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Brenda Schell: Network of recovery
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By Angie Hutschreider
angieh@newstribune.com
Brenda Schell is a voice for recovery.
As project director for the Missouri Recovery Network (MRN), Schell is working with others to encourage people in recovery to use their voice to help others.
“We are here to try to ignite courage ands strength for people to share their stories with others,” she said. “We educate the public and policy-makers and promote a unified voice.”
Although most people working in recovery have been there themselves, Schell has not. But she has seen the destruction the illness of addiction can bring to a family.
“I am very fortunate because addiction did not touch my life personally until a friend of mine adopted. Her children struggled with substance use and addiction. It was then that I saw first-hand the damaging effects of addiction,” Schell said. “I saw how addiction impacts the psychological, physical, emotional, moral, financial, interpersonal, employment and school aspect of someone's life, not only those individuals who have the disease, but those who love them as well.”
“Until then, I really had no idea the toll addiction takes on a person, family and community.”
That is what drives Schell to work on the agency's educational programs and encourage others to speak out and remain active in their own recovery.
“I'm here to educate and encourage others in recovery to share their experiences and hope with others that recovery is possible and real,” Schell said. “The Missouri Recovery Network values treatment and recovery support, which restores the social and economic health of Missouri. MRN invites people in recovery, their family members, friends, and allies to help change the focus from the illness of addiction to celebrating the hope, healing and reality of recovery.”
Schell, a St. Thomas native, said she always wanted to help people and that, in part, is why she attended Lincoln University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology.
“I always knew I wanted to work with people and wanted to try and make a difference in the lives of others,” she said.
After college, she spent some time working with individuals with developmental disabilities, then as a disability determinations counselor and as a program director for a not-for-profit nursing organization. She has been the project director for MRN for just over a year.
Schell is called a “great motivator” by others at MRN, but she said she is simply doing her job.
“I tell people that their recovery says much more about them then their addiction ever did, and that we can expect nothing more than what we believe is possible,” she said. “Recovery is possible and is real for many, many people. I also say that the task ahead of them is never as great as the strength behind them and that we, as individuals, an organization, and a community, will encourage and support them on their journey toward obtaining and sustaining recovery.”
As project director for the Missouri Recovery Network (MRN), Schell is working with others to encourage people in recovery to use their voice to help others.
“We are here to try to ignite courage ands strength for people to share their stories with others,” she said. “We educate the public and policy-makers and promote a unified voice.”
Although most people working in recovery have been there themselves, Schell has not. But she has seen the destruction the illness of addiction can bring to a family.
“I am very fortunate because addiction did not touch my life personally until a friend of mine adopted. Her children struggled with substance use and addiction. It was then that I saw first-hand the damaging effects of addiction,” Schell said. “I saw how addiction impacts the psychological, physical, emotional, moral, financial, interpersonal, employment and school aspect of someone's life, not only those individuals who have the disease, but those who love them as well.”
“Until then, I really had no idea the toll addiction takes on a person, family and community.”
That is what drives Schell to work on the agency's educational programs and encourage others to speak out and remain active in their own recovery.
“I'm here to educate and encourage others in recovery to share their experiences and hope with others that recovery is possible and real,” Schell said. “The Missouri Recovery Network values treatment and recovery support, which restores the social and economic health of Missouri. MRN invites people in recovery, their family members, friends, and allies to help change the focus from the illness of addiction to celebrating the hope, healing and reality of recovery.”
Schell, a St. Thomas native, said she always wanted to help people and that, in part, is why she attended Lincoln University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology.
“I always knew I wanted to work with people and wanted to try and make a difference in the lives of others,” she said.
After college, she spent some time working with individuals with developmental disabilities, then as a disability determinations counselor and as a program director for a not-for-profit nursing organization. She has been the project director for MRN for just over a year.
Schell is called a “great motivator” by others at MRN, but she said she is simply doing her job.
“I tell people that their recovery says much more about them then their addiction ever did, and that we can expect nothing more than what we believe is possible,” she said. “Recovery is possible and is real for many, many people. I also say that the task ahead of them is never as great as the strength behind them and that we, as individuals, an organization, and a community, will encourage and support them on their journey toward obtaining and sustaining recovery.”
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