Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Cavanagh.
Maureen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2012 I incorporated Magnolia New Beginnings with the hope of assisting people who had overcome unexpected difficulties in their life and help them to have a fresh start.
After watching my own child’s struggle with addiction, Magnolia evolved into an organization that has over 16,000 members across the country in private Facebook support groups, all loved one supporting someone with a substance use disorder. Our financial mission is to raise funds for those without any financial means to enter sober living after treatment for addiction.
We currently provide month-long housing scholarships for approximately 50 people a year who otherwise would have nowhere to go after completing treatment. We do this without any paid staff and all of our scholarships are named for a board members child who died due to an overdose,
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road but it has been incredibly rewarding.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Magnolia New Beginnings – what should we know?
We are filling the gaps for many people in Massachusetts who otherwise would not have housing in recovery from a substance use disorder. Many people are determined to overcome their reliance on drugs and/or alcohol but without a safe, sober environment, finding a job and staying sober is incredibly difficult.
Magnolia also is a safe place for loved ones, mostly parents, to vent, ask for help, or just feel slightly less alone as they struggle to remain supportive and hopeful during this opioid crisis.
I have written my story, “If you love me… A Mother’s Journey Through Her Daughter’s Opioid Addiction”, published Sept 4 by Henry Holt, in hope that it will reach people that don’t believe addiction can touch their families and show how vulnerable we all are and so that those that are going through this currently might read this familiar story and not feel so alone.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence and Hopefulness, like so many parents that have endured the tragedy of substance use disorder with their child I refuse to give up on anyone and believe that persistence and hopefulness are two qualities that have been integral to building Magnolia New Beginnings.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.magnolianewbeginnings.org/
- Phone: 617-291-3266
- Email: Maureen@MagnoliaCS.com
- Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/IfYouLoveMeMaureenCavanagh/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdzQuOoMIan_dx5riTEK9FWB0GkYwMMEvtw48q2djD6H9g%3AAdwz5OIZRS8IkRSZE7pmBL2f7orQHqC4BDf59srmYB1E-w
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MagnoliaNewBeginnings/about/?ref=page_internal
- Twitter: @ShiftSUD @Magnolia01945
- Yelp: https://us.macmillan.com/author/maureencavanagh
- Other: https://static.macmillan.com/static/holt/if-you-love-me/index.html
Image Credit:
Randy Mason, Book Cover Henry Holt/Macmillan
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