Leading with Purpose - Anna Bevins (August 2024)

SOCIAL IMPACT JOURNAL SPOTLIGHTING THOSE UPLIFTING THE HUMAN SPIRIT

LEADING WITH FEATURING

PURPOSE ANNA BEVINS WESTCARE KENTUCKY PERRY CLINE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

A LEADER COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING OTHERS THROUGH HER LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH

AUGUST 2024

FEATURE

ANNA BEVINS

BY: RACHEL LOPEZ, CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Anna Bevins, Program Director of the WestCare Perry Cline Emergency Shelter in Pikeville, Kentucky, brings a unique and powerful perspective to her leadership role— one shaped by her own journey through the WestCare

Kentucky

Substance

Abuse

Program

(SAP)

the

County

at

Pike

Detention Center (PCDC). Years ago, Anna found herself in a place of uncertainty and struggle, facing the challenges of addiction and recovery firsthand. But it was her determination and newfound passion that guided her, allowing her to emerge stronger and more self-aware.

Now, as a leader, Anna draws on her lived experiences to connect deeply with those she serves. She understands the fear, the doubt, and the small victories that come with every step forward. This personal connection has transformed her into a leader who inspires trust, empathy, and a profound belief in the possibility of change and the success of WestCare. Anna’s journey from participant to director is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of having a leader who truly understands what it means to walk the path of recovery.

Always Supporting Her Team: A young Anna as a cheerleader, foreshadowing her future self cheering on and uplifting her team.

Anna’s path to WestCare began in 2008 when

Filled with a new sense of hope, Anna began

her problems with substance abuse led her

investing all her efforts into the program and

to the PCDC, where she ultimately served a

her treatment. She began assisting the SAP;

sentence of 38 months. However, after her

she would do administrative work, help the

first nine months in PCDC, she learned about

counselors during group sessions, and even

the WestCare Kentucky SAP. Anna was only

teach classes a few times a week. While Anna

interested in one thing when applying to this

was only supposed to be in treatment for six

program: getting time off her sentence so she

months, she couldn’t stay away from the

could go home and begin her attempt to

program that unlocked her true calling,

make amends. Little did she know that this

helping and counseling those struggling with

decision would change the trajectory of her

substance use disorders (SUD) and addiction.

whole future. Anna recalled, “My morals

Anna shared, “I stayed over in treatment

were skewed at that point because I was

because I loved it. I believe that’s where

using drugs and the only thing I could do

my love of working with those struggling

was feed the addiction. But while I was in

with addiction and counseling started.

the detention center, everybody said ‘You

WestCare let me do the work that I loved. I

can go to WestCare and get so much [time]

was serving them, but they were also

off your sentence!’ Initially, that was the

serving me, and I don’t think they even

only reason I went. I was going to go just

realized it at the time.”

to get some time off my sentence so I could go home to my mom and daughter.

In 2011, Anna left the PCDC but had no clue where she was going next. Her relationship

But when I got accepted into the SAP and

with her mother and daughter was rocky, but

went over to WestCare, I realized it was

despite their past, Anna’s mother decided to

much

my

help her due to Anna’s positive progress. So,

people’s

Anna moved into the empty trailer next to

stories, and progress was happening all

her mother’s house, and even though it

around me. Pieces were coming back

seemed like the worst was over, finally being

together for others, and I thought, ‘Maybe

out of the PCDC, it was actually the beginning

this could happen for me.’”

of a new challenge: living in uncertainty.

more

sentence.

I

than

just

started

time

hearing

off

Wonder Women: Young Anna pictured with her mother and Wonder Woman at a local family event.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

3

ANNA BEVINS

4

“That first night out, I prayed. I said, ‘Lord,

After an emotional first day free, Anna

just let me go back to jail. This is just too

realized that all her past experiences had led

hard.’ My daughter didn't want to come

her to where she is now, and she will always

home to me and I felt so alone. Just let me

be grateful for it. Anna shared, “A thousand

go back to jail where there are people, and

times I should have been in trouble, but

I know what's going on and what to do.

my mom saved me every time. Until the day she couldn’t and I ended up in jail. She

But the next morning I wake up to a

did everything she could to get me out of

phone call from my mom and she said,

jail. But it's probably a godsend that she

‘Don't look out your door,’ I said, ‘Why?’

couldn't, because I would never be here

She answered, ‘There's a cop car out

today to tell this story if I got out of jail

there.’

early.

My

stomach

dropped,

and

I

immediately thought to myself, ‘Lord, I swear I didn't mean it. Please don't let me

I was very codependent on my daughter's

go back.’ It turns out somebody had

dad, my ex-husband. And I thought I could

wrecked in front of the house and thrown

save him from a life of addiction, but I

pills out in my yard, which was kind of

couldn't save him. I couldn't even save

ironic given my past. But it was definitely

myself. But when I got to jail and went

a sign that I am where I am meant to be,

through the WestCare Kentucky SAP, I

not in jail but living my life, free.”

realized that I needed to save myself, and I needed to do it for my daughter.”

And that’s exactly what motivated Anna to keep going. However, what to do next was the question continuously replaying in Anna’s head. Fortunately, a counselor for WestCare working at the PCDC, Rodney Bentley, had seen potential in Anna and told her that if she continued down this positive path, he would give her a position working for WestCare.

Community Engagement: Emily, Anna, & Rachel attending the “A Walk Home Event in November 2013.

“It's never going to happen. I'm a felon.

Nobody's going to do anything to help me get a job, especially at a company like this.

But I felt like I owed them so much, so if they’d have me, that would be amazing,” Anna shared. However, despite all her doubt, four months after being released, Anna received

a

call

from

Elsie

Teller,

the

administrative assistant for Rodney, and was offered a position at the WestCare Perry Cline Leaving Supplies and Hope: In 2016, Anna and the WestCare team leaving supplies for those suffering from homelessness.

Emergency Shelter.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

5

After everything she has been through, Anna remains deeply grateful to WestCare—not only for supporting her throughout her recovery journey but also for being a secondchance employer. WestCare gave her the chance to build a fulfilling career, where she has truly found her passion.

Since her first day officially working for the WestCare Perry Cline Emergency Shelter, Anna knew it was where she was meant to be. “The first walk into that building, I was like, ‘God's here.’ I just knew it. There are people here who have absolutely nothing,

Grateful Hearts: Anna accepting a jacket donation in Jan 2024 on behalf of the Perry Cline Shelter.

but they are just as happy as can be. And I couldn't understand it at first. But looking back, I remember all the times I felt like I had nothing, but I found happiness too, just like them,” Anna recalled. It turns out that Anna ended up exactly where she was always meant to be, because over 13 years later, she is still at the shelter, now serving as the Program Director.

For the last 13 years, Anna has worn many hats at the shelter. She worked as a weekend

Anna would recall her time at PCDC and the

warrior, a day shift employee, a counselor, an

WestCare staff present as inspiration for the

administrator, and so much more, all while

type of employee she wanted to be. “When

using her lived experience to connect to

you are incarcerated you think people

clients and staff on a personal level. Anna

look down at you, and I'm sure that's how

shared, “It's really good to be able to tell

it feels when someone walks into the

people that you know exactly what they

shelter. I like trying to put myself in their

are going through. Recently I went back

perspective, experiencing the worst day of

into the detention center to teach a class

my life. Then I remember the staff, like

and

all

had

slumped

Ms. Elsie or Mr. Bentley, when I was in the

weren’t

paying

detention center. Ms. Elsie always brought

attention. But then, me and another

so much happiness, and she would be

member of my staff shared our story. I

smiling

said,

‘I've been in that same jumpsuit,’

thinking, ‘I want a job like hers and I am

and suddenly they felt more understood

going to be just like her one day,” Anna

and they started to pay attention to us.”

recalled.

shoulders

in

attendance

and

they

and

so

happy.

I

remember

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT WILL BE OKAY, EVEN AFTER MANY FAILURES.

You can still succeed.

Anna Bevins

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

7

Now, as Program Director for the WestCare Kentucky Perry Cline Emergency Shelter, Anna oversees all staff, clients, and daily operations of the shelter and all current grants in Pikeville, Kentucky, which also includes

the

Homeless

Veteran’s

Reintegration Program (HVRP).

Today, the Perry Cline Emergency Shelter has

2015 Relay for Life: WestCare Kentucky team walking for cancer.

30 beds in total and provides safe and temporary housing for individuals in crisis for up to 90 days. The shelter serves 500 individuals without housing each year, with new people coming in and out of the shelter daily. Anna’s main goal is to help teach their clients how to live independently. They also provide assistance with finding employment, housing, and even finding a car. The shelter has many services, such as a food pantry, blessing boxes, clothing, case management, peer

support

groups,

MRT,

Donations that Fuel Our Mission: Anna pictured with donators and donations outside of the shelter in 2014.

anger

management, parenting classes, and so much more. When the weather conditions worsen in the winter season, the shelter even becomes a warming shelter for anyone who needs a place to stay warm for the night.

Anna’s dedication has led to her becoming the face of the Perry Cline Emergency Shelter, with almost everyone within the Pikeville community knowing of her involvement with WestCare and the shelter. Anna and all the staff at the shelter will take any opportunity to speak about the shelter with the hopes of bringing awareness to the shelter’s positive impact on their community and they hope to break the stigma around homelessness, recovery,

co-occurring

disorders/trauma

intertwined with substance abuse, domestic violence and so much more that is present in their community.

Warmth & Support: The WestCare team looking for those in need of help during the winter in 2023.

ANNA BEVINS

8

Anna has accomplished so much since joining WestCare in 2011. Alongside working at the shelter, Anna has gone back to school and received her Associate’s, then her Bachelor’s, and finally her Master’s degree. Currently, she is preparing to enroll for her PhD. “The job with WestCare was perfect for me.

After working the weekends, I switched to the day shift so I could be at home with my daughter on the weekends. With this job, I could even go to school, so I did. I started going back to college because I'm always really interested in education. But in the beginning, I think I went back because I thought, ‘Nobody can take your education from you,’ and honestly, I believed the judge wouldn’t put me back in jail if I'm enrolled in college.”

After

receiving

her

Associate's

degree,

Stephen Wright, COO of WestCare’s Eastern Region, was the one to persuade Anna to pursue her Bachelor's degree. Then after, while working on her Master’s degree, Anna moved to work at the WestCare Kentucky Supporting All Those In Need: Anna feeding the ducks outside the of the shelter in 2015.

Hal Rogers Appalachian Men’s Recovery Center in Ashcamp as a Counselor, which she truly enjoyed doing. Eventually, Anna made her way back to the shelter in Pikeville to work on a grant that funded work to help veterans. “That shelter is my safe haven.

It's where I started and it's my roots,” Anna shared. When asked how she was able to succeed after past failures, Anna will always say that her lived experience helped her get to this point, “Had I not gone through WestCare’s program, I probably would have never made it in this job. But I love what I do and I’m so glad I went through everything I did in the past,” Anna shared.

Beyond securing her multiple degrees, Anna has

Expanding Their Outreach: Anna appearing on TV special “Your Day Today”, 2016.

also received professional counseling credentials, the Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA), and in 2024 she became a Temporary Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (TCADC).

Anna has proven herself to be a dedicated and driven individual, always striving to better herself and those around her.

As

most

would

agree,

no

matter

your

accomplishments or credentials, it’s difficult to view yourself from the perspective of your peers, especially when you are in a position of leadership.

But when asked to reflect on her leadership style, Anna answered, “I feel I am similar my to all of my previous and current leaders. I am a coach. I

Everyone’s Welcomed: Even services dogs are allowed at the shelter.

like to put people where I see that they'll flourish or where I feel that they enjoy their

Anna has always been the type of person to

work the most. I'm always open to suggestions

learn from others, using their expertise to

because I don't know everything.

guide her on the type of person she wants to become, and this trait is evident in her

For my entire career at WestCare, when I go to

leadership style as well. Anna will always

work every day, I truly feel like I am going to

accredit her leadership style to all the

see my family. My coworkers are my family,

previous leaders she has worked under, such

and I want them to feel the same. I don’t want

as Rodney Bentley and Stephen Wright. She

them to be mean or punitive to each other. We

even frequently quotes her first supervisor

should be able to coach each other. We should

from a job she had when she was only 19

be able to do our work, and if there are any

years old, which was, “If you are not training

problems or concerns, I want them to trust me

somebody to be able to replace you, you're

to bring them up.”

not doing your job.”

Spreading the Word: In 2022, WestCare visits Northpoint Academy to speak about employment opportunities the young community.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

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ANNA BEVINS

10

Boots to the Ground: In February 2024, Anna and her team placed emergency supply bags around their community for those Stephen with his WestCare Illinois Leadership Team in 2024. in need of support.

Four Generations: Anna with whole world: her daughter, granddaughter, and mother.

When asked what the best part about working

When Anna is not working with her WestCare

with WestCare has been, Anna answered

family, she loves to spend as much time as

without hesitation, “Within WestCare, there

she can with her husband, daughter, two-

are a lot of individuals like me, ‘Second-

year-old grandchild, and mom. “When I’m

Chancers’.

Because

not working, I spend as much time as

experience,

we

tend

of to

that

shared

accept

and

possible with my family. I also love to craft

understand each other more effortlessly,

and read a lot, I’m a little bit of a nerd. I’m

and I really love that. I really think that's

also a biker girl too, my husband and I ride

why I've never left WestCare, and that is

Harleys. ” Anna shared.

because I feel like WestCare helped save my life.”

“My husband is my best friend, my daughter, and grandbaby are the light of

Anna truly embodies the WestCare mission of

my life, and my mom is my absolute

Uplifting the Human Spirit in all those we come

everything. I would not be here without

into contact with within the communities we

her. My mother had me when she was

serve. “When you work at the shelter you

young, so we grew up together. We

have to remember, you are meeting people

learned a lot together, but I truly would

on the worst day of their life. Most of the

not be where I am today without her and

time, our clients are at the point where

her support.”

something has to change. So when you give them the grace that they deserve and show

With her mother as an inspiration, Anna also

them that you genuinely love and care

works

about them, they can change. That's what

outside of WestCare solely because she is

Uplifting the Human Spirit means to me,”

authentically passionate about helping others

Anna shared.

who are struggling and in crisis.

in

multiple

counseling

positions

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

11

A Pillar of the Community: After collecting donations, the shelter held and event in 2015 for families in need to receive free items.

Reflecting on her many roles, such as a

At the end of the day, if Anna could at least

daughter, mother, wife, formerly incarcerated

help one person learn from her experience,

individual, trauma survivor, believer, counselor,

then everything she has gone through would

coworker, program director, mentor, leader,

have been worth it, and she can call that a

and more, Anna wanted to share this overall

success.

message: “There is power in numbers. When people start talking and connecting with

When asked to define what success looks like

each other, they open up, and any shame or

to her, Anna recalled a conversation she had

guilt kind of just goes to the side. You

with her mom. “When I think about what

realize that you are not alone in this and

success in my career looks like to me, I

you do not have to go through this alone.

think about a time that my mom said to me, ‘You know, one of these days when

When you give someone the grace that they

you die, that funeral home is going to be

deserve and show them that you truly care,

filled with homeless people.’ And I said to

you uplift their spirit and tell them, ‘You'll

her, ‘I hope it is Mom because that would

make it. It ain't going to be easy, but you

be a testament to my life and the positive

will make it.’ You'll learn a lot of tough

impact I made on others.’ That, to me, is a

lessons, but you'll be fine.

success,” Anna shared.

And I like to always remind myself that all the things that I went through saved my life. So I don’t regret anything I did in my past because it led me here, and all I can do is learn from it and keep moving forward,” Anna shared.

A JOURNEY OF TRIUMPH & SERVICE Anna Bevins' story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering dedication to service. From overcoming her own battles with addiction to becoming a leader at WestCare, Anna has turned her lived experiences into a source of strength and inspiration for others.

Her

commitment

to

education

and

professional growth, alongside her passion for helping those in need, has solidified her role as a beacon of hope in her community. Through her work, Anna continues to uplift the human spirit, showing that with perseverance and compassion, positive change is not only possible but powerful.

Follow WestCare Kentucky’s Journey!

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