Jen

Senior firsthand Guide
Cincinnati, OH

Jen's journey with firsthand began over a year ago. Prior to joining firsthand's Cincinnati team, she spent three years managing housing for an inpatient women's Treatment Center.

Jen was born into a family where addiction and mental illness were common, but she refused to let these things define her life. When she was pregnant with her daughter, Jen made a pledge to break the cycle and not subject her child to the upbringing she had endured. But unfortunately, just days away from receiving her bachelor's degree in criminal justice, the loss of her father to an overdose spiraled her into six years of opioid addiction. This addiction led her to commit crimes to sustain her habit, ultimately resulting in a six-year prison sentence. 

Jen regards this time of her life as both a lifesaver and a stark wake-up call. The loss of her father and the walls of her cell brought her face-to-face with the underlying trauma she had worked so hard to run away from. She made a conscious choice to embrace her sobriety and continue pursuing her education within the prison system, while also delving into her mental health and the unaddressed traumas of her childhood through group therapy. Therapy offered her tools and insights to start rebuilding her life from within.  

Upon release from prison, Jen continued her journey of recovery and self-improvement. She got a job at a coffee shop which exclusively hired individuals with felony convictions, providing her with a much-needed opportunity to rebuild her self-esteem and confidence. The job not only challenged societal stigmas, but also propelled Jen into the recovery field, where she eventually obtained her CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant) certificate.

Her path then led her to firsthand, where she found a deep alignment with their mission—aiding those navigating struggles with serious mental illness and addiction. At firsthand, Jen is able to leverage her lived experience to offer empathy, support, and practical help to others. The individuals she serves bolster her motivation, reflecting back the strength and perseverance she sees in herself. She leads by example that one's past does not dictate their future.

Outside of her advocacy and support work, Jen finds peace and renewal through fishing, communing with nature in the quiet moments by any rivers or lake in sight. These moments of solitude help her maintain clarity and strength.

Jen has changed her life for the better and rewritten her own narrative. At firsthand, Jen not only found her calling; she's carved out a space where her story can bring hope to those who still wander through the dark.