TDLBC Story   

The Don’t Look Back Center (TDLBC) was created to empower socially and economically disadvantaged women and transwomen of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to obtain safety, restoration, leadership, courage, tenacity, and health. We consider all physical, emotional, social, and mental health conditions to effectively break the cycle of addictive patterns and unethical thinking to initiate change while developing life skills for restoration in all aspects of a woman’s life. We serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in our society; an organization would be hard-pressed to serve more vulnerable community members than we do. Our clients are all women, including transwomen, most of whom have recent criminal justice involvement and have experienced a variety of life traumas. We actively seek out this population in our community outreach work and refuse support to no one. Among our recent clients, a disproportionate number were victims of domestic violence, several were HIV+, and virtually all have housing instability.

(TDLBC) was founded in 2018 out of personal experience with the criminal justice system and substance use by Corinthiah Brown, she brings with her years of lived experience, having experienced the criminal justice system and substance use disorder herself. Brown served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections, and upon exiting the justice system, in October 1999 she has dedicated her life to helping others like herself overcome trauma and addiction. Brown has 23 yrs. in recovery, after completing parole, Brown obtained a degree in Applied Behavioral Science and a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) certification and began working as a counselor. Today, Brown is a recovering crack addict, physical and sexual abuse survivor, and proud leader of the TDLBC, Trans Outreach Program (TOP), and Habilitation Empowerment Recovery (HER). We stand by our founder and our initial mission to help justice-involved women lead successful and fulfilling lives in the community.

Much of the TDLBC’s success can be attributed to our willingness to lean into the community. TDLBC recognizes the need for safe, trauma-informed living spaces for those working to overcome the barriers to recovery. Thus, two years ago, the TDLBC opened the House of RAHAB, a transitional sober living home for women and transwomen. RAHAB has successfully provided a safe living space for women and transwomen ever since. Many members of the TDLBC board share Brown’s personal experiences with recovery, including Adam Abdullah who is the Mentoring Coordinator for Second Chance Center, and helped co-found the House of RAHAB.Supporting the process of rebuilding lives one woman at a time continuing to bridge the gap between impulse and action. TDLBC’s ability to make productive connections with community members to accomplish specific service-oriented goals is one of its greatest strengths. 

There exists a major gap in available services for women who identify as transgender. Our TOP program attempts to fill this gap by providing much needed resources and support to this population. While we cannot change the systemic issues fueling the inequities our clients face, we can overcome these barriers to service and get them the support they deserve. Similarly, few programs target Black women with justice involvement in a culturally responsive way. By incorporating Habilitaion Empowerment Recovery (HER) into our daily programming we are able to reach the BIPOC communities and support them to counterbalance the inequities they face.

As mentioned above, TDLBC serves the most marginalized and underserved members of our community. In addition to serving transgender women, people with criminal justice system involvement, BIPOC americans, and people with dual diagnosis (substance use disorder and mental health) we also serve those who are unemployed or experiencing housing insecurity. We estimate that 98% of our participants are homeless, in transitional housing, or living below the federal poverty line.

Our programs span recovery-oriented re-habilitation, street outreach,traditional outpatient substance use disorder treatment ,psychotherapy and mental health. providing participants with physical and mental health education, peer-to-peer support, and a sense of community. We also offer a food pantry, DUI/DWI classes, relapse prevention groups, Acu-detox treatments, and a volunteer intern program.

CORINTHIAH | Aurora, CO 

https://liftthelabel.org/stories/ 

I faced a lot of adversity from a very young age. My family moved a lot, I encountered racism, and several family members sexually abused me. By the time I was 21, I had four children. Abusive relationships led to drug usage, leading to criminal activity and incarceration. This cycle of addiction and incarceration, which lasted ten years, eventually cost me custody of my children. During my last imprisonment, I decided enough was enough. On top of my own will to change, I had some inspiration from a pretty unexpected source: Michelle, a corrections officer at the prison, was fostering my eldest son. She treated me with grace and respect, allowed me to see my kids when I was released, and helped me work through the process of reclaiming custody.

Twenty-three years of recovery later, I’m living a new life. The kindness I experienced and my experiences with drug and sexual abuse fuel my passion and led me to create an organization that helps women and transwomen suffering from addiction, PTSD, domestic violence, and unresolved trauma, as well as start a transitional sober living home. I live every day as a role model for the possibility of rebuilding your life after active addiction and incarceration.