Memorial Examiner - News
Residents find help, peace
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| Leslie Clark credits The Women’s Home for turning her life around. |
By RUSTY GRAHAM
It took getting out of jail for Leslie Clark to realize she’d hit rock bottom.
Jailed on a possession charge, Clark was released from Harris County jail in 2007, turned out with only what she was wearing.
“I had no money, no clothes, no food and nowhere to go,” said Clark, 54.
She sought some help, and learned about The Women’s Home throug the United Way. She’s about halfway through the 18-month program, and things are looking up.
“What really helps me focus are my 12-step meetings,” said Clark. “I want to say that up front. I can’t do this by myself.”
She is quick with crediting the programs at The Women’s Home too.
“They have so many programs that address so many areas of my life,” said Clark. They focus on what the problem was, then find solutions. They don’t dwell on the problems.”
Clark, who’s just 18 hours short of an electrical engineering degree, worked a series of professional jobs after dropping out of school. But for a variety of reasons, she found herself doing crack cocaine, alcohol, pills -- “everything that can be a detriment,” she says.
Just three months after getting a job at a trucking company, Clark has been promoted to sales and marketing manager.
“I have to thank Tony Gardener (her employer at Next Level Trucking Co.), said Clark. “It’s hard to get a job with felonies (on your record), and he gave me a chance, even with my felonies.”
Jailed on a possession charge, Clark was released from Harris County jail in 2007, turned out with only what she was wearing.
“I had no money, no clothes, no food and nowhere to go,” said Clark, 54.
She sought some help, and learned about The Women’s Home throug the United Way. She’s about halfway through the 18-month program, and things are looking up.
“What really helps me focus are my 12-step meetings,” said Clark. “I want to say that up front. I can’t do this by myself.”
She is quick with crediting the programs at The Women’s Home too.
“They have so many programs that address so many areas of my life,” said Clark. They focus on what the problem was, then find solutions. They don’t dwell on the problems.”
Clark, who’s just 18 hours short of an electrical engineering degree, worked a series of professional jobs after dropping out of school. But for a variety of reasons, she found herself doing crack cocaine, alcohol, pills -- “everything that can be a detriment,” she says.
Just three months after getting a job at a trucking company, Clark has been promoted to sales and marketing manager.
“I have to thank Tony Gardener (her employer at Next Level Trucking Co.), said Clark. “It’s hard to get a job with felonies (on your record), and he gave me a chance, even with my felonies.”
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