Karen Evans
The achievements that some people make while facing extreme obstacles are breathtaking. Take Karen Evans for instance. Karen participated in Possibilities Innovation Program year four about six years ago. Karen had to overcome a lot of just to reach Possibilities. Karen spent years addicted to cocaine and lived from place to place. After being clean and sober for three years, she bought a home and married a man who turned out to be abusive. When Karen made the decision to end the marriage, her husband decided to end both of their lives. He shot Karen four times and then shot himself.
Karen was not expected to live and her recovery process made her look at life with a whole new pair of eyes. As a recovery addict, she watched the devastation of addiction as addicts walked the streets in the neighborhood in which she lived daily. Drug addiction and alcoholism was not only affecting individuals, it was affecting the whole neighborhood. Petty crimes and prostitution were ravaging the whole neighborhood. Realizing she could not save everyone, she decided she needed to find a way she could give back what was selflessly given to her area and wanted to get involved. The more meetings she attended the more she became involved, eventually being elected as President of the Medical Community Neighborhood Association.
Since she graduated from Possibilities Innovation Program, Karen has gone back to college to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Studies and is beginning to work on her Master's Degree. When asked what type of work she would like to do, Karen says community work and/or public relations. Of her time with Possibilities, she describes it as a great experience. She reports that Possibilities has given her additional tools that allow her to reach out to others of all ages, professions, and socio-economic backgrounds, helping to build collaborative partnerships.
We don't always see a lot of Karen. She is busy with her new ventures, and is always involved with her community. She is currently a member of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, which actively participates in community projects through out the city. She says that her experience with Possibilities has allowed her to make suggestions and recommendations to the club that makes it their mission to give back to the community. Her involvement and input has been critical to the success of the Possibilities, and we will never forget Karen's strong spirit of her sense of humor. She continues to live and breathe our mission, to strengthen the ability of people to work together for community change. We are so grateful that she is a part of the Possibilities family.
