By Marianne Austin

Riverside Recovery clients and staff displayed their artistic talent while celebrating recovery through chalk art around the court square on July 19 .

Counselor Jill Kline said , “ We started doing this when I worked at inpatient treatment in Dresden . It was a way to get the clients out and show their artistic ability and to promote recovery and some things they learned while they were there . I decided to bring it here . We had case-management ask the in-treatment team . They asked the judge , and he said , ‘ Talk to the county commissioner ,’ and so we got permission to do this . Their drawings are related to recovery and anti-drugs . They can leave their mark out here . I know a lot of people walk through here . It is a good way for people to see them

Marianne Austin

Messages of hope were left for people to read on the sidewalks around the court house .

doing something positive in the community . Joe Wheeler is the artist helping with the drawings .”

“ We give them general ideas , and they know different slogans ,” said Jason Murphy , counselor at Riverside . “ We printed off pictures to give them ideas of what we wanted — sobriety related , recovery

related , things in chalk form on the sidewalk and be creative about it . We wanted them to use their expressive mind . It helps with recovery , using their own experience in the drawing , and a lot of these people do have artistic talent . You can tell from the art on their skin .

“ I usually have at least

one art group every month or so where we use our own expression , our own freedom , our own choices to make something worthy of our recovery . Right now this is a way to express and show the public that we are here , and it draws in other people . We want people to see that recovery is possible . It is not a stigma , and we need people to see this . We had a good turnout . We have a little bit of variety . Some people are writing slogans . Others are full on drama . Some people are tracing themselves .”

Shawn Wells said they are doing murals of recovery . “ Hopefully , someone that needs help will walk by , see them and sees that we can help them . We have the Riverside logo included in the chalk art , and Riverside is right across the street . Anybody walking by that wants help can see the logo and can just

Marianne Austin

Riverside Recovery clients and staff displayed their artistic talent while celebrating recovery through chalk art around the court square on July 19 .

walk right over , hopefully . That ’ s the idea .”

“ We are doing this because it helps to give back to the community and spread the hope that people dealing with addictions need and to share with others ,” said Cindy Shephard , project manager at Riverside Recovery . “ Sometimes even when

people are forced to get help , they end up wanting the help instead of being made to do it .

“ That ’ s the beauty of working here . You see people with no hope whatsoever and they come in and in a little bit of time they get comfortable , and they can begin getting the help they need . It ’ s a pretty thing .”

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