The Phoenix House Dallas Associates Group has been opening doors of opportunity for our Dallas youngsters in many different ways. This “Service Arm” of volunteers has built a very successful mentoring program over the last year and, twice a month, invited local professionals from a variety industries to come to the Phoenix House Academy of Dallas and explain to our clients how they entered into their individual careers. From photographers, to DEA agents, to chefs – if the clients have expressed interest in a particular occupation, the Associates find someone who is in the field.

Recently, the Academy welcomed Mr. Dean Tarpley, co-owner of School of Rock in Dallas, TX. The clients listened intently as Mr. Tarpley explained the School of Rock music education program and, more importantly, the benefits and opportunities that living a sober life will afford them. One teenager named Martin was especially intrigued.

Martin is a self-taught guitarist with a lot of talent and potential. Noticing Martin’s innate skill, his family took him to audition at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. Although his ability in playing the guitar is excellent, being self-taught, Martin lacked the music theory knowledge that is a requirement for the program. After Mr. Tarpley’s presentation, Martin expressed to Dean his interest in music, guitar and a potential career in the music industry. Dean graciously offered to take Martin on a tour of the School of Rock.

During Martin’s tour, he met with Wendy Murphy, director of the Dallas School of Rock, and the rest of the staff. Impressed by his ability, they generously offered him a scholarship to their program. This scholarship gives Martin the opportunity to attend weekly individual lessons throughout the summer, as well as a three hour band rehearsal to prepare for a performance at the “Revisiting Live Aid” concert in September. Martin’s new guitar instructor, who has a degree in music, assured Martin that he’ll teach all the music theory knowledge Martin will need to pass his next audition at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.

Phoenix House is so grateful to the Associates Group for recognizing this need to expose the clients at the Academy of Dallas to what exciting things may await when they pursue their dreams. Furthermore, we are incredibly grateful to Dean Tarpley, Wendy Murphy, and the rest of the School of Rock staff for taking an interest in Phoenix House and our clients. With friends like you, we are making a big difference in our community!

The musicians travel around the country, sharing their own stories of struggle and triumph. The Road Recovery artists were in Austin for the SXSW Music and Media Conference and graciously decided to spend the day with the clients at the Austin Academy. The experience proved to be encouraging for both the Academy clients and staff, as well as the musicians.

Academy Director Laurie DeLong commented,

“Our clients and staff were truly motivated by Road Recovery coming to our facility.  The performers’ words and music inspired the youth to continue to reach for their goals and encouraged our staff to continue to understand and learn as they work with the young people we serve.   Personally, the experience demonstrated to me the power of music and we will use this opportunity to further grow our music program. We will look forward to a repeat next year!”

The Austin Academy wants to say a special thank you to Gene Bowen for organizing the introduction of Phoenix House to Road Recovery. Phoenix House is also very appreciative of the artists for their honest performances and inspiring testimonies. We’d love to see you again next year!

With Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” building a music program here gives us the unique opportunity to tap professional local talent. Once the project is complete, our clients will be able to create music, learn digital song composition, and experience a healthy, fun, and positive outlet for personal expression. We are excited to house this studio and very grateful to Ms. DioGuardi for her generosity and concern for teenagers in Texas.

“This is a unique opportunity for those of us in public office to pay tribute to the many citizens and businesses who work hard to protect their neighborhoods, companies, and themselves against the devastation of drugs,” said Mayor White of Houston.

Sponsors for this event and award include Houston Crackdown, the anti-drug division of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Houston Office of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Clear Channel Communications.

A special luncheon was held to recognize Phoenix House achievements in Houston toward drug and crime prevention. In addition to the luncheon, Phoenix House Houston received a crystal star award, acknowledgment from the City of Houston, and a grand prize of billboard displays along major freeways throughout Houston and Harris counties to showcase our accomplishment.

We are very proud of our Houston programs director, Marcia Baker, and her team, who have worked diligently to attain this exciting honor!

The Dallas Associates group, led by Laurie Montoya, is heading up this endeavor and hopes the community will donate new or used books (or funds/gift cards toward the purchase of books). The “Library Initiative” is important to our Feinberg clients as a means of education, as well as a positive potential hobby. Presently, the book collection at the Academy is lacking, aside from standard high school curricula and text.

If you or someone you know has new or used books to donate, please contact Laurie Montoya at laurie@shopperati.com.

A big thank you to Chef Andrew Savoie and the Dallas Art Institute Culinary School for generously donating food and their time to serving the kids at Feinberg Academy!

In August, the Phoenix House Dallas Associates kicked off a new Mentoring Program at the Hill A. Feinberg Academy in Dallas. Associates members Dale Scofield and Steve Wolff have enlisted the help and expertise of several local businessmen and women. These industry leaders work in fields that the clients have expressed personal interest in pursuing one day. So far, the kids have enjoyed educational life stories from the likes of a Navy seal, pharmacist, photographer, chef, electrician, among several others. The clients have shown incredible excitement and attentiveness as they listen to testimonies of how the professionals have achieved success in their individual occupations and learn the paths they took to reach their career goals. The Mentoring Program has been a wonderful success so far, and we expect the impact of this initiative to be of great and lasting significance to our clients.