We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Corinthiah Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Corinthiah , so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I grew up in a single-parent home, I am the oldest of three, and my mother would always say to us “Treat others the way you want to be treated ” We were poor and she worked hard to provide for us. I remember being ostracized when I started kindergarten and experiencing racism in Salt Lake City Utah, this has an impact on my life today that reminds me of how it feels to be mistreated for no reason or reasons you have no control over and an intolerance for bullying.
I never hated others this gave me compassion and empathy for others. at 13yrs. my mother abandoned us due to her alcoholism and left us to become wards of the state I spent my teenage years in and out of group homes and foster care.
When I was at my worst in my addiction I was embraced and loved at 15 yrs. old with a newborn by two transwomen who found me on the 16th Street mall in Denver ( I ran away so the state would not take my baby) they took me home gave me a room for me and my first born son. they became my parents and loved me. one has passed away Michelle and the other Paula is still in my life today.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I opened a non-profit The Don’t Look Back Center (DLBC) in 2018 from personal experience with the criminal justice system and substance use. with her years of lived experience, having experienced the criminal justice system and substance use disorder herself. I served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections and upon exiting the justice system in October 1999, I dedicated my life to helping others overcome trauma and addiction. Today I have twenty-six years in recovery and after completing parole, I obtained a degree in Applied Behavioral Science and a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) certification which allowed me to begin working as a counselor. I am a recovering crack addict, physical and sexual abuse survivor, and proud leader of the DLBC.
In 2019 Corinthiah opened her first Recovery residence which has expanded into three homes today. We also opened a home specifically for pregnant mothers and mothers with a child under to age of 1yr. The child can live with the mother at Rahab allowing the mother and child to bond in our Mommy & Me program. from my experiences with fighting to regain custody of my four children. we support the process of rebuilding lives one person at a time while continuing to bridge the gap between impulse and action. DLBC’s ability to make productive connections with community members to accomplish specific service-oriented goals is one of its greatest strengths.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most impactful memory of my journey was having a person in my life who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself
Having lived experience helped me to better understand and have compassion for others struggling to rebuild their lives
Prayer and my faith have got me through some tough times when I wanted to give up
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Yes, the challenge I am facing is accepting losing one of my sons to an overdose, I have spent many years helping others rebuild and maintain sobriety and addiction took my son’s life after he broke his ankle he started taking prescription opioids, he soon became addicted and went to search for them on the streets, he found some laced with fentanyl and I am challenged with anger, grief, and the loss of my child.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedontlookbackcenter.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlbcenter
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
Image Credits
Aurora Pride 2024
Women’s History Proclamation Aurora CO
Lift The Label Campaign
Lift The Label Family Reconnected
Staff Wounded Warrior Retreat
Trans Outreach Group
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
