave the principal when it came to getting into altercation. And I think it was like, well, they looked at me weird. It was like something like that. And I just kind of like spoke up like, so your what I'm hearing you say is like, you you got into this fight because someone looked at you weird, like, you know, So I literally just talked to her like she was me. You know what I mean? Like, I didn't give her any special treatment. And I think that was like the approach that I learned when it comes to dealing with students, especially students that are always in fight or flight, and especially students that are always turning to marijuana, to vaping in the bathroom, to sneaking around the school or to skipping class like all of those behaviors are the behaviors that are going to lead them out potentially to what to do, what where we ended up and be taking that approach is like one of the biggest keys that have worked for me because it's almost like it's like you're not telling them they're an addict or alcoholic, you know what I mean? But you're telling them that, like these decisions and these actions is what scares me, that you're going down this path. And once I break it down to them, especially with the students specifically, it's almost like you see a kind of a light start to flicker and then you be more consistent with the middle schoolers. You be more, you know, on top of it with them. You're show up in their classroom, you go home from class, you ask them to eat lunch with you. And it's like they finally realize, like, you know, someone actually cares. Yeah, yeah. 

Wendy Beck 28:08
Yeah. And I think one of the things that I know we've had peers on the podcast before, but I think it's important for this, this episode to kind of describe what a peer looks like and, you know, the peer program, the certification and that type of thing, because, you know, someone would approach me, let's say I was in middle school and someone's coming up to me and they're going to seem like an authority. And that's the opposite of what a peer is. So if you could could you explain that a little bit? Because I feel like. 

Lydia Bongiorno 28:37
Yeah. 

Wendy Beck 28:37
Really important. 

Lydia Bongiorno 28:38
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I know for the middle school specifically and being just peer in general, a lot of it is like your body language, you know, you just, you appear, just relax like, you know, I mean, don't have like an angry face on or even if you are frustrated, like you just, you still go up to them and you talk to them and it's like, I look, I know you're smoking like marijuana. I know. But like, can you just let me tell you, like, can you be careful? You know what I mean? Like, you know, marijuana is laced with this and like, make sure you know, so it's like in the also like what you wear, I feel like can also be very like, approachable. Like I had to learn that. 

Rich Bennett 29:14
Too as a peer. 

Group 29:16
Yeah. 

Lydia Bongiorno 29:16
Now, literally, especially in middle school, because I remember when I first started, Marcus even said to me, he's like, You don't want to look like an adamant. You don't want to like staff at all. You don't like it at all. So we're. 

Group 29:25
Like, Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 29:27
Sure. 

Lydia Bongiorno 29:28
Literally. So I had to learn how to dress up more for the middle schoolers. And, you know, it really is like just so. 

Group 29:35
Yeah, no. 

Lydia Bongiorno 29:36
No, we had a lot of swifties there. 

Group 29:38
Started ARA. 

Lydia Bongiorno 29:41
Store sweatshirts there and I'm always asking them if they. 

Sydney Shupe 29:44
Can access. 

Lydia Bongiorno 29:45
That right there. And it's the it's what's you're wearing. It's if you got candy, you got candy. You got candy. It's like yes, yes, yes. And then you give them like cookies or you just you just talk to them and you're like, how was your night last night? Like, did you catch up on your homework? Like, you know what I mean? So, yeah, I was Lydia, you know, and like Joey, like, I have a lot of kids now that come up to me and they know my name and I don't know theirs. So it's like, you know what I mean? They're like. 

Marcus Webster 30:07
But you're trying to learn it. 

Lydia Bongiorno 30:09
Yeah, but it's like they're not ours. They're just showing up. 

Wendy Beck 30:13
Yeah. For the resource officers that want me, not replacement, but we're changing it from having this authority figure in the schools that the kids are like, If you do something wrong, if you mess up, then the resource officer is going to come after you, Right? We're like using that harm reduction approach. Exactly. Yeah. You know what? We know you're human. We know you're going through a lot. And here's somebody that can like, you know, sit down and relate. Do you share your story? 

Lydia Bongiorno 30:43
Yes, 100%. Yeah. I'm very real and rock with the middle schoolers. And it was like I was kind of hesitant the beginning. But now like this, the kids that we do have on our caseload, it's almost like they need it. Like they're so used to that lifestyle because of their home lifestyle. It's like, you know, I also provide a lot of coping skills to like coping skills, different ways to like get out of fight or flight, like different responses when it comes to someone, say something like Sideways to you that you don't like. And so a lot of them are like, Oh, so you're saying I don't have to be here? Know, like, you can talk to her, like we can do that and, you know, a big thing that we do as peers, especially the school, is we use it in with counseling and to students who are having a conflict. And we do just simply like we sit in with our student, like a roots kid and provide support for them, but like we do like a mediation where it's like the two kids sit across from each other, It's like the counselor and then the peer. You're there for your student, but like you're also there just is like a calm, like presence. Like I try to keep my presence, like super spiritual when I'm in there with them because it's like they're already like all worked up as it is. The last thing I need is to be anxious and they're at them. So it's just like I just sit there and like, you know, I look at both and yeah, so it's just. 

Marcus Webster 31:56
And it's yeah, it's very intentional, It's very intentional. And the role that the peer plays, you know, a peer peers exists in so many different realms your hospitals, your treatment centers, your recovery community organizations. I mean, your peers are all around us. And when I say peer, I'm talking about somebody that's often served as a certified at the state level, which is somebody with lived experience, which means that they they're in recovery from substance use and or mental health. They are a a child or a family member of somebody that has struggled with addiction and can gain that that family credential associated with CPS, which Sidney actually gained hers. So Sidney is are CPS f or they're an ally. I'm one of those people that kind of came into the peer role as an ally and then realized, oh, my gosh, I may actually be is something else, but it's through that lived experience that we that we shape those outcomes and in the way that we present ourselves. We really wanted to go out of our way to not be teachers. We're not we're not teachers, we're not counselors. We're a bunch of people that have a whole host of experience that have helped shape us and guide us to get us to a stable, successful place where we become mothers, where we become husbands and wives, and, you know, wonderful contributing members of society, I guess is the first thing comes to mind. But we use those experiences to help guide individuals on a path and avoid those pitfalls. And something that I want to pick up with, Lydia said too, And the way that we designed this as well was we wanted to not go against the school resources or be a supplement for what exists there. We want to work hand in hand in conjunction with them. What we've seen in a variety of things when it comes to law enforcement and mobile crisis is you see these integrated systems that work together that want the same goal. And my previous experience too, we try to integrate our recovery community, working with law enforcement to respond to overdoses and provide overdose survivor outreach and and just heal. So when we looked at building this up, I looked at the counselors and social workers and I said, let's let's do the same thing. But in the school, it's let's be a diversion away from the social workers and the counselors, because I don't know if you got to talk to any teachers and counselors lately, but they're they are overburdened, overburdened, overworked. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 34:09
And then I want to know, because you mentioned you and a cancer sit down for two people having an altercation. 

Group 34:15
Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 34:16
But your approach, I'm sure, is quite different. And it counselors even quite different than a school resource officer. Do you guys actually sit down every once in a while, have meetings with the counselor? 

Lydia Bongiorno 34:28
Oh, yeah, all the time. And even if it's like, Yeah, even if it's not meetings, it's even like if there's like some downtime, like I'll go in their office or they'll come to me and they'll say like, you know, did this or, you know, it's almost like we we lean on each other without that, like official, like Google Me calendar invite, you know, where it's like, I'll be in there and then like, admin will see me in there and then another we all just kind of like trickle in and it's like we can't have a meeting without actually having a meeting. So you know what I mean? It's like, it's like a conversation. But that like also took time to build. You have to build that like relationship. And I think that was like one thing that I really like pushed to do because it was like, if I don't have a relationship with them, there's no way this is gonna work. So yeah, so now it's like, Yeah, we do. And it's even in the hallway, like they'll stop you and talk to me for like 15 minutes, you know? And it's like, yeah, so. 

Joey Young 35:15
Well, Lydia. Lydia No, we're clinical aides together on Main campus, so we were peer support specialists on Ashley's main campus. And my role there is working with dozens of us. I would dozens of counselors. Yeah. So we would have to communicate with the clinical team daily on how to best support the inpatient patient. And we're just kind of pivoting that experience to the high school, which is like we need the support staff in this area and stuff. So by doing daily flybys, you know, talking to each other about what our what our Routes program is doing, where we need help and they're a great referral source as well. It's like. 

Wendy Beck 35:51
You're an informant. 

Group 35:52
Is, you. 

Lydia Bongiorno 35:55
Know, in middle school you kind of like, you know, because you get like a lot of the story that the teachers, you know, as a kid say, they're like, I'm not talking to the teacher. You know, you get a lot of the information that they don't share. And it's like I don't share a list and I'm themselves harm someone else or you know what I mean? So it's like and the counselor will ask like, have you heard anything about this? And it's like, we'll sit there and put the pieces together. That makes it all makes sense because they'll tell me I'll be trusted. Source Yeah, they'll, they'll tell you, you know what I mean? The counselor something. And it's like we get together and it's like, how can we make it all make sense to truly understand, like, why the students not staying in class, how can we support them with them smoking marijuana in the bathroom like different stuff like that? And that is like, you know, once I provide some coping skills and the counselor does, it's like a lot of times we've noticed that a lot of our kids that were leaving class and have now worked with me, I've had them come up to me like just yesterday, and they said, like, you know, we really haven't seen, you know, so and so out of class a lot. And I'm like, Yeah, well, it's like we're making them stay work. 

Wendy Beck 36:54
So and maybe, maybe we talked about this, but I don't know, Root is something that is specific that you created and got approval to go into the school that you're schools that you're in. Absolutely. Yes. That doesn't exist anywhere else that you're aware of. 

Marcus Webster 37:12
Not in this manner, which when you're building a program that has never been done like this before, it's a lot of responsibility that when you look at somebody who has a bachelor's degree in history and is have been lucky to do this work, to say, hey, let's let's put it together, there's no blueprint for it. 

Wendy Beck 37:28
Absolutely. It is that this was like the place where 

resources such as resource officers or counselors or community members or nonprofit organizations could not break that barrier to get. 

Marcus Webster 37:45
Correct. 

Wendy Beck 37:45
So now you're there? Yeah, now you're there. We're seeing that it's working. Okay. And now my other question and you know, we've got the not my kid scenario. So have you had any pushback from parents that are saying, like, I don't like this or anything like, surprisingly no. 

Marcus Webster 38:04
And I hate to say it, but I feel like it's true. If this were operating in in another school, we may get that pushback. That's that's an issue that I think exists. I think it exists everywhere. I think it's been very evident is that we always say there's no problem here. There's no problem. But if there's one thing that I've said and been very open about, I think we're at a point in this crisis where we can't say there's no problem. We know there's a problem and just like you said, Wendy, you know, I've been aware of that, that this has been something that the community has pushed for for a long time. And I've been grateful to have some some conversations with some of the people who initially led that fight. And with that comes an even greater sense of responsibility to know that this is something that advocates in this community have been pushing for, and we have the honor and the privilege to be able to lead this effort. And the good thing is that we're not doing it alone. We've even been working with some of those organizations, you know, whether it's the community Advisory board, to make sure that those advocates are letting us guiding or guiding us to make sure that we're we're doing this not just in the way that we envision it, but the way that they envision it, too, because we are just you know, we are passing the baton between each other. We have had some amazing fighters who have who have done some amazing work from Annapolis to DC to Bel Air and everywhere else, and they have led this fight. And and it's up to us, the next generation of peers and people's lives experience to be able to carry that baton and keep doing the good work to heal and restore our community. 

Wendy Beck 39:28
And being a parent that how the child in school, you know, like I said, it's been it's been quite some time. But when I realized that there was a problem and I went to the school, nobody was talking. Yeah, nobody wanted to talk about it. And I just remember going in there and being like, you know, I don't know what's happening. Like, I don't know, like, you know, of course the the attendance, the use of drugs, all kinds of things, you know, like it was almost like they were against me as a parent at that time. Do you know what I'm saying? So, like, I feel like that was based on the area. And, and I'm just saying, when you say I mean every child is at risk. Yes. Every person technically. And the area that you're in versus where I was when I'm not going to say what a start to was, but it was in Hartford County. Yes. What makes the difference, like when you've got these people that are more affluent and then you have someone who are we talking about a lower income area? Like what? What are you seeing in terms of like how receptive they are here versus how they may not be receptive over here? 

Marcus Webster 40:39
So I as as much as much as I like to make assumptions, I think that if this program were to continue to grow and we go to the schools, I think the manner of which we operated, we conduct ourselves making sure that you have peers from that area to be able to convey the message and share their personal experience, I think is huge. But I think Aberdeen is so unique. It's, you know, you got a HPG, which for decades has brought in people from all over the world and all over the country to come to the space. And everyone's always been this crazy melting pot of different economic classes, different social statuses, different races, different religions. And it's been really cool to see it to flow in that space. But if there's one thing that I've seen there from when I was there till now, is that because of how diverse it is, it's pretty symbolic of how this affects everybody, regardless of of age or, you know, or gender or religion. This is real and the need is there. But we haven't got any pushback. In fact, it's been extremely warm and welcoming from the principal to the APS to the family members themselves. I think the families are just happy that this child is supported. And, you know, for a family member or one of those family members that may be looking to get stable or look to get into a perhaps a treatment program or begin their pathway to recovery, that to know that their child is in good hands and is as trusted and is working with a team of people that can even support and help that parent navigate what that looks like for them. It's one less thing to have to worry about, you know, which has been great and Aberdeen has been it's been nothing less than wonderful. I wish I had an on me. I've received so many emails from from counselors and just thanking us for the work they've done. And and I don't even think the team knows that I've been getting these emails, but I had a counselor that reached out from, from the high school and the way that she so eloquently wrote how she's been trying to find a way to support these kids and has been struggling but understands that this is a concern and to know that there are people there every single day to meet that kid where they're at in that space is, you know, it's enough to bring me to, which has been amazing. 

Rich Bennett 42:42
You said you guys started this in October. 

Marcus Webster 42:44
Correct? October 2nd. 

Rich Bennett 42:46
So I'm sure that your your model, business model or whatever is be there in Aberdeen High School and Aberdeen Middle School for minimum. I would say a. 

Marcus Webster 42:55
Year I would. Pam Right. I would say yeah, the goal goal right now we've been doing it based on, you know, kind of where are we seeing community needs. Obviously the clubhouse is in Aberdeen. A lot of our kids come from Aberdeen. I think 50, a little over 50% of our kids are from Aberdeen and the need exist. So when we looked at, Hey, where's this, where's this? Look at working with a River County public schools. They said Aberdeen's a good place to start. As we've continue to look into that, looking at you know getting feedback from schools, I actually wanted to I want to jump in earlier and say there's a middle school not too far away from where we're sitting. Back in August, right before school started, the teachers were having an in-service and I had a middle school teacher who drove all the way to the clubhouse from this area. She rang the doorbell. She came in, I said, she said, I need to speak to Marcus. Okay. And I brought her in Miles or I gave her tour, brought her in the office, and she looked me in the face and she said, a year ago I saw a clubhouse table at the school. You guys were there for an open a back to school in that open house. And she said, I left because I was so upset that you guys were coming in and that we have to talk to kids about drugs and this and that and and that stigma that so she it and she said over the past year I have had to Narcan several of my middle school students in the school. I have several students that I see daily that are struggling coming in under the influence. And these were sixth and seventh graders. And she said, I've gotten to a point where I realize we need you, and when are you going to bring this program to my school? So I'm actually waiting to hear back. We took that conversation, so we looked at expanding it. It was working into that area. I'm a Route 40 kid and the Route 40 corridor has has has historically been underserved, some intentionally, some unintentionally. And I think it's up to us to bring the quality of care that you associate with Ashley, with our team, that we can bring that into those underserved areas based on that need. 

Rich Bennett 44:44
So have you guys sat down with the superintendent as well? 

Marcus Webster 44:48
We're currently working on getting a meeting scheduled. We had we've had several great conversations with the director of student Wellness, Joe Harbert, who has been absolutely instrumental in helping us develop this plan, help us identify where the need is, the counseling, the support staff, the administrative staff have been great. The board of Ed has been very receptive as well. We're working on pinning down some of those meetings to really have some of those hard hitting conversation lines. But overall, H-E-B's has been extremely welcoming and kind and generous for us to run this. 

Rich Bennett 45:15
But I'm sure he would have to approve it anyway. 

Marcus Webster 45:17
Yeah, I would imagine so. 

Rich Bennett 45:18
It's happening, but. 

Wendy Beck 45:20
One of the questions that I have is because, you know, they have to be involved in the program at the high school. I guess you're at the middle school too. And then, Sidney, you said that you're an intake coordinator. Yes, she is the clubhouse or at the schools as well. 

Sydney Shupe 45:35
So I work out of the clubhouse, but I do handle applications and takes inquiries for both. Okay. What qualifies? So they have to be a Harford County resident between the ages 12 and 1718 if they still are enrolled in high school and they have to be at risk for substance use, what would. 

Marcus Webster 46:00
Or. 

Wendy Beck 46:00
What would that look like for at risk? Yes, I would classify someone. 

Sydney Shupe 46:10
So the list is pretty. It varies. You know, it could be something as simple as mom and dad or divorced family conflict in the home. Maybe they're not engaging in school. Those are just a few examples. Or also just being impacted by substance use in general, maybe a parent or a family friend. 

Wendy Beck 46:20
I think that that's really important for those that are listening because, you know, we may not think that just because parents are divorced, that makes someone at risk. But we may not think that because they're not showing up for school that they're at risk. You know, they may not be showing up for school because they have a reading disability or they're embarrassed or whatever. So that at risk child because of these situations and circumstances in their home, is it is it the connection that they're trying to find with other people that lead them into that kind of direction? I'm just asking you, because people don't know. People don't realize, you know, they think, oh, you know, we're divorced. But, you know, he has them on the weekends and I have them during the week and there's no problem. But what's going on with those kids is we don't know what's going on with them. 

Sydney Shup 47:15
Mm. I would say we almost, you know, for the example of divorced parents, we almost there was a constant for these kids, you know. 

Marcus Webster 47:24
Yeah. No, absolutely. It's that, it's that consistency. I think if you ask all of us being peers, all of us having lived experience, if you asked us what contributed to us using substances, you'd hear. Farai different things. But I think you would hear a lot of those things that Cindy said, you know, having divorced parents, not necessarily having a sense of structure, consistency or what you identify as being a normal nuclear family or whatever that looks like growing up in for the cases of some of our kids, not knowing when your next meal is going to be not knowing if your lights are going to be on. And that's the reality. And we have had some experiences. Kids that I worked with for a while, you know, whether it's at the clubhouse or elsewhere, who have even engaged in some dangerous activities to ensure that they can provide and take care for themselves or their family. And that's a burden to carry with you. And, you know, working with with mothers or parents or adults are seeking treatment. It's, you know, you hear all the things of who's going to watch my dog, who's going to do this, who's going to take care of my kids? Am I going to be able to go or am I going to miss job? All these things that prevent people from being able to access that. And you flip that on the adolescent side and it's, hey, at the end of the day, we want you to graduate and be successful. But how can I do that if if mom is is working late at night trying to take care of mom and dad or maybe not in the best state and can't get me to school on time, It's a lot to carry with you and then you're expected to be successful and then you look at the environment in which these kids are expected to be successful in in the school setting. It is not that easy. And you're looking at hundreds and hundreds of kids between the middle school and the high school going through the exact same thing. And we have the privilege to be able to take, you know, a few dozen of those and give them a stable, consistent place where they can come to the clubhouse, understand that they're not alone from the kids that they're sitting next to to the staff that are help preparing dinner with them or leading groups. We have all been there and we can be the one constant when they show up and get off that bus or ring the bell to get into the clubhouse or even show up to the classroom. 

Sydney Shupe 49:17
Or even I would say take them to school. We actually a few weeks ago, we had a kid reach out saying, Hey, my dad left for work and my alarm didn't go off, could you give me a ride to school? And we were able to give them just a quick ride to school. So it's really cool. They're reaching out. We even have a clubhouse cell phone that they love to. 

Group 49:37
Text all the time. 

Sydney Shupe 49:39
Even though they should be focusing. But we love it that they're reaching out and they're engaging with. 

Marcus Webster 49:46
Us and we don't want anything to get in the way of their kid being successful in life or in the program. If you're hungry, we're going to have a meal, a hot meal for you prepared that day. We actually it's going to be good. And if you don't have food at home, we've actually partnered up with our community Action Agency to receive monthly walk food donations. So we've created an informal food pantry. And then on the flip side as well, recently also starting in October, we were lucky enough to receive a grant from Verizon who are actually our neighbors in the shopping plaza. And they we applied for to Tower Garden system. So we're actually not just preparing food sitting at home, but we're actually growing it in the kitchen, which is really cool. We just trimmed a bunch of lettuce. I should have brought you some of that. And even, you know, people ask, you know, how much does it cost to get in the clubhouse? Nothing. I don't want it. They are dealing with so much. Last thing I want is for you to have to worry about anything getting they're staying in there, being a part of it. We are going to take care of you and we're going to reduce every single barrier that prevents you from being successful. 

Rich Bennett 50:46
Absolutely. Yeah. You mentioned it all with the food and everything at the clubhouse. And I know there are a couple schools. I believe even the college has like pantries for for a lot of the kids in you know, in these situations. Does the middle school in Aberdeen high School provide that to like a pantry or anything? 

Group 51:04
Joey's office. 

Joey Young 51:06
Is actually literally the. 

Marcus Webster 51:07
Food index. Okay. Yeah. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 51:09
All right. 

Joey Young 51:09
Good part of it. You know, is where they stored it. So. So yeah, it's like the roots of it and then it doubles as, like, the food pantry. So again, like, of a great referral would be somebody was like, use basic food scarcity. So like they come on in and figure out what they need and then they have organic conversation with the peers and they're. 

Rich Bennett 51:26
Like, So you guys are looking out for them like 360 degrees. 

Marcus Webster 51:30
Yes, absolutely. And it and it starts in that what do I wish I had? What didn't I get when I was on when I was their age and how can I provide that and even pick And speaking of food and Lydia, if you want to jump in, talk about what you guys do, won't they, at the middle school. 

Lydia Bongiorno 51:44
Oh, yeah. For one of the health, the whole the heart market. Yeah. Yeah. For the healthy heart market actually donated. Butter, bread. 

Marcus Webster 51:53
Eggs and like a little extra stuff. It was enough food for 50 family families. 

Lydia Bongiorno 52:00
Yeah. And it was really, really great. Really appreciate it through our middle school because we have a lot of families that their kids are there and like, so the kids were super grateful and the school was grateful and it was awesome. 

Marcus Webster 52:13
And that's a monthly thing that Lydia's has been roped into is like, you're not just bringing the community in the school, but you as that person are getting integrated into the community that exists. Lydia's been tagged along to help out with those monthly markets, and that's amazing work that they do. They bring bag groceries and invite typically unsheltered or families with the greatest need to be able to come in and get fresh food, you know, on a monthly basis. Well, it's amazing. 

Lydia Bongiorno 52:36
Yeah. The first Tuesday of every month. 

Rich Bennett 52:38
I'm glad you would you just said, too, because I just got an email today which something's coming back, which I'm excited about. Okay. I mean, I wish we didn't have to do it, but the routine. Yeah. Do you and you guys may not be able to answer this, 

but the kids that are coming to see you, do you know how many of them are actually homeless? 

Lydia Bongiorno 52:59
Yeah. So I personally I know I have I do know of some of them that I work with, but, um. Yeah. And yeah, the ones that are believe or not, are the ones that are, you know, selling babies or different things in the school because they're trying to get enough money to buy food to provide for themselves and help mom with the baby or help, help them with the water bill because they go without. So, yeah, we do have a couple of families and we. 

Wendy Beck 53:25
Grooms very progressive because it's taking, you know, the the community in the school and it's connecting them with the community around. 

Marcus Webster 53:34
Us. Exactly. 

Wendy Beck 53:35
And, you know, we don't do that. We don't do that enough. No. You know, this can spread to the next school and the next school. And I think that we're going to be a much better society for it. 

Rich Bennett 53:47
Absolutely. Oh, absolutely. I think one of the things Marcus prepared me, because I know this is going to be a success, I think we get calls from people from other states. Other countries do, how can we do this? We want to do this. 

Marcus Webster 54:00
And and, you know, one of the coolest things when we talk about working together is that we do that I've actually I probably sent three emails in the past week of people that have heard about this and say, how did you guys do it? And I say, I'll tell you exactly how we did it, because that's the cool thing about this is, you know, we're not keeping this to ourselves. Exactly. There's there's no there's no reason to compete and to double back to to the unsheltered We have several members that are that are unsheltered and bouncing between homes, often with family members and active addiction. And it's been a challenge for us to be able to, number one, engage that parent, to be able to keep them supportive. And we have had some scary situations with, you know, mothers and some pretty scary domestic violence situations, you know, sex trafficking, sex work and a lot of other things. But, you know, it's that doesn't really I mean, it means a lot, but that doesn't get in the way of us from being able to support them. We're we're gonna love you just the way you are and get you, you know, to where you want to be. First and foremost and support you along the way. 

Wendy Beck 55:02
That's the reality of what's going on in our world. And honestly, like, you know, this isn't going to fix everything, but definitely provides a safe haven. Absolutely need it. Before we go, I definitely want to ask like a couple of questions because for each of you to answer, because I know that this is near and dear to all of your hearts and it has to be you know, I just know, like the work that I do and just meeting people and seeing the progress that they make. I just want to ask each one of you like what? What is your like your favorite or your aha moment that made you know, that this is where you need to be. And I know you haven't been there long, but you know it seems like you've got a lot of traction in a short amount of time. 

Lydia Bongiorno 55:44
I'd have to say my biggest aha moment was I have to say my aha moment and like was like when, you know, I received my first hug for my student from the student. Yeah. I would have to say when they ran up to me in the morning when I was waiting, I, you know, stand out there in the hallway and they were on in there like this lady. I mean, they gave me a hug and I was like, you know, they don't get that at home, you know what I mean? So that right there was where I was like, you know, yeah, they. 

Wendy Beck 56:11
Might see. 

Lydia Bongiorno 56:11
Me. And the trust is so, so, so important for them, especially when it comes to being a staff member in the school. That's, that's completely unrelated to HIPAA in that way, you know, So I'd have to say when I got my kids hug me for sure. Oh yeah. 

Group 56:28
No now. 

Lydia Bongiorno 56:30
But sometimes they look at me and they're like, I really needed that. You know what I mean? Because it's like a true like, you know, it's just. 

Wendy Beck 56:36
It's a connection. 

Lydia Bongiorno 56:37
Yeah. Yeah. Anyone for sure? Definitely. Very genuine. 

Sydney Shupe 56:43
Um, this is tough because I have a few, but I would probably say I had an intake with a girl one time and something about it, I don't know. She just, like, immediately opened up to me, like, I didn't even have to really kind of like, engage or prompt her. Um, and I was like, Wow. I was like, People actually do trust us. Um, that's how it's kind of bad now that I said it out loud. But, you know, people trust us. Yeah, well, it's working. Yeah. And the kids need us, so. 

Lydia Bongiorno 57:23
It's definitely working. 

Joey Young 57:25
I have. 

Group 57:26
A. 

Joey Young 57:29
Boy. I think if I had to, like, narrow it down to, like, to 

to like, one or two, I don't know. It's one that I think is that especially relate to the family dynamic and how we're trying to tie the student into like the rest of the community. I think probably one of the greatest moments I experienced in the two months so far was a young man, you know, telling me that I gave him the courage and strength to have a very difficult conversation with his father regarding his emotions. And and I think that, like, really floored me because, like, you know, those in his room that know me and the relationship I had with my father, you know, it's it really hit home. And I did not come into this school thinking that I would be like coaching and mentoring like young men specifically on like relationships with their fathers that I came in there, obviously, with the son in mind. And then but that bleeds into like every single aspect of life. So for this young man, for the conversation to start at the beginning of October with like, you know, this is what I'm doing and can you help me with this? So like it being not even Christmas yet and a young man is like you've already instilled hope in me that I can have I can break down barriers within my own home to improve my connections with my family, and then I can come back here and share it with you and and I think, like the students coming into Lydia and I's office office spaces and being excited to tell us them how they're overcoming adversity that we can't see all the time. You know, that's when that that's when the hugs at different hugs a little tighter know And you know, I'm getting a little emotional right now thinking about my seniors, you know, that that I'm working with right now. You know, they know who they are. But like, you know, the seniors that I will only know for, you know, a year, you and then they move on. So, like, you know, child is my thing is but, you know but yeah, I think that's definitely my one of my biggest moments so far, which is like, you know like down fired up like, you know, I can't wait to get going again. 

Marcus Webster 59:31
But one of those seniors, I will say, and then just before I get to my high moments was one of those seniors came to us. He recently transferred to Aberdeen over the summer. He really struggled with grades for a long time, struggled with his own personal substance use, and it manifested in a lot of ways that made him unstable. I want to say probably about three weeks in to Roots. That member who's are the route student is also clubhouse member walks into the clubhouse and he said, Marcus, I want to show you my grades. And I said, okay. And he's been saying he's would see it every day. He'd say, I got to see my grades and okay. And that kid, when he came in, had nothing but ease and ease and maybe, maybe a C after three weeks, honest, he looked me in the face. I said, I'm going to show you my grades. I looked at it. That kid had four A's and maybe a B and a C or something along those lines. And I said, I said, Oh, would you do it? He said, I got to hang out with Joey. And I said, What? He said, Having having a place to go to do my work, to focus, to talk about what's on my mind is the reason why my grades are up. So and that same young man actually refers to himself as a pit, a peer and training, because when he graduates and he actually asked me, he said, Would you hire me? I said, When you turn 21, we'll talk about it. But he want he wants to become a peer because he's it's that same thing of I was helped and I want to help and that's the real thing. But I'm going to be really selfish. I'm going to give to aha moments, if that's okay. The first I hope aha moment for me and I actually wasn't a part of it, but I helped arrange it and Lydia actually got to take part in it. During Recovery month on September 20th, two of our members got to take the Amtrak train down to Washington, D.C. They got an exclusive tour of the White House and they got to take the got to take part in the White House National Recovery Month summit. And I was sitting there watching the livestream. I was up here actually bowling with the piers. And I got to see my kids sitting in that panel with these experts from around the country talking about substance use and then the emphasis that those experts had by seeing that youth presence, that they said that, hey, we really need to think about how do we support the youth. But when I saw the picture of them standing on the Navy steps and the pictures of them out in front of the White House with with Lydia, that I had to fight back tears because it was like, oh my gosh, this is where we were able to get them to and show them. 

Wendy Beck 1:01:42
That, you know, are just discarded. Exactly. They're not the the straight-A students are part of the the clubs that, you know, give them the ships and all of this stuff. And it's opening opening up opportunities that they may not have had otherwise. 

Marcus Webster 1:01:57
Which was fun. I'm sure when those kids reached out to the teachers and said, hey, I'm not going to be in school, why not? I'm going to the White House. It's like, okay, but my say, my my second at home aha moment was the first day that I got to walk into the schools. I got to walk into the middle school, I got to walk into the high school and I got to see the sit there and see the spaces to see this vision, this this, this dream, this legacy that we carry for those who are no longer with us and those who have fought this fight to be able to get into schools, to have this conversation the first place and to see it happening, to watch the interactions with Joey, to see kids coming up to the fit check mirror and looking at themselves and peeking in the room and saying, What is this? And really explaining what it is in a very compassionate way is this is what we do. But we're not saying that you are, but just know that this is here and it's like, oh, and that drops that guard and it gives them a place to go. And then going in the middle school and the same exact thing, seeing people come in and, and bring kids to Lydia or come and say, Hey, I need your advice on this or something, it's, it's a reality now. And I will say I had to sit in my car and wipe away some tears. And I got choked up because the of the matter is, if this were here when I was there, if this was in school, when I think a lot of us were in school, we may not be where we are today. We may be bankers or doctors or something. But at the end of the day, through the clubhouse and the routes, we're trying to get to a point where we were no longer saying, I wish this was here, but I'm glad this was here. 

Wendy Beck 1:03:25
So absolutely thank you. Because I am a parent that went through, you know, having a situation where, you know, the school was I was going on and it wasn't necessarily, you know, I mean, you know, everyone has a story, but, you know, the piece of the school that really was very frustrating for me was that there was no resources. There was no one that would acknowledge that there were these kids that were doing these things and that they needed help. And so, you know, I think it's groundbreaking. Thank you. And, you know, I'm honored to be here with you guys. And just I'm going to give a little plug for grades. Okay. Know, April 13th is our Memory Walk Recovery run. And we are celebrating ten years of dedication. 

Marcus Webster 1:04:13
That's an amazing holy ground. 

Wendy Beck 1:04:14
And so anybody under 18 that wants to participate, it's just $10. Okay. So I would like for you to, like, let your clubhouse members know that I'm high school and middle school runners, walkers. It's $10 for them to participate and I can provide you with a letter and stuff like that. So you know that that's what we're doing and we're really happy. Absolutely. You know, somebody it's not about even though it is our biggest fundraiser of the year, it's really not about that because we know that the families that need it might not be able to pay a lot of money to participate. So that's why we're doing it. 

Marcus Webster 1:04:48
Absolutely. We'll be there. 

Group 1:04:50
Yay! 

Rich Bennett 1:04:51
I've been talking to peers for I don't know how many years now, and it just when Joey told his story and it just hit me and I don't know if you guys have ever been told this or not, but I don't, especially after hearing that and all everybody whose lives you have, you guys have changed and I think you're more than peers. I think you're role models, too. 

Wendy Beck 1:05:19
Yeah, absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:20
And that's I've really never looked at it that way until, you know, you all just sit there with the hugs and, you know, the senior guy went on to become one. Yeah. I mean, that's just awesome. 

Joey Young 1:05:34
Yeah, really amazing. 

Marcus Webster 1:05:35
Yeah. I get to work with my heroes every day. It's pretty cool. 

Joey Young 1:05:38
Too much fun. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:39
Too. Yeah. Never too much fun. 

Marcus Webster 1:05:42
Exactly. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:43
If It's fun that, you know, you're making a difference. 

Marcus Webster 1:05:45
Absolutely. So. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:47
I'm sorry. 

Group 1:05:48
You know. 

Wendy Beck 1:05:50
This is your show. 

Marcus Webster 1:05:53
Oh, no. 

Group 1:05:54
Never. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:56
Do you guys have anything that. 

Wendy Beck 1:05:59
How can someone get in touch with you to be a part of the clubhouse. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:03
And learn how to start the room? 

Group 1:06:05
Yeah. 

Marcus Webster 1:06:05
Absolutely. 

Sydney Shupe 1:06:06
So for the clubhouse, 

we are accessible in a few different ways. One, people can always stop by. We're located right in Aberdeen on 22. We also have an online application on the Ashley website that can be filled out and it gets sent directly to our email and then our phone number. Get your papers ready for 

102732300. You can call us. Someone will more than likely pick up and get you in the right direction. 

Marcus Webster 1:06:39
Absolutely. And if you're interested in supporting us in any way, if anybody's listening maybe has some sort of skill or knowledge or experience that you think would be, you know, our kids would could benefit from, we encourage you to reach out and we would invite you to come have a meal with us, complete a workshop if you're interested in potentially giving and supporting what we're doing as well. We do have a donation link on the same website as well. So we thank you all for for listening to us.