'MO - September 2008 - (Page 15)

your health matters GAY CIT Y HEALTH PROJECT SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network Hitting bottom is different for every addict. For me, at the age of 25, I began to realize that I had nothing to show for my past, and no hope for a successful future. The idea of suicide was beginning to sound like an acceptable solution to the pain I felt inside. And when those feelings, or any feelings, began to take hold of me they were immediately muted by doing a few bong hits, some crystal meth, or drinking a rum and Coke. to follow. The best part about it is that peers are helping peers; we’re building relationships, and uniting a community. SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network is a collaborative effort of Seattle Counseling Service, Gay City Health Project, Multifaith Works, and Dunshee House. In September SHIFT celebrates National Recovery Month with these substance-free events, and others to be announced. Check out www.gaycity.org for more information. SUN 8/31—Gender Odyssey BBQ: A BBQ for Everyone! We embrace traditionally gendered and gender variant people: transmen, transwomen, genderqueers, intersex people, our families, partners, and allies. 6:00—9:00 PM at Central Lutheran Church, 1710 11th Ave, Seattle. FRI 9/5—Celebrating Women: A BBQ Sponsored by SHIFT An LBTQ-specific event to inaugurate the new women’s groups beginning at the Dunshee House. 6:00—9:00 PM at Dunshee House, 303 17th Ave E, Seattle. Christopher Gabriel is the community organizer for SHIFT at Gay City. A moment of clarity came my way one day in the form of a police officer, and I made the decision then and there to stop abusing drugs and alcohol. It hasn’t been easy—and I couldn’t have done it without the support of friends and family—but recovery has completely changed my life. I have had the experience of getting to know the real person inside of me. The people that I have encountered along the way are the people who have really taught me how to live. And I am so grateful for the many wonderful things that have been put in the path of my recovery: my partner, my job, my friends, and my family have all been constant contributors to my success. We do it together, one day at a time. Being able to give back to the community is one of my passions, and as a direct result of my recovery I am pursuing that dream. At Gay City, we are working on a new project for the LGBTQ recovery community called “SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network.” It is a powerhouse of local agencies that are empowering the community to create, educate, and transform the ideologies around traditional recovery paths. We are celebrating each other and the individual recovery paths we choose moseattle.com SUN 9/7—We SHIFT You: A Volunteer Appreciation Dinner An opportunity for SHIFT volunteers to feel the appreciation at an exquisite location on Lake Union. Enjoy a full four-course dinner as we provide a summary of events, the progress of the network, and give you other opportunities to be of service to your community. Space is limited, so please RSVP at www.brownpapertickets.com and bring a friend who would like to get involved. 4:00—6:00 PM at the Blue Ribbon Cooking & Culinary Center, 2501 Fairview Ave E, Seattle. WED 9/24—Speed, Sex & Sanity Presents: The Politics of Recovery A discussion of the many paths to recovery we choose. 6:00 PM at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, Seattle. SUN 9/28—That’s a Wrap!: A Closing Ceremony Join SHIFT as we celebrate a month-long endeavor for the LGBTQ community giving new meaning to recovery as we know it! Who says recovery can’t be fun? So let’s have a party! We will revisit our time together in a collaboration of our artwork and performances under one roof—then raise it! 5:00—9:00 PM at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, 511 E Pike St, Seattle. 15 issue 19 | september 2008 http://www.gaycity.org http://www.brownpapertickets.com http://www.brownpapertickets.com http://www.seattlemeds.com http://www.moseattle.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - September 2008

'MO - September 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project Legally Speaking: Starting Your Own Business EarthTalkTM: Soak Up the Sun ’mo-BIZ: Sternola-Brown Interiors HRC President Hails Biden as V.P. Pick Governor to Attend Annual GSBA Candidate Forum Form & Function: Cable Exercises Build Definition Gay City Health Project Makes a SHIFT Throw a Lifejacket Around Your Home’s Value Feature Film Review: A Jihad for Love Feature Film Review: Ghost Town, starring Ricky Gervais The Return of The Puyallup Fair Book Review: Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone Live Event Preview: Shrek The Musical at The 5th Avenue Feature Film Preview: Trumbo Now on DVD: Itty Bitty Titty Committee SceneOut: People@Places Capitol Hill Guide

'MO - September 2008

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