The Magdalen House – women helping women get to ‘The Other Side’

The mission of The Magdalen House is to help women achieve sobriety and sustain recovery from alcoholism at no cost and based on 12-step spiritual principles. Their vision is to build a thriving community of recovered women and their families – one woman at a time. In ‘The Other Side’ this vision is expressed vulnerably and authentically by women whose lives have been changed, and who, in turn, continue to help transform and guide the lives of others. Women empowering women.

The Magdalen House was founded by a group of four recovered alcoholic women who saw the urgent need for a safe and welcoming place for women to detox from alcohol, free-of-cost. In its first year “Maggie’s House,” as many affectionately call it, served 110 women and has since served and supported a vast community, anchored by a dedication to peer mentorship and meaning. Families are encouraged to visit daily if they would like, allowing women to stay local and connected to their loved ones while participating in our two-week program and recovered peers are also invited daily to help guide each woman through the journey to recovery.

Candor and courage are ever-present in the stories of women who found hope and healing through The Magdalen House. “One in ten people are alcoholics – and alcoholism crosses all social and economic demographics,” explains Lisa Kroencke, Executive Director, The Magdalen House. “The video, like The Magdalen House itself, allows women to be vulnerable and talk about their experiences, focusing on the solution and the specific ways our peer-driven program works, including a lifelong community available at any time.”

The agency is home to the only peer implemented a program of its kind in the local community and is a place that women can come to at any point in their recovery. As seen in the film, a big brick wall honors the names of those who have made it to “the other side” and who now form the brick and mortar of the next wave of women who enter The Magdalen House.

Alcoholism is a darkness that seems to have no end.
But on the other side, there can be a new beginning.

The video debuted at The Magdalen House’s annual Leave a Legacy Event which aims to raise program funds and awareness about both the program and alcohol addiction and recovery. The event raised over $500,000 which will go directly toward the programs and services the agency provides.

“These are the strongest women I have ever met,” comments Tammie Kleinmann, CEO of Lucky Post, a supporting partner in creating the film. “They are warriors who learn to move forward without self-judgment, and who summon greater strength in lifting each other up.”

“Before we started on this project, we were invited over for a tour of Maggie’s House. You can just feel the love when you walk in. You can’t fake that sort of mentorship,” adds Sai Selvarajan, Lucky Post. “We wanted to connect people to that same feeling we had when we entered – the rawness and acceptance. Our hope with “The Other Side” is that it reaches other women in need of recovery and helps everyone to see authenticity and supportive communities bring restoration.”

An estimated 100,000 women are battling alcoholism in the Dallas area. The Magdalen House has had 9,000 visits to the Peer Recovery Program classes and workshops this year thus far. “We want to keep chipping away at those numbers. A 2013 study shows that helping others achieve sobriety, cuts the risk of relapse in half. We facilitate a place where alcoholic women can practice this key tenant to long-term, sustainable sobriety and recovery: being of service to others,” adds Kroencke. “Our hope is to replicate this model across all big cities and offer women an environment to recover where they do not have to leave their partners and children.”

Credits:
Brand: The Magdalen House
Brand website: https://magdalenhouse.org
Campaign: The Other Side

Post-production studio: Lucky Post
Executive Producer: Jessica Berry
Producer: Anne Strock
Editor: Sai Selvarajan
Assist: Jake Odgers
Color: Neil Anderson
Audio Mix: Scottie Richardson
Finish: John Valle

This article is about:
The Magdalen House, The Other Side, Lucky Post, Alcohol, Dallas, Alcoholism, Women, Awareness campaign