“I think back to when I first arrived at Maya’s and I had no idea what was coming in my life,” says 47-year-old Albuquerque native and Crossroads graduate Dawn Green Vigil.
Now a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW), Dawn spends her days, and often nights, supporting Albuquerque women on their recovery journeys. She’s also found healing and greater stability in her role as a mother to her six children.
In February 2019, Dawn arrived as a new client at Maya’s Place after spending three years at Springer Women’s Facility in Grants, NM. One of her first experiences as a new client was sharing her voice at End Mass Incarceration Day of Action at the State Capital.
During her time at Maya’s, Dawn found the support and resources she needed to maintain her sobriety, improve her mental health, and re-establish healthy relationships with her six children.
Dawn also discovered how to channel her lived experience and passion for recovery into a career path. “I was determined to become a Certified Peer Support Worker,” says Dawn. “I got a job at Goodwill while I was a client at Maya’s. They give you one week of vacation time up front so I used mine to complete my Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) certification.”
“It’s hard to fully describe the impact Crossroads has had on my life. My experience with the women there has everything to do with how I give today. Every aspect of my life is about recovery.”
Dawn Green Vigil, Crossroads graduate
The day Dawn graduated from Maya’s Place, POPSS Program Coordinator Ashley Sena helped her apply for CRFW’s permanent supportive housing program through Bernalillo Community Connections. Dawn was accepted into the program and soon regained custody of her minor children.
“Initially coming home it was hard having my kids trust me again,” says Dawn. “I sat them down and told them that I knew I needed to earn their trust, respect, and confidence. I started by taking them to meetings with me so they could see what I was doing and where I was going. They needed to know mom was going where she said she was going.”
Dawn continued working at Goodwill while submitting applications for CPSW positions around the city. She eventually received a call from Duke City Recovery. “I loved Duke City Recovery when I was a client there and always wanted to work there. When they called me for an interview, I jumped at the opportunity.”
Today, Dawn also utilizes her skills as a CPSW working at Life Link and A Peaceful Habitation. On the weekends she often does outreach at the City of Albuquerque Westside Shelter. “Every aspect of my life is about recovery,” she says.
When Dawn describes her family life today, she says “Crossroads taught me how to establish healthy boundaries in my relationships with my kids. There’s a lot of love and happiness in our home now.” She and her fiancé are even godparents to a little boy whose mom Dawn met while they were both clients at Maya’s.
“It’s hard to fully describe the impact Crossroads has had on my life. My experience with the women there has everything to do with how I give today,” says Dawn.
Photos by Stephanie Guiterrez courtesy of Dawn Green Vigil