You know when Audrey is about to enter a room - a wave of positive energy precedes her. Audrey’s journey from abuse and addiction to wholeness and healing is at the heart of N Street Village’s story. “When I came to N Street Village, I had no hope - it gave me a spark of hope,” Audrey said.
Audrey’s road to N Street Village was a circuitous one. She arrived at Union Station, fresh off a train from New York after her AA sponsor recommended N Street Village, which had helped her achieve sobriety. When she first walked into the Village in 1997, Audrey was suicidally depressed, terrified, paralyzed about her life’s direction, and still binge drinking periodically. She had already been through four rehabilitation programs, therapy, and a host of other treatments before she arrived on our threshold.
After a week in Luther Place Night Shelter, Audrey was admitted to Tubman House, where she participated in our recovery program. “The great thing about N Street Village is that it gave me room to breathe - to just be,” said Audrey. It provided a safe environment to ask “who am I” and “why am I here” - questions critical to Audrey’s re-imagining her life. Audrey describes her intersection with N Street Village as a “paradigm shift.” She credits acupuncture treatment, which was offered in our Wellness Center, as a pivotal moment in her life. Along with acupuncture, Audrey explored other alternate treatments available at our Wellness Center, such as reiki, massage, zero balancing, and reflexology. This unique array of alternative health modalities awakened a healing spirit within Audrey. With a scholarship from the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation, Audrey received a certificate in therapeutic massage therapy from the Potomac Massage Training Institute in 2006. Preceding this coursework, Audrey pursued a certificate in landscape design from The George Washington University.
After nine years as a Village resident, Audrey moved into her own apartment. As a licensed therapist, she developed a massage therapy practice, working in various D.C. locations. As she confidently explains, “the universe sends what I need my way.” In addition to her practice, Audrey takes on an occasional landscape assignment to keep her close to Mother Earth. Focused on the integration of mind, body and spirit, Audrey has stitched together an extraordinary life filled with joy and purpose. Her life’s transformation is so compelling, Audrey volunteers her time to speak at N Street Village events about her experience. Audrey continues to work with women in the recovery community and is especially drawn to those who are “stuck” on their path and unable to move forward through more traditional therapies. Audrey expresses gratitude for the “gift of time” at N Street Village, which allowed her to connect with something deep within - a light guiding her to this day. “The great thing about N Street Village is that it is not one size fits all in terms of services for women who seek recovery,” Audrey said. “Rather, it provides an array of treatments and modalities and opportunities that can speak to the individual needs of any woman and stir that spark in her heart,” she noted. An inspiration to the staff, clients, and volunteers of N Street Village, Audrey continues to cultivate the garden of her soul. Her journey is a testament to the human spirit and its celebration at N Street Village.