Episode Details

In this episode, I sit down with Jackie and Jeff from the Other Side Academy and Village, a nonprofit helping people coming out of incarceration, homelessness, or addiction through a two and a half year program focused on whole person behavioral change. Jackie shares 25 years of on and off homelessness, introduced to drugs young, losing her daughter, and finding relief when arrested because she'd have a bed and meals. Jeff talks about living in canyons for six years after getting stabbed, calling cops on himself to go to jail, and writing a letter to the Academy. They explain real community means people holding you up while also expecting your best, not accepting you as lesser. They discuss misconceptions like homeless people don't want help or are dangerous. Both are now coaches helping others discover who they want to become. The Academy is self-sustaining through Other Side Moving, thrift stores, and donuts.

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The Other Side Academy and Village

Donate - https://www.theothersideacademy.com/donate

https://theothersidevillage.com/donate-now/

More information - https://www.theothersideacademy.com/

https://theothersidevillage.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Other Side Academy and Village
04:34 Understanding Real Community
10:34 The Journey to Acceptance and Change
16:30 Personal Stories of Transformation
24:12 The Impact of Upbringing on Life Choices
30:08 Reflections on Drug Use and Recovery
33:52 Embracing Mistakes and Unlearning Behaviors
37:24 Focusing on the Present and Building Foundations
39:19 Roles and Responsibilities in the Community
39:40 Common Misconceptions About Homelessness
42:11 Understanding Fear and Misunderstanding
44:54 The Balance of Acknowledging and Embracing Brokenness
46:17 Reframing Regrets and Learning from the Past
49:39 Redefining Purpose and Self-Discovery
55:35 The Goodness of People and the Power of Change
57:17 The Importance of Love and Compassion
59:27 Social Enterprises and Community Outreach