Success Stories

Life can present challenges for many in our community, but encountering Arly and Eric, two exceptional employees at The Mission, can brighten even the hardest of days. Arly Uz-Barragan coordinates our Food Pantry, while Eric Featherer manages the Thrift Store. Together, they form the welcoming faces that greet our community members with warmth and care, …

Behind the Scenes: Extraordinary Individuals Making a Difference – Arly and Eric Read More »

Introducing Kim, our dedicated Liaison Case Manager in housing, overseeing 15 studios and 5 housing units. In the last year alone, Kim played a crucial role in assisting over 100 individuals experiencing homelessness in securing permanent housing—a truly remarkable achievement!  Kim works tirelessly to support some of our most vulnerable community members, helping them overcome …

Behind the Scenes: Extraordinary Individuals Making a Difference – Kim Maklad Read More »

When Vida Wright, Vocational Development Coordinator at The Mission, talks with someone starting in our Behavioral Health Program who has been incarcerated and is still striving to recover, the first thing she says is: “Succeeding here is about your freedom.” She quickly adds, “Once you succeed in this program, you will have many freedoms. It …

Succeeding Here Is About Your Freedom Read More »

When Lenny Territo was in high school, he said, “I started using drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd, then got in some serious trouble when I was 20, so I ended up in State Prison.” He paused, then said, “I’m sure you’ve heard that story a thousand times.” Then in 2007, he stopped using …

I’ve Been Called a Lot of Things Before…But Role Model Wasn’t One of Them. Read More »

Cleopatra Patterson came to her calling as a counselor in The Mission’s Behavioral Health Center through a circuitous route. She was “the baby girl,” the eighth of nine children raised by her mom, who was a single parent. “I grew up in the projects in North Trenton, and my mom did an amazing job,” Cleopatra …

My Destiny Is Being Here Read More »

Gregory Kinash grew up in Egg Harbor City, with a foster mother who he adored. “She was my heart,” he said. “She was a beautiful woman. She was always there to listen and to talk to. She taught us responsibility. And gave us love. There were big gatherings during the holidays. She worked hard to …

When I was finally arrested, I called it being ‘rescued’. Read More »

Shamere Clyburn, who looks much younger than his 24 years, just cannot stop smiling. And as his smile lights up, people around him cannot help smiling back at him, as if asking, “What in the world are you smiling about?” There’s seems to be a sense of innocence around him that belies “the drugs I …

I’ve Had Enough Trouble. Now Is My Time To Shine. Read More »

“Right now,” Michael Sepulveda said, “I’m drinking a lot of water.” Laughing as he heard himself say that, he added, “I never would have thought I’d care at all about water. But it is really important to me now. I stay hydrated. And I make sure that the water I drink is pure and clean. …

I Want Positive Change. Permanent Change. Read More »

Dr. Eric Williams, The Mission’s Medical Director, spoke to the class at The New Direction Program about how substance abuse causes an imbalance in our brains, and the deleterious effects that can have on our bodies. In rapt attention, the individuals in the class listened, absorbed the information Dr. Williams shared, and asked very insightful …

I Have A Vengeance Against Drugs Read More »