Four graduate Recovery Court in 14th Convocation

ASHTABULA – The fluffy snowflakes that fell outside the Ashtabula Municipal Court building Jan. 21 underscored the fact that Spring was still very far away, but there was nonetheless a rebirth of sorts that day.
That’s because inside the courtroom, four graduates in the Ashtabula Municipal Recovery Court celebrated a fresh new start in life as the 14th Convocation took place.
Before a packed room, honorary graduates Jennifer Hubbard, Misty Dunbar, Jennifer Matthews and Cori Marsh were honored following an introduction by Judge Laura DiGiacomo and remarks by a guest speaker.
“I want to start by saying that it is an honor and a privilege to be here and part of this 14th Ashtabula Municipal Court Recovery Convocation ceremony,” Judge DiGiacomo said.
The Ashtabula Municipal Recovery Court Specialized Docket has been in existence for eight years, graduating 50 participants over that time, she noted.
The judge stressed that all the participants, including the ones honored that day, were “truly amazing people who have worked very hard to overcome many obstacles and graduate from this two-year long program.”
Judge DiGiacomo had the current participants stand as everyone applauded them. She congratulated them “on their great accomplishment of graduating from the Ashtabula Municipal Recovery Court Specialized Docket.”
Then, the treatment team members, consisting of court representatives and local service providers, were introduced. They were also applauded.
“We would not have such a successful program if we didn’t have the treatment team,” Judge DiGiacomo commented.
The guest speaker, Kerrey Allen, who graduated Recovery Court last August and has been clean and sober over two years, then spoke.
“She is an inspiration to all and we are all proud of her, as we are of all our Recovery Court participants and graduates,” Judge DiGiacomo said.
Allen said it was an honor to speak at the convocation.
“I never in my life thought I’d be on this side of the fence,” she said. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I could go back and change my life, I wouldn’t because I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if I had done that.”
Illustrating the toll of addiction, she read a “Dear Addiction” letter from a “survivor.”
“You showed pieces of me I didn’t even realize I was handing over: self-respect, dignity, trust, identity,” she said, reading the letter of the “survivor” to “addiction.” “You made me look in the mirror and not recognize the person staring back. And the worst part, you convinced me this was just who I was.”
She said this is how addiction works; it doesn’t just hijack your body, it re-writes your story and tells you that you’re weak, broken and beyond repair.
But she said there’s something stronger than addiction – and it’s called recovery.
“Recovery is choosing discomfort over destruction, again and again and again,” she said.
Continuing to read the letter written to “addiction,” she said that she fights addiction not just for herself, but for the people watching – “for the ones still trapped, for the ones who think it’s too late.”
“This isn’t survival anymore, this is ownership,” she said. “You don’t get the final word. Not only will I fight you, I will win.”
Commenting on the letter, Allen said, “and I actually felt that when I read that. And I think anybody that it’s in the program or in any kind of addiction can relate to that. Because that’s what addiction does. It robs us of everything we thought we knew.”
At first, Allen said she was skeptical of the recovery program.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I didn’t want to be what I was,” she said.
She recalled being in tears and at the end of her road in the courtroom.
“I didn’t know where to go,” she said.
Allen remembered promising she would not disappoint the judge, if she was given the chance to go to treatment.
“And I meant that the day I said it, and I have not looked back on that since I said it that day,” she said.
Before Hubbard spoke, her accomplishments were noted. Among her many achievements were maintaining sobriety 24 months, maintaining stable housing and keeping employment 15 months. She also received 5 All Star Attendance Awards.
“Today is a day I never thought I would see,” she said, thanking the judge and numerous others who helped her.
Because of the program, she said that people will never have to see her “at her worst” ever again. She was applauded.
Dunbar’s accomplishments included: maintaining sobriety 21 months, maintaining housing, obtaining/maintaining employment since September 2024, and “positive, stronger relationships with children and grandchildren.” She had six All-Star Attendance Awards.
She had many thanks for those who helped her.
“Just the love and support that everybody’s given me has gotten me here today,” she said.
Matthews’ achievements included maintaining sobriety 14 months, rebuilding relationships with family and grandkids, maintaining employment 17 months and starting CDCA and a Bachelor’s Degree. She also obtained her driver’s license for the first time in her life and bought a car and insurance. She had nine All-Star Attendance Awards and was hired at Glenbeigh, with a Feb. 26th start date.
She offered her gratitude for the opportunity that was presented to her by Recovery Court, noting her life has been changed.
“I love you, thank you guys,” she said.
Marsh’s accomplishments included maintaining sobriety 22 months, keeping employment 10 months, improving relationships with her mother, brother and son, obtaining a driver’s license, getting insurance and purchasing a vehicle, and receiving seven All-Star Attendance Awards.
She offered her thanks to everyone.