My name is Jacqueline I have been clean since September 2011
I grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the Rockwell Projects. I can relate to the issues of life on the streets. I’m an ex-everything with 28 years of hands-on experience with addiction, abuse, abuse, drugs, alcohol, and prostitution, you name it. At the age of 13, I became pregnant with my first child by a man that was 4 years older than I was. He was very abusive. He mentally, emotionally, physically, and verbally abused me. At the age of 17, I had 6 children by this man. At the age of 18, I got the courage to leave my abuser. At the age of 21, I snorted heroin for the first time. In 2007 I started injection it intravenously. I did this until 2011. At the age of 22, I did crack cocaine for the first time. At the age of 24, I sold my body for the first time. I sold my body to support my drug addictions.
My sister Latriste Graham the founder of the Coming out of Bondage program made three to four trips to see me and work the streets trying to convince me and other prostitutes to get some help. She tried for a few years to convince me to get out of that lifestyle. I just wasn’t ready. She came again in 2011 and told me my daughter wanted to see me. I hadn’t seen my daughter since she was ten years old, now she was 19. Latriste called my daughter and made arrangements for us to see each other. That very day in August 2011 I came back to Minnesota with my sister Latriste. I was very afraid to come out of my comfort zone. My sister and others kept encouraging me to take the first step. When I arrived in Minnesota that day in August 2011 she took me to Century Plaza to sign me up for assistance. The next day we signed up for a Rule 25 drug assessment. She provided me with clothing transportation and health and hygiene items. On September 17, 2011, I entered treatment in St. Paul, MN. In January I went into transitional housing. In November 2012 I moved into my own apartment.
I thank God for my sister Latriste and The Coming out of Bondage program she founded. She didn’t give up on me. She continued coming to Chicago about three or four times a year trying to talk to me and other prostitutes to come out of the streets. Praise God I made the decision to give myself a chance. I am in therapy for the abuse I went through. I’m learning how to get my power and my life back one day at a time. I’m rebuilding a relationship with my children. If I could talk to anyone out there on the streets who are into prostitution and drugs I would tell them to please give yourself a chance because you truly deserve it. Do not allow fear to stop you.
Hello, my name is Patricia Swaggert and this is my story.
How The” Coming Out of Bondage” program helped me. I arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 1/18/13. I relocated from Chicago, Illinois with my 3 children ages 8,6 and 3. Latriste Graham helped me obtain my Rule 25 for drug treatment, shelter services, and healthcare and also school and childcare services for my kids.
I entered the R.S. Eden Treatment program on 02/10/13. I completed the four-month program and I was awarded a Parenting Certificate. 6 months later, I remain at the R.S. Eden program awaiting sober, transitional or low-income housing for me and my kids.
I could not have accomplished this last w/o the help of the Lastriste Graham “Coming Out of Bondage Program.”
What do I think of “The Coming out of Bondage Program”?
Latriste Graham, who founded the program offers help and hope to women and families whose lives are completely torn from being on the streets. Women and families who encounter prostitution, homelessness, drugs, domestic abuse, molestation, and rape.
Latriste not only gives a hand she gives herself unconditionally. Her heartfelt deliverance is a
God’s calling to help those who are in need of help to those who don’t know where or how to start. Latriste’s efforts, determination, and willingness are unspeakable and unimaginable to me. This woman somehow has the ability to incorporate the needs of others into her own personal life. She is of such courage, strength, and beauty of spirit and I admire her so much. Because she offers such an abundance of life and cares for me and those who need it.
My Name is Soncheary Griffin and this is my story
I have been sober since March 24, 2011. Sober for three years now.
I grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the Rockwell Garden projects. I was surrounded by abuse, drugs, gangs, prostitution, and murder. At the age of 12, I smoked pot and took my first drink. At the age of 16, I smoked wet stick. At the age of 18, a close friend introduced me to crack cocaine and heroin. My life was now out of control. I had my first child at the age of 21 and my second child soon after at the age of 22. I was in a very abusive relationship with a man which I now have four children. At the age of 24, I sold my body to support my drug addiction. By the age of 30, I had five children. In 1994 I lost custody of all my children. I met this older guy who supported my cocaine and heroin addiction. This continued until 2009.
I called my God-sister and told her I was sick and tired of getting high. She said she knew someone that can help me. That person was Latriste. We all grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the Rockwell projects. She called Latriste and asked her to help me and she said “yes.” In January of 2009, I ordered my ticket. Latriste picked me up at the bus station and took me to Century Plaza to get signed up for assistance and a Rule 25 assessment to get me into treatment. I stayed at the Salvation Army for thirty days. The Recovery Resource Center called me in in March 2010 to tell me they had a bed for me.
After I completed my treatment I went into transitional housing at Ascension Place where I resided until I moved into my own apartment.
Latriste Graham the founder of Coming out of Bondage helped me tremendously. She provided me with clothing and personal hygiene items. She also picked me up for church every Sunday. I now have a relationship with God and my children. I enrolled in school to get my GED. I also facilitate an NA group every other week. I am seeing a therapist once a week too because of the years of physical, emotional and drug abuse I experienced.
