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Guest Blogger: Beyoncé on Phoenix House’s New Beyoncé Cosmetology Center

ph-admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:44:06 +0000

The pop superstar discusses her and her mother's inspiration for our new cosmetology program—and what needs to be done to erase the stigma of addiction read more

Beyoncé Opens Cosmetology Center at Phoenix House

kschmier — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:00:32 +0000

Photo by Ben Hider/PictureGroup

Friday, March 5, was an incredible day for all of us at Phoenix House. Pop superstar Beyoncé and her mother, fashion designer Tina Knowles joined us for the opening of the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center at our Phoenix House Career Academy in Brooklyn. The new Cosmetology Center will offer a seven-month cosmetology training course, helping our clients gain the career skills they need to lead productive, rewarding lives in recovery.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony—after remarks from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, OASAS Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, and Tina Knowles—Beyoncé spoke about meeting with women in treatment at Phoenix House while preparing for the role of Etta James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records. “Through their stories, I realized that all of us have our personal struggles and we all have something to overcome,” she said. “Drug addiction…has a stigma that must be removed. Addiction is a disease and these beautiful women I met did not choose to become addicts, but they have chosen to get better.”

Later donating her salary from the film, Beyoncé wanted to create a program that was geared toward women, “something that would teach them skills that would give them hope even after Phoenix House.” Together, she and her mother, who owned a popular hair salon in Houston when she was growing up, came up with the idea of our new cosmetology program.

As a child, she observed that her mother’s salon was a place for women to “share stories, cry, laugh, and get advice”—and she wanted to bring that experience the women at Phoenix House. “The first sign of recovery is caring about your appearance,” she said. “And hopefully, this Center will be a place that will change lots of lives every year.”

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Beyoncé and Miss Tina for their tremendous gift, which will indeed change lives.

Check out the coverage below and stay tuned for more:

Phoenix House Teens Speak Out

kschmier — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:38:48 +0000

At a youth summit in Southern California on February 20, 600 teenagers gathered to learn about topics ranging from substance abuse to peer pressure and Internet safety. As part of the event in Rosemead, Phoenix House teens led a roundtable discussion about their struggles with addiction. Click here to read the Pasadena Star-News story.

Oxycontin Abusers Often Rely on ‘Leftover’ Meds

kschmier — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:31:46 +0000

A recent Utah study reveals that nearly all men and women who illegally use or abuse opioid painkillers such as Oxycotin get their drugs from a relative or friend. Health Day interviews study author Eric Johnson about the current problem of overprescribing drugs and its affect on the rising trends of misuse and abuse. Click here to read the full article.

Anti-Energy Drink Causes Concern

kschmier — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:21:22 +0000

Mental health experts in Texas worry that ”Drank,” a relexation beverage, may be a gateway drug to the illegal cough syrup concoction “purple drank.” The Dallas Morning News interviews Dallas Phoenix House director Michelle Hemm and two young clients about its potential for abuse. Click here to read the full story.

Phoenix House Helps Florida Teens

kschmier — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:13 +0000

The St. Petersburg Times writes about Phoenix House’s Derek Jeter Center in Tampa as a place for young people to get their lives back on track. Click here to read the story.

Illicit Drug Use Among Baby Boomers on the Rise

alindsay — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:40 +0000

Researchers worry that high rates of lifetime drug use among boomers is likely to create health complications for millions of aging Americans and swamp the country’s drug-treatment programs. Click here to read the full story.

“How I Stay Clean”

alindsay — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:38:12 +0000

Phoenix House alum Jared Hamre, 25, shares his story of tragedy and recovery with parents and teens at a drug prevention forum in Agawam, Mass. Mr. Hamre went from living in his parents’ home to crashing in an abandoned building. He was helped through recovery with a year-long stay at Phoenix House in Springfield and is now devoted to helping others.

To learn more about the forum and Jared Hamre’s story check out “The Republican” article.

Help Us Help Haiti

kschmier — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:58:24 +0000

Yesterday, we awoke to the tragic news of Haiti’s worst earthquake in more than 200 years. As images of the country’s destroyed capital and wounded citizens flashed across our TV screens, we were filled with a sense of overwhelming sadness for the Haitian people who have already endured too much suffering.

Like many of us at Phoenix House, I became aware of Haiti’s plight through our friend and supporter Wyclef Jean. As we got to know Wyclef, we also learned of his passion for his native country and his charity, Yéle Haiti. Since its inception in 2005, Yéle Haiti has helped bring humanitarian relief in the areas of education, healthcare, environment, and community development. We were so pleased when Wyclef won the 2009 Ripple of Hope Award from the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.

Wyclef has been there for Phoenix House and today, we have the opportunity to be there for him and most importantly, for the people of Haiti. As a foundation that has that always shown compassion toward those in need, we feel a responsibility to rally around this important cause and we hope other organizations will join us.

While Wyclef has become the lifeline between Haiti and the philanthropic community, I’m sure he never imagined that the need for relief would intensify due to such a devastating event. Now, he’s asking people from around the world to come together to help his country at this time of urgent crisis.

To contribute directly to the Earthquake Fund, please visit the Yéle Haiti website. I urge you not to wait. Haiti needs our support today.

Howard Meitiner

President and CEO, Phoenix House

An Academy Grad Gives Thanks

kschmier — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:54:35 +0000

Last week, in a packed auditorium at Sayville Middle School on Long Island, a young graduate from our East Hampton academy shared his recovery journey. Now sober for over a year, he credits Phoenix House, telling the crowd of 600 parents and students that the program “made [him] who [he] was meant to be.”

To learn more about his inspiring story, check out the Newsday article.