In her own words ... a recovering crack addict speaks

Carla Highshaw was addicted to crack cocaine for 21 years before she choose to live clean and free from drugs seven months ago. She shared her story. (photo by Barbara White)

 

by Barbara White
Holla!
Nine thousand, five hundred (9,500) down 246,500 to go, I-Witness touching Black people all over the city of Milwaukee, one event at a time.

Until the Lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."--African proverb

***Jobs, Jobs, Jobs***

Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership and Big Step Skilled Trades Employment Program will present a general orientation overview for job training, which can lead to family supporting job opportunities. The sessions will be Thursday, November 9 at 10 a.m. (Doors will close at 9:45 a.m.) and November 29 at 5 p.m. (doors will close at 4:45 p.m.), there will be no walk-ins (pre-registration required, each session will take one to one-a-half hours.) Requirements: Must be 18 years of age, pass a drug screen, have reliable transportation, picture ID and any certificates, resume or any other documents relevant to training and job placement. To register call, 342-9787. Okay y’all get prepared and be on time. Yes you can, can!

Holla-Outs

To: Kitty Wilson over at the Wilson Club! Hey, Kitty thank you for the wonderful dinner, you know chicken wings are my favorite, Holla!

To: My fellow Capricorn, Jerome (JJ) Johnson! Remember our Capricorn creed, Holla!

To: Fay Garland, hope everything went well for you, Holla!

To: Beverly Staples over at Froedert Hospital, I loved that purple and orange, you were too sharp.

To: Chuck Jones over at Chuck’s Barbershop! Hey, Chuck you know you are truly one of the Creator’s True Miracles, keep believing in Miracles, Yahoo Miracles!

Hey, Javetti Walker and Lawonda Agee just wanted to Holla-Out to my little cousins hearing good things, keep advancing that next generation I love it.

To: The Henning Family, Dre’ has a condominium.

To: Carla Keye in the lab and Velma Ware in medical records over at Midtown Health Center, Holla!

Birthday Holla-Outs

To: Justin Knox and Tomara Williams. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, your father Albert Holmes and I-Witness just wanted to Holla at you on your birthday.

To: Jeanette Herreua, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday!

Pssssst...

Hey, y’all want to share some humor with you. This past Saturday, Sweetest Day was WISN 12’s Weekend Co-Anchor DeMarco Morgan Day. Sweetest Day is about giving recognition to those who just make life sweet. Well evidently, DeMarco has made life sweet for a many on Sweetest Day, he received more flowers than all the women combined at WISN 12. Hey DeMarco life must be sweet, Holla!

Mr. Wonderful, (Gaulien "Gee" Smith) of Gee’s Clippers was in Dallas with former Milwaukeean Jack Miles. Miles the former Milwaukee Bucks’ Director of Player’s Security now works for the Washington Wizards as Director of Player’s Services and Security. While there, of course Mr. Wonderful attended the game between the Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks. Pssst, he didn’t tell how many sweeties he was, Holla!

Now y’all know who makes life Sweet for me, my two favorites, Mr. Wonderful (Gee), the Distinguish Gentlemen (DeMarco), and of course, all of you, Holla!

Congratulations

To: Andre’ Lee Ellis owner of Andre’s on Garfield. Andre’ is a diabetic who was taking four insulin shots a day. He has been declared insulin independent he no longer has to take shots or pills. He said that through diet and exercise he has been successful at putting the disease in remission where his body is now producing its own insulin again. Andre’ has also been smoke free for 50 days, not one cigarette. Hey, Andre’ I-Witness salutes you for recognizing that one must make the lifestyle changes for good health and the best cure is practicing preventive health care. Congratulations!

To: Richard Perry Thomas who resides in Milwaukee but is now attending Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. Thomas is starring in the all Black production of August Wilson, "Two Trains Running." August Wilson passed last year. He was considered the Black Shakespeare of theater. Congratulations Richard, "break a leg!"

Condolences

To: The family of Mildred Mouton. Mouton was a part of the support group at CYD of Parents whose children have been killed; our prayers are with you.

In her own words ... a recovering crack addict speaks

Carla Highshaw was addicted to crack cocaine for 21 years before she choose to live clean and free from drugs seven months ago. She shared her story. (photo by Barbara White)

Drugs in some form or another have touched many of our families negatively, but today I am going to share with you a woman named Carla Highshaw. Highshaw had been on drugs for 21 years of her life, but she now has been clean for the last seven months, and she wants y’all to hear about her.

Carla is a 42-year-old mother of four adult children. She dropped out of North Division High School in the 11th grade, but now she is feeling very good about herself.

It is the first time in 21-years that she has not been high.

With a smile as bright as the sun, she tells me, "I’m so proud of me. I’m clean both mentally and physically. I have a little part-time job, I stay with my daughter and daily I go to treatment." Carla goes for group daily at CYD and she goes to St. Mary’s Hospital for therapy and support group.

Carla’s addiction spans over 21 years, when at age 21 she became a drug addict. Like all families Carla hung out with her relatives, cousins of her age to go out and have fun. In Carla’s case, hanging out with her cousins was not a good thing and for 21 years, she has learned life in its hardest form, being a drug addict. Her choice of drug: crack cocaine. She started using like most drug addicts.

Carla states she began smoking weed then soon moved on to doing cocaine. She states, "I never knew doing drugs would cost me half of my life." She talks of how she felt her children did not love her; nobody loved her then. "I stole from everybody, lied to them, it didn’t matter I had to have it, (drugs) and I didn’t care who I stole from," she said.

She talked of many things that she has done to get money to get high. In addition, she spoke of many things that have happened to her during that period in her life. Her stroll was between North Avenue and Center Street on King Drive; here is where middle-aged men, both Black and White, would come to seek sex from her.

She states: "Many of the White men appeared to be professional men and the tops I would get is what ever they gave me really, but the White men always gave the most money." I asked her how they contacted her. She said she would walk up and down the streets; the johns would then flash their lights, blow their horn or call out to her. She would come to the car and they would tell her what they wanted. She would get in the car and ride off with them. Not to a hotel mind you but in dark places, alleys, vacant apartments, in garages, no place civil. Here she would perform whatever service and on to the next trick.

She states, "I have been tested for AIDS and other diseases and I’m blessed to not have anything." She goes on, "tricks have beaten me, cracked my head, all kinds of things. These things were done by tricks." I asked, "why did they beat you?" She said, "if I didn’t do it right, whatever they wanted me to do they would get angry and beat me.

"Many times, I called the police to no avail," she said, "they would tell me I was a hooker and hookers don’t get raped. Plus I would not get my money either.

"Nobody wanted me around. I wasn’t welcomed at family gatherings for birthdays, holidays, nothing. You know it was like I was in a world all to myself with no one to loved me," she added.

Throughout our conversation, she would smile that smile that was as bright as the sun and say: "I feel good about myself. I now take a bath every day, wear clean clothes, sleep in a bed and I know my children love me. And my grandbaby who they kept away from me during those times loves me." She stated with joy: "I know my children always loved me they just didn’t like the things I did. When your mom is on drugs, I know it’s hard for the whole family."

Robert Neylon who was also a part of our interview simply as an observer was truly inspired by Carla and encouraged her throughout our interview. He says, "I could have been you (Carla) but someone pulled me a side and told me, it ain’t for you."

I then asked: "What made you want to quit getting high?"

She states, "because I got tired of being dirty, not taking baths or changing clothes for five or six days. Every time I would get high, it was like something crawling all over me. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I asked God so many times to take me away from here, so many times. I finally went to the mental health complex and I told them I was Satan, the devil and they took me in.

"When the opportunity came for me to go to the Mader House. (The Mader House is a transitional home for addicted mothers), I went."

It was at the Mader House that Carla began the process of becoming drug free. She states, "being there made me begin to straighten up my life. After being there, I could see me in many of the new women coming in." She stayed at the Mader House for about a year. Outpatient transitional services for intense support surrounded her departure. This is where CYD and St. Mary’s Hospital came in. Carla says: "I want you to make a point that I still have cravings and I am still struggling, but I’m feeling better and better about myself and folks at CYD and its programs are helping me help me."

I talked with Sterlon White, clinic director at CYD’s Out Patient Services, which is a Substance Abuse/Mental Health Facility; we could not get into things about any specific client based on confidentiality. So, we talked about the program.

He states that the facility has a three-step program:

1) Is day treatment where our clients come every day for 4.5 hours.

2) Our outpatient is where patients come two-to-three days a week for four-and-one-half hours.

3) Is our maintenance program where our clients come once a week or once a month for group or until they feel they want to cut the ties.

White continues, "On average we have a census of about 50 people a day. In the four-and-one-half hours we have a comprehensive program where we do introductions and have the patients tell us something about themselves, be it a feeling, an incident or an issue, this way we can listen and began to formulate a program to fit their needs.

"Our next session is self Awareness/Empowerment where we encourage them to talk, they take the leadership role of the session and they learn how to make decisions and interact. Then there is Reality Therapy discussions on relationships about not only a spouse, but also children, family or things they have issues with," he said
.
"Gestalt Therapy helps to deal with unfinished business, death, grieving, addiction and not using issues. We have them write letters to the drug saying goodbye or if someone has died that they may have wronged we use the empty chair to allow them to say to them what they could not say to them when they were high. When they are on drugs, their feelings are numb," White explained.

He said: "We deal with the hardcore drug addicted person. The average person spends six months here. We have some folks who have been in recovery maintenance programs four years, and it’s a good thing." He sited an example of a patient who has been clean for four years but has remained with the program because of being mentally challenged.

Let’s be clear even if a person is mentally challenged, they still need to be in treatment and can be treated.

I asked, "how do you measure success?"

White stated: "Our success rate is greater than most because we are the longest running treatment facility in the city. We treat the hardcore drug addict. We measure success by those who enter treatment and whether they come back once or twice, we then know we are helping them when they return, something is working in them. The fact that they know they need to come back is success in it self."

He continued, "They are encouraged to never give up on themselves and we will not never give up on them either. That is the mission of CYD’s founders Mother Clara Simpson and Jeannetta Robinson and their beliefs. We belong to this community and we are not afraid of our community because we know our community needs us and we are going to be here for them."

Clara, free from drugs said with her bubbling smile, "it feels good. I have been through it; I’ve paid for the dope man’s everything. I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but God has blessed me. I know I’m blessed and He has something for me that’s going to be good."

In-group she has learned she has options. She states again: "Yes, I’m still struggling and when I get like that, I call my counselor and talk with her. She has been clean for 21 years. She showed me what she calls her 24 Hour a Day, her book which shows her how to get through each day, I pray and meditate then I get on my knees and pray."

Since being clean, Clara says she has seen many changes and improvement in her life. She even has aspirations for her future.

"One day I want to go back to school and be a nurse. I get a lot of encouragement from CYD and the classes I attend, they’re teaching me to be strong and not use. I have changed my atmosphere; I don’t hang out with those I used to ’cause I know what will happen. I can’t go to family reunions, funerals, birthdays, because I know what will happen. It’s sad but it’s what I have to do. My aunt used to not invite me over for dinner but she has begun to invite me over again and I feel good about that."

Clara says with her newfound freedom, she doesn’t take anything for granted.

"Little things like waking up and having $3 or $4 in my pocket is a miracle. I can go shopping when I want, bath and change clothes, it’s the little things and I feel so good," she said.

Taking one day at a time, Carla is currently "looking for a church home now and looking forward to graduating and receiving my ADOA certificate," she said.

"I’m taking it one day at a time and feeling good about myself," Clara said as she smiles that smile that shines bright like the sun.

Hey, Carla I shared your story, hopefully to get you support and words of encouragement from all who know and encounter, who want to see you succeed, and I’m one who wants to see it. Thank you so much for sharing a part of your life with me, I know it took a lot of courage for you to do this with me, but you said you wanted the kids to know doing drugs is no joke.

I really enjoyed you, I loved how you flashed all that sunshine on me when you smiled, Holla! I know you are struggling and I understand that it is hard but I love how you are fighting. I know your children and grandbaby mean so much to you by the way you spoke of them but we know you cannot do it for them you have to do it for you because you are worthy!

For all of you who know Carla wherever you see her, Holla at her and show some love because we want to see her victorious. She is a human being seeking acceptance like many of us and she is trying to give it all she has in her battle. For any of my sistas out there who are tired of being sick and tired and you want to take that step, call CYD at 264-6888, ask for Sterlon White and they will give you that helping hand. I salute you as well CYD, the Mader House and St. Mary’s Hospital for trying to create miracles, yahoo miracles, Atten--tion Salute!

***Atten--tion Salute***

 

It’s Yo’ Birthday

I-Witness wishes Garfield 502 Club co-owner, Jewel Currie a big "Happy Birthday" during his recent birthday celebration. (photo by B. White)

It’s Yo’ Birthday, It’s yo’ Birthday, Jewel Currie co-owner of Garfield 502 Club celebrated his birthday in grand style, why he was everybody’s Sweetie on Sweetest Day and he said I-Witness was his, I loved it!

The celebration was an all day event, all the tables had black top hats filled with chocolates kisses and balloons everywhere.

Many joined Jewel on his day of festivities.

I was with my favorite girl Freida Webb of Milwaukee County and Rita McClain of WHEDA. I also had my moments with the boys, WMCS General Manger Don Rosette, talk show host Eric Von, Tom Wilson, Donald Matthews, Ernie Anderson and my Guru Robert D. Y’all know I had to have a Heineken with the boys, Holla! We all had a good time. I think Lamar Franklin was still celebrating his birthday of two weeks ago. MCJ Sales Rep Jimmie Johnson was in the house as well; I thought he was "Big Daddy" again, Holla!

Jewel was entertaining his guests by simply being everybody’s Sweetie, but you all know I was his, Holla!

They had sub sandwiches that were not just laid out but were served to us by none other than I-Witness’ Guru Robert D. Everybody loved it; it was a nice touch.

Martha Love arrived, she wanted me to share chicken wings with her and she knows that’s my weakness, Holla! Ol’ School music filled the air and we all knew every song. Martha and I went to see the beautiful cake with various pictures of Jewel on it. They also had this huge Birthday card for every one to give birthday wishes to the birthday Sweetie.

Hey, Jewel Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Hap--py Birthday to you. Sorry I couldn’t stay with you all day but you know I enjoyed being your Sweetie, for a short time what a great day to have a birthday on, you know I had a good time, Holla!

Oh what a night

The Onyx Nightclub was the hotspot last Tuesday night during the Poetry Unplugged open mic set and birthday celebration for Nakia Ali, co-owner of Mi’Le’ Productions. Pictured (clockwise) are Triple Blak, featured poet of the night from Chicago, NaKia Ali, local poet Miss Jazzy, MiMi Jackson and Lelah Huntley, both of Mi’Le’ Productions. (photo by Barbara White)

Well, y’all you know I love to hear the poets spit. I was at the Onyx again for Poetry Unplugged hosted by the People’s Champ, nationally renowned poet Kwabena Nixon, featuring Def Poetry’s own, Poet Triple Blak of Chicago, and one of the hottest bands in the city Three the Hard Way, sponsored by Gee’s Clippers.

If you want to know where the young adults--professionals and working class--are both on Tuesday nights well, they’re out being coool snap, snap.

For all of you who love poetry and coolin’ out, Tuesday Night at the Onyx is the place to be, snap, snap. The Onyx is now serving chicken wings, snap, snap.

The Poetry Unplugged sets are good, snap, snap. Some of the most talented poets from around the country and locally spit their words there, snap, snap. I really enjoy when I can get to poetry night because they energize my spirit when they spit making me feel like I’m in church sometimes, snap, snap, Holla!

It was Open Mic Night, and we were treated to some good spits. (recitals) Like Speck who spit on Black men loving poetry or Bishop who is one of my favorites, rolled us and squeezed us till we begged for more, and Sista Monica and Autumn Blaze who did a duo with song and spoken word and turned us out, they were awesome.

Then there was "Three the Hard Way" and the People’s Champ Kwabena combining to inspire us through spirituality with repeated questions are we appreciating this gift of life that Our Creator has favored us with? While we laid back, just being coooool, as we sipped wine, energy drinks with the smell of chicken wings in the air, We yell out powerful responses, of ohhhhh, ohhhhh, ohhhhh!

And then, "coming to the stage, when I say Triple, you say Blak, when I say Triple, you say Blak, Triple Blak," the People’s Champ shouted.

Triple Blak takes to the stage and whined us up. I loved Triple Blak; his repertoire is filled with so much life that gives the answers to the questions. He deals with the forbidden of topics that we hide in the closet for generations only to see the forbidden darkness resurface time and time again affect us generation after generation as we suffer in silence. He spits about being a man, a father, domestic violence, family, child abuse, sexual assault, he didn’t spit in the perceived liberalism that has been placed on naps of our young people but in the strong conservative traditions of Black culture in days back when.

Triple Blak spits out about abortion, loveeeee and Jesus all in the same breath, asking the questions like, "What if Mary had decided not to have Jesus?" Triple Blak had the cooool folks on their feet in applauds and sold out his CDs in ten minutes. He was awesome. Snap, snap.

Then there was the surprise it was Nakia Ali’s of Mi’Le’ Productions birthday and boy did she get some surprises. First Mr. Wonderful (Gee) got up and thanked her for all the things she does for him on a business level and told her how much he appreciated her. He then had everyone wish her a happy birthday. The tears are beginning to fall y’all, Holla!

Mimi and Lelah, Nakia’s business partners, recited a poem for her telling her they cared about and appreciated her. She was then serenaded with song, then this big beautiful candle lit cake arrived with the Happy Birthday song and oh yes, y’all the tears are really falling now, Holla!

The DJ began to rock the house and the party began. They were rocking it, it was a party up in there y’all. Happy Birthday to you Nakia!

Hey, People’s Champ and Nakia, you both know I had a good time. I love when I can get out on Tuesdays to celebrate birthdays and hear a poet spit, I loved it!