Thank you Tom Synan for the work you do with Caracole and in our community!
It is not love, attention, acceptance or agreement we should seek from another. The greatest gift one can give, is their trust. Once trust is earned, it is the foundation all other pillars stand upon. A cop, Caracole, those in recovery and those currently in substance use may not seem likely pairings. For me it is one of the most meaningful relationships I have. The people in these pictures are people of grit, resilience and unbreakable empathy. I cannot be around them without being inspired. Some are in recovery and for some the job they chose is helping the community and those with substance use. It is their passion and mission in life. Caracole also hosts speakers to come in, sit at the table, share food and have an open conversation with those that use. I have had the opportunity to do this a few times. It has taught me more about substance use disorder, how to respond to addiction as a community and better understand what connects us all as human beings. Our conversations help save lives. I was asked by the group to come back in a couple months to sit with them again. It will seem strange to some, a cop being asked by those using to come back and meet with them. To me it is a one of the most profound privileges of my life. To sit and not see one another as a label, instead a human, is one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Solutions are not found, understanding not gained, walls torn down, a hope for a better tomorrow or love more visible than when trust is connected. I am honored to be trusted in this community and with all of you. P.S. I was speaking at an event with Sharona Bishop and someone said “5-0.” I told them “I’m not here 5-0, I’m 5-0 somewhere else.” Which they said, “OK, you’re cool.” Sharona said, “We need to get you a t-shirt that says- Definitely Not A Cop. So she did.🤣 Great shirt! #community #addictionawareness #harmreduction #police #empathy #humanity
-
-
-
-
-
+1