“It doesn’t matter what age you are – never give up on your dreams.” In our third episode, we are welcomed into a snapshot of Yvonne Mark’s story – a mother, a grandmother, and an inspiring writer in her Downtown Eastside (DTES) community. We are privileged to have had Yvonne share her personal hardships and her healing journey through addiction told through her wholehearted poetry. Now 16 years and 2 months sober, Yvonne is pursuing her long-standing dream of being a writer, and is on her way to self-publishing her poetry.
When it comes to the stigma in the DTES, individual journeys through addiction are often masked with a negative depiction and an overgeneralized perspective. What is often misrepresented are the complexities of the individual experience, the intersectional path that led an individual to be where they are today.
In this episode, we offer the long-overdue compassion to those working through and living with addiction. As like Yvonne’s story, each individual’s story is equally unique, valuable and worthy of compassion.
This podcast was recorded and edited by the lovely Eri Kikuchi.
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