REAL LIFE

09/11/2026

Thank you so much Hopewell Police Department for gathering costumes for our 2nd annual Halloween costume drive!! We'll be distributing costumes in Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond! Interested in donating costumes or helping gather costumes? Send us a DM!

Greetings to all of our giving ghouls and goblins. The Hopewell Police Department and Project SAF are accepting donations for some Spook-tacular community events. We have set up a box in our lobby for NEW children's Halloween costumes and Halloween Candy. The candy will be handed out at Trunk or Treat during the Harvest Fest (details to come). Our friends at REAL LIFE Project SAF will be handing out costumes 10/13 in Thomas Rolfe Ct and 10/15 in Piper Square from 3pm-5pm both dates. Help us give our community's mini monsters a Fang-tastic Halloween! Donations will be collected through 10/12.

09/10/2026

Congratulations to the newest graduates of REAL LIFE’s Domestic Violence Prevention program at Henrico County Regional Jail East!

Real Talk with REAL LIFE recently expanded to reach more participants, creating space to examine the behaviors, beliefs, and experiences that contribute to unhealthy relationships.

As Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator TJ describes it, the program provides “dedicated space for honest self-reflection” while helping participants build greater self-awareness, accountability, and healthier ways to navigate relationships and conflict.

Congratulations to each graduate on reaching this milestone!

09/09/2026

What would you tell someone on the first day of their recovery journey?

For National Recovery Month, we asked our team members who are also graduates to share their advice for someone just getting started. Swipe through to hear what they had to say.

If recovery is part of your story, what advice would you share? Drop it in the comments!

09/08/2026

Happy Meet Us Monday! Today, we’re introducing Ricky, one of REAL LIFE’s newest Peer House Leaders!

Ricky grew up on a dairy farm in a small North Carolina town before moving to Houston after high school. In his early 20s, substance use began to take over his life, leading to years of loss and incarceration.

During his most recent incarceration, Ricky decided he was ready for something different. “I just looked at myself, I said, ‘You know what, Ricky, I’m done. This is it. I’m finished.’”

When he was released, Ricky came directly to REAL LIFE. “It’s probably the greatest decision that I’ve ever made in my life,” he says. “If they just let me out, I don’t think I would have made it.”

Since then, Ricky has graduated from REAL LIFE and become a Peer House Leader, where he makes a point to connect with the other Lifers in his house and support them however he can.

He is also preparing to begin classes to become a Peer Recovery Specialist, a goal he has carried with him since prison. He hopes to use his experiences to help others impacted by substance use, both in correctional facilities and in the community.

“If I can keep anybody from walking the same path that I walked, then the time in prison would have been worth it.”

Please join us in welcoming Ricky to the REAL LIFE team and congratulating him on his graduation!

09/05/2026

It’s Flourishing Friday! This week, we’re celebrating Amanda and David, two Lifers making great progress toward their goals.

Amanda was nominated by Pathway Navigator Melissa, who has seen her dedication to the program, from doing well at her REAL House to staying focused on her recovery. She’s also working hard at her cosmetology job and renewing her cosmetology license along the way.

“I’m very determined to achieve all of the goals that I have set for myself,” Amanda says. “I am also very grateful for this process and REAL LIFE. My recovery is everything.”

Recent REAL LIFE graduate David was nominated by Housing Manager Young, who first met him at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. Since coming to REAL LIFE, David has built a strong support network, joined an NA home group and church, secured a job with benefits and purchased a car. Now, he’s apartment hunting and being considered for a promotion!

“REAL LIFE has given me the opportunity to plant my feet firmly back in society,” David says. “It’s given me tools, structures and a support network.”

Congratulations, Amanda and David! We’re proud to see you both flourishing!

09/04/2026

Last week, 19 Lifers graduated from the REAL LIFE program!

Graduation represents so much more than reaching a milestone in recovery. These graduates put in the work, attending classes and meetings, contributing to their houses, building healthier relationships, maintaining full-time employment and continuing to grow along the way.

Keynote speaker Andre knows that journey well. A graduate of the REAL Program before it expanded into the community as REAL LIFE, Andre has since built a growing power washing business, had his rights restored and received his passport. His advice to this year’s graduates? “Stay confident. Stay motivated. Take. Your. Time.”

Graduate Alexis shared what it meant to find the courage to come back and keep moving forward. “One of the biggest things that recovery has given me is the opportunity to rebuild relationships with my family,” she said. That made graduation day even more meaningful, with her family there to celebrate alongside her.

Ervin, REAL LIFE Center Operations Coordinator and Senior Recovery Coach, closed the ceremony with an important reminder: graduation is a milestone, but the journey continues.

Congratulations to all 19 graduates! We are incredibly proud of the work you’ve put in and excited to see what comes next.

09/03/2026

Happy Workforce Wednesday! This week, we’re celebrating Michael B., who works for a company that manufactures and installs custom storage sheds and garages.

Michael quickly proved himself on the job, earning both a raise and a promotion to Production Foreman. Because every project is custom built, his work requires focus, precision, and plenty of attention to detail.

“I love the responsibility because it’s a mental challenge,” Michael shared.

Congratulations on the well-deserved promotion, Michael! We’re proud to see you continue to grow and take on new challenges.

09/02/2026

September is National Recovery Month, and we’re kicking it off with a Recovery Month roll call!

Recovery happens together, through connection, community, and support along the way.

We asked REAL LIFE staff and graduates to share how much time in recovery they’re celebrating this month, and now we want to hear from you!

Whether it’s days, months, years, or decades, drop your time in recovery below in the comments so we can celebrate your milestone and cheer each other on!

And join us all month on social media as we celebrate National Recovery Month!

09/01/2026

It’s Meet Us Monday! This week, we’re excited to introduce Tavoris, REAL LIFE’s newest Domestic Violence Prevention Coach!

Tavoris brings lived experience, personal transformation, and a passion for helping others to his new role. He is currently training to help deliver REAL LIFE’s Domestic Violence Prevention programming in local correctional facilities.

For Tavoris, the work is personal. Growing up, fighting became his way of handling conflict, a pattern that followed him into adulthood. During his own incarceration, he participated in REAL LIFE’s Domestic Violence Prevention curriculum, which challenged him to think differently about relationships, behaviors, and the choices he wanted to make moving forward.

Now, he gets to teach the same curriculum that once impacted him.

“I’m excited about teaching this curriculum because it gets to the root of a lot of issues we as men don’t want to talk about, admit, or aren’t aware of,” Tavoris shared.

A proud father of two, Tavoris is excited to use what he has learned to help others build healthier relationships and make positive changes in their own lives.

We’re excited to have Tavoris on the REAL LIFE team. Help us give him a warm welcome!