Woman Making a Difference: Vaile Leonard
by Ginny Robertson
[On Purpose Woman Magazine, Premier Issue]

Each issue of On Purpose Woman will highlight an area woman who is making a difference in her community. Vaile Leonard is one of those women you notice. She has a strong presence, yet a warmth that drew me in right away the first time we met. It is a wonderful combination for the work she does with the women at the Light of Truth Center, a Recovery House she founded in 1999.

I spent a couple of hours with Vaile and three of the women who live at the Center asking questions and listening to stories about their lives. I left there very moved by what they shared.

Vaile is very open about her path and what brought her to this work. She is in recovery herself and says she had a real time of it. Trying to get clean was very difficult, staying clean even more so. The problems with programs that were available left her with a deep desire to do something different. To provide a place that feels like home, where the women can feel the love and not feel like they are in a facility. In Vaile’s words, “Often the more conventional programs treat the case and not the person. I don’t receive grants so I have the freedom to find what works and try it. Each woman who lives here can be on her own path and do what is best for her situation.” Vaile’s uncle passed away and left her the house. She told me he was a wonderful man and a pillar of the community. This is a monument to him in some ways.

Vaile had the idea for a recovery house about seven years ago but at the time it was too big an idea for her. “I was apprehensive. I didn’t think I had enough education or knowledge. People at other centers told me I couldn’t do it the way I wanted. It was too big for me but not too big for God. I just got out of the way and let things start to flow.”

The Center will take anyone who has a true desire to recover. They help the residents with resources and a plan for their life. The criteria for success in some programs is that people have a job, a home, go to school, etc. At the Light of Truth Center they are concerned with recovery first. Without that the job, home and school are difficult to maintain. Vaile says “We encourage the women to get grounded, strengthen themselves, stay here as long as you need to stay here and let us love you until you can learn to love yourself.”

The vision for Light of Truth Center is huge… a Recovery House, Transition House and Apartments so a woman can go from recovery to transition to restoration. And then a hub where they can have NA and AA meetings and a recovery store where the residents can learn business skills and help the community.

The Center holds no more than six women at any time. It is a homey, pleasant environment. A small back porch has been converted into a cozy “reading nook.” This home allows a woman to just “be.” The women here tell me they weren’t accustomed to a loving environment. They didn’t trust other people who showed love. It’s hard to trust others when you don’t trust yourself. Here they can learn to trust and to be responsible and to make choices. To know there are other ways to be in the world.

Lisa, a tall striking woman who has been at the Center for five months, has been an addict for 18 years. She had been in over ten different treatment centers and recovery houses and still couldn’t stay clean. Lisa said “I like it here because it gives me responsibility. I’ve been clean 15 months. I’m working the program. I never did that before. I stayed clean by willpower and when that was up I relapsed. It’s like home here. We get along fine. Last week I felt like using. I shared it with the ladies in the house and that helped a lot. I would not have done that before. I start school in December for three months. I’m real proud of myself. I can be responsible again. I can be honest. I share more. I’m more motivated to do things. I love it here.”

Christine has been an addict for over 30 years. She has a strong voice that speaks with intention and clarity. Christine knows very well where she has been and now knows where she is going. She said, “last year in October I was just tired. I went into a treatment center and then I came here on December 10th. I am in school now learning Office Technology. Things have been happening. Sometimes I get kind of scared because they are happening so fast. My children and other family members are back in my life. People are looking at me differently. I’m different. I’m not trying to please people anymore. I like who I am.” Christine is the House Manager at Light of Truth, a responsible position. When a city inspector said they needed someone living there who had been certified in Food Management, Christine took it upon herself to take the required classes. Her Certificate came in the mail the day we met. Another proud moment for someone who hadn’t finished a lot in her life prior to this.

Theresa looks like someone you’d want to be your best girlfriend. An addict for 19 years, she started out talking quietly and as she told her story became more animated. She said, “in September 2002 I went into detox for three days. I started learning about me and tried to discover why I kept going out there and using. When I’m drugging I isolate from my family. When you don’t see your mother for five years straight, something’s wrong. I’ve also been in jail. I made up my mind I had to do something different. I was determined not to go back. In June of this year I came to Light of Truth. I was scared. I never had goals before. I set little goals and accomplished them. Being here gave me a chance to be the woman I was lacking for so long. I take on responsibilities. People trust me. I grow with the process. My children get to come here on family day. My sister is a doctor and my family does well. I’m the bad seed. It’s time to make my mother proud of me.”

In order to continue to grow the “huge vision” for the Light of Truth Center there are many needs. I asked Vaile what her most immediate needs are as I know there are women reading this article who can help provide them, whether directly or by referring resources. She would love to find people who can volunteer to do Fundraising, Grant Writing, Program Developing, Accounting & Case Management. If you’d like to help in this way or by sending a check to help support the Center, you can reach them at 410-496-5862. Also check out their website at www.lightoftruthcenter.org.

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