THE LOOP
GreetingsfromWestCareNevada,
June has been a vibrant and fulfilling month, packed with impactful events and meaningfulengagements.Asweintroduceyoutotheeventsthathavetakenplace,I cannot stop thinking about the fact that our lives, the tremendous work being done here at WestCare Nevada, and this newsletter, for that matter, are all ways of documenting and sharing this wonderful journey of life and of helping others. I can honestlysaythatIamgratefultobeabletosharethisjourneywithyou.
So, this month of June, our journey began with our participation in the Veterans Stand Down, where we had the privilege of connecting with and supporting our brave service members. The sense of community and camaraderie was truly inspiring,yetthefactthatweseesomanywarriorsinneeddemonstratesthatthere isstillagreatamountofworkthatneedstobedone.
Our team, Development Director Mr. Andrew Moran, and I had the honor of deliveringapresentationregardingWestCareattheLasVegasRotaryClub Itwas a fantastic opportunity to share our history, vision, and guiding principles while exchanging ideas and strengthening our ties with the many influential community leaderswhoarealsoRotarymembers.
We attended a Networking Charity Luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion, highlighting the incredible work being done to support those in need. The event showcased the power of a collective effort and the future looks bright in relation to thepartnershipsnecessarytoimprovebehavioralhealthservicesacrossthestate.
WestCareNevadaLeadershipparticipatedinaleadershipsummitthatprovidedus with fresh perspectives, innovative strategies, and invaluable team-building experiences. We're excited to bring these new insights back to our programs and continue moving the needle forward with renewed energy and purpose while UpliftingtheHumanSpirit.
In celebration of Pride Month, both clients and staff attended and enjoyed a vibrant and uplifting concert that reinforced our commitment to diversity and inclusion. It was a joyous occasion that brought together our community in the spiritofunityandpride.
At our Women and Children’s Campus, we also engaged in two separate meetings with mayoral candidates for the City of Las Vegas These discussions wereinsightfulandcrucialforunderstandingthefuturedirectionofourcity.
Iwanttothankyou,ourreaders,forbeingpartofourJunejourney.Makesureyou staytunedformoreupdatesandstoriesinthecomingmonths!
Leo Magrdichian, LCSW, LCADC, Vice President
A Celebration of Pride, Brotherhood, and Love with the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus
By Rhonda Davisson, Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator
On Sunday, June 30, WestCare Nevada Community Action Council (CAC) member, Eric Endy, gifted the women and men of the Women and Children’s Campus and Harris Springs Ranch tickets to attend the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus’ (LVMC) “Color The World” concert.
With the gifted tickets, we were also able to bring a contingent of staff and members from our community partners from The Center! Ron Schnese, Linkage to Care Coordinate Lead of The Center, said: “This was the first time my family and I had ever seen the Las Vegas Men's Chorus. The show was amazing! The arrangement of songs was brilliant, and the vocal abilities of the chorus were sublime. We will definitely be returning and looking into season tickets, too. Run, don't walk to the next show! It is with great thanks to WestCare that we were able to attend this show, and we are hooked!”
We enjoyed an assortment of selections of music and dances from around the world, truly representing, "A colorful celebration of pride, brotherhood, and love.” Our clients who were able to attend enjoyed all the dancing and singing. For some, it was their first time seeing a concert like this. We are thankful to our CAC for this opportunity!
We are also excited the LVMC will be representing Las Vegas and Nevada at the LGBTQ Chorus Olympics in Minneapolis, MN in July.
Uplifting the Human Spirit with the Las Vegas Rotary
By Andrew Moran, Development Director
Leo Magrdichian, WestCare Nevada’s Vice President of Operations and a passionate advocate for community support, delivered a speech at the historic LasVegasRotaryClublunchmeeting
The Las Vegas Rotary Club’s legacy is amazing Established in 1923, they have a rich history of engagement and their core mission revolves around teachingyouththenecessaryskillsforsuccessthroughliteracy,education,and lifeskillsdevelopment
Leo shed light on the impactful work being done by WestCare and highlighted not only the significance of WestCare’s mission but also explored the collaborative efforts between WestCare and the Las Vegas Rotary Clubbuilding a brighter future for our Nevada residents Leo’s speech emphasized the remarkable work being carried out by WestCare and how we address the diverse needs of individuals and families, empowering them to overcome challengesandimprovetheirqualityoflife
One recent key initiative he spoke about was “Suits for Success,” a business suit driveorganizedbytheLasVegasRotaryClubandWestCareNevadafor the Women and Children’s Campus By recognizing the importance of professional attire in building self-confidence and opening doors to employment opportunities, we were able to gather 50 new suits for women in need Each of them received a personalized note of compassion and hope withinthecommunity
This speech served as a reminder of the power of collective activity and support Leo’s call to action encouraged us to get involved and contribute to theongoingeffortsofourorganizationsaswecontinuetoupliftandempower, creatingabrighterfutureforall
We Uplift the Human Spirit together
Cultivating Excellence: New Leadership Program Launches in Nevada
Recently, it was announced that WestCare has established an Organizational and Leadership Development Department, spearheaded byRashiedaShabazz,formerlytheVicePresidentofHumanResourcesand nowthenewly-appointedVicePresidentofOrganizationalandLeadership Development
Withover25yearsofexperienceinHumanServicesandHumanResources, Rashieda is passionate about the potential and development of people Her deep commitment to organizational growth aims to enhance leadership potential and drive organizational success through creative and innovative traininganddevelopmentprograms.
In June, Rashieda launched the first of her leadership sessions for the WestCare Nevada leadership staff, which included Vice President, Leo Magrdichian as well as the state’s directors and program managers The Nevada team invested more than 12 hours in sessions covering topics such as Leadership Competencies and Application Assessment, Leadership 101, EffectiveCommunication,andPerformanceManagement
“This isn’t a one-time event,” remarked Rashieda “This will be a process of continuous and customized knowledge development and growth for all WestCareentities”
Rashieda is working diligently to create an engaging environment which emphasizesapplicationandnotjustthegeneralknowledgeofconceptslearned This in-depth organizational and leadership development focus is the first of its kindforWestCare
"It was truly a pleasure to participate in this leadership training,” said WestCare Nevada’s Vice President, Leo “Spending time building relationships while focusing on our development as leaders has significantly increased our trust in each other as a team It has also enhanced my ability to support them more effectively by understanding their leadership styles, values, and overall strengths Thistraininghasthepotentialtoimpactourentireworkplaceculture”
Next,RashiedawillbefocusingonworkingwiththeAppalachiaRegion’sleaders at WestCare Georgia and subsequently expanding her efforts throughout WestCare
Charity Luncheon with Nevada’s First Lady Donna Lombardo
WestCare Nevada had the honor of being invited to and attending the Networking Charity Luncheon, hosted by First Lady Donna Lombardo, at the Governor's Mansion Governor Joe Lombardo also attended the event, which was emceed by the First Lady’s daughter, Lacey Alderson, who, among other things, shared that shewasapreviousemployeeofWestCareNevada
The event united non-profit organizations, charitable foundations, and corporations to improve the connections and partnerships needed to improve behavioral health outcomesacrosstheSilverState
WestCare Nevada is grateful that we have a First Lady who is using her platform to benefit behavioral health for someofourmostvulnerablecitizens
Thanks for the invite!
For the fourth year in a row, our Women and Children's Campus’ (WCC) Women Warriors Unit emergency housing program proudly participated in the Las Vegas VeteransStandDown2024
With the goal to serve 500 Veterans and family members, there were over 200 volunteers serving as navigators to assist Veterans and over 100 community partners in attendance from various industries such as education, employment, legal services, and more. It is our honor to work with our community and make the commitment to ensureVeteransandtheirfamilymembersreceivetheservicestheyneed
In the lead-up to the June primary mayoral election, our WestCare Nevada staff and clients at the Women and Children’s Campus had the unique opportunity to host two of the leading candidates for mayor of the city, Shelley Berkeley (lower left) and Victoria Seamen (lower right). The visits were well received and the clients appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with the candidates, gaining insights into their priorities and plans Many found the experience valuable in making an informed decision when they cast their votes in the primary and again in November.
Growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, my childhood was a mix of love and chaos. My parents were both in my life, but it was my mother who raised me. My father was what you might call a rolling stone, alwaysdriftinginandoutofourlives.Bytheageof15,Ifoundmyself drawn to the streets and the gang life. It seemed like an escape, a waytofillthevoidleftbymyfather’sabsence.
At 17, I started using PCP, and by my 20s, I had moved on to meth. Thedrugswereawaytonumbthepainandforgetthestruggles,but theyonlyledmedeeperintotrouble.In2014,Iwascaughtinafamily drugcourtcase,andIknewIhadhitrockbottom.Facingthejudge,I pleadedtobesenttoWestCareNevada’sHarrisSpringsRanch,a residentialtreatmentprogramformen.Ispent90daystherelearning torebuildmylifewithnewtoolsandafreshperspective.
Coming out of Harris Springs Ranch, I was determined to change. I joined the NA fellowship and started following the program’s suggestions. The loss of my son to the streets in 2018 was a devastatingblow,butinsteadofbreakingme,itdrovemedeeperinto the program. When my other son, "Lil Al," went to prison in 2021, I stayedstrong,keepingmyfocusonrecoveryandthepromisesIhad madetomyself.
Today, I am a husband, a father to 12 wonderful kids, and a grandfather to eight beautiful grandchildren. My motto is simple: "FearnomanbutGod."It’sareminderofthestrengthandcourageit took to turn my life around. As a WestCare Nevada alumni member, I’ve had the honor of serving as both the Vice President and the Presidentofthealumni,helpingothersfindtheirwayoutofdarkness.
My dream now is to take my family on a trip outside of the state to visit relatives we haven’t seen in years. It’s a small wish, but it representseverythingI’vefoughtfor:family,unity,andthechanceto make up for lost time. My journey from gang life and addiction to recoveryandredemptionisproofthatnomatterhowfaryoufall,with faithanddetermination,youcanriseagain.
CLEANANDSOBERSINCE
June 24, 2014
By Allen Griffin, WestCare Nevada Alumni