Alethea Rabon

Alethea Rabon, remembers a time when you could count the number of homeless women on downtown Los Angeles' skid row on two hands. That time was just over thirty years ago -- and that's how long Alethea (now fifty seven) has struggled to regain her life.

On February 27th, Alethea became a STAIRS program graduate and alumni. Alethea was a resident of the Weingart Center for twenty months. During that time she was an observer of approximately twelve other STAIRS graduations. She speaks about how inspirational it was for her to see other clients graduate from the program, "I wanted my graduation ring and certificate. I had to have it, and I got it," she said.

Alethea has three children (one son and two daughters) and two younger brothers. She also has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Arriving at the Weingart Center in a wheel chair upon being released from prison two years ago, Althea took a cab to skid row because this is what she was familiar with. She knew however, she didn't want to be homeless again and that she "didn't want to be a part of any more usage." After struggling with thirty one years of addiction, Alethea made up her mind it was time to heal. Jan Bocan, STAIRS Manager, recalls her arrival; "give me a chance", Althea said, "and I will show you." Alethea did just that, she worked the program and kept her peers motivated as well. As a result she has been clean and sober for two years and her mother, aunt, brother and sister-in-law were all in attendance at her graduation. "I had to start getting some new information," she said, I had to start thinking differently. I knew how to go out and do wrong; I had to try and do right now."

Throughout her stay at the Weingart Center, Alethea participated in several programs including; Life Skills, Anger Management and Relapse Prevention. She has worked hard to rebuild her life. "I already made up my mind to do something different," Alethea said, "when I came to the Weingart Center I didn't know anything about recovery, I knew how to do my thing and my thing wasn't working." Two of her biggest challenges were to learn patience and acceptance.

In November of last year, Alethea obtained housing. She now takes the bus to the Weingart Center each morning to participate in programs and facilitate morning meditation classes for STAIRS clients.

Alethea's son has been incarcerated for twenty years. If you ask Alethea what is in the future she will tell you she is most hopeful that she and her son will talk to others about their mistakes and prevent young people from doing the same thing. She wants to "give people inspiration and hope". She wants to prevent others from going down the wrong path; she wants to show young people that life can be positive. Most of all she wants to be happy and assist her family in any way that she knows how.

If you ask Alethea what she is most grateful for, she'll respond, "that GOD had enough patience with me for me to come to my senses."

And finally, if you ask Alethea what she would want other clients to understand about Weingart Center's programs she will say, "I tell people all the time, 'the program is so simple - it's simple. All you have to do is listen and follow the directions." She will also plead with them to "face reality and deal with what is bothering you rather than trying to medicate it...because those streets...are no good."