Every little victory matters: 5th annual New Beginnings celebration honors recovery

MANSFIELD — Doug Newsome walked into Catalyst Life Services more than a decade ago as what he described as “a broken man” with “lost hope” and no idea what his future would hold.

Earlier this week Newsome stood before those at the fifth annual New Beginnings Recovery Celebration with 12 years of sobriety and a Heart of Service Award recognizing his service to others.

“You were part of another tool that helped me grow into what I am today, and you’ve offered me that street and the avenue to do it, which is pretty cool,” Newsome said.

Catalyst Life Services celebrates recovery in Mansfield

This year’s celebration focused on Catalyst alumni as part of Recovery Month, said Elaine Surber, executive vice president and director of Substance Use Disorder Services.

“Their stories remind us that recovery is possible, that healing continues and that every step forward matters,” Surber said.

The event’s theme, “Phoenix, Out of the Ashes We Rise,” centered on the idea that people can move forward from difficult places with strength, courage and hope.

The celebration also featured a special peace pole created and donated by Catalyst staff member Rob Kelly as a symbol of peace, healing and unity.

Ellie McLean, a member of the Catalyst Client Advisory Committee, shared her own recovery story with those gathered.

“When I left New Beginnings and started my new life three years ago, I had no idea what my life would look like,” McLean said.

Today McLean has more than three years of sobriety and credits the foundation she built at Catalyst, along with guidance from therapists and others who had gone before her, for helping her move forward.

“I love that our symbol this year is the Phoenix,” McLean said. “To me, it is a reminder that starting over does not mean you are broken. It means you are healing.”

The celebration also brought together community partners who helped celebrate and make the event possible. Texas Roadhouse, Local 97 and DLX donated the meal, Surber said.

The event also included a raffle made up entirely of donated items from businesses, staff and board members, said Laura Montgomery, CEO of Catalyst Life Services.

The grand prize, called the “sober fun,” included gift certificates for a day of show at The Renaissance Theatre, ski passes and more.

Doug Newsome marks 12 years of sobriety by giving back

Giving back has become part of Newsome’s recovery.

“He embodies the spirit of recovery and demonstrates what is possible when individuals invest their experiences back into their community,” Surber said.

Newsome has played music at the recovery celebration for each of its five years. He also has used his business, 419 Rideshare, to help provide transportation for consumers and community members. 

Surber added he has helped individuals gain access to treatment, employment, recovery support and other essential services.

August 1 marked his 12 years of sobriety. As a musician, he spends every weekend in a bar, but said he now gives no thought to alcohol.

“To say that 12 years ago would have been insane,” Newsome said. “Thirty seconds took me a long time to get through. Now it’s 12 years. It’s a decade over, a decade later. That’s insane, right?”

He encouraged people struggling with recovery to find something they care about and pursue it, while facing the fears and challenges that come with it.

“Find something you’re passionate about, you care about and dive headfirst into it. Spend every second doing that because if you keep yourself busy and you keep working hard, you can become something in this life, and it’s awesome,” he said.

“Every little victory that you experience through recovery is a huge mountain that you just got over,” Newsome said.

Recovery has not eliminated the everyday problems of life, he said, but it has changed how he handles them.

“It’s not like all my problems went away because I got clean and sober. I still have them. I just face them each day, I cope with them.”

He noted support from friends and his Catalyst family.

“I’ve come a long way, man. But it’s possible. You can do anything that you set your mind to. If you’re willing to sacrifice what it takes to get it, that’s all that it takes,” Newsome said. “Catalyst was a massive part of that.”

(Story continues below. Photos from the 5th annual New Beginnings recovery event. Provided by Nicki Carling)

The community comes together to support others in recovery

O’Charley’s employees Edward Dillon and Rachel Reed also attended the celebration and said they hope to remain involved with the event and the recovery community, following O’Charley’s closure.

“Community was everything to us, man,” Dillon said. “We lived it, we breathed it, we tried to show it every day.”

Dillon said he had his own experience with recovery eight years ago at Catalyst and understands what it feels like to have no hope.

Becoming living proof that people can change rings true for Dillon. He said he hopes the event grows and reaches more people, particularly because he believes recovery still carries a negative public image.

“I’m glad I had some people that continued to believe in me,” Dillon said. “So, it would be good if the public could be even just more informed about events like this.”

Reed said she would like to see the celebration grow and reach more of the public, as well.

“We just want to affect people in a good way,” Reed said. “That’s what life is about.”

One attendee, Jennifer, said the celebration offered a chance to recognize her own recovery with her children.

Events like the Catalyst celebration matter, “especially in Mansfield,” where she said addiction, homelessness and drugs remain concerns.

“We’ve got to all pull together,” Jennifer said. “It’s important.”

She said people are often defined by their addiction, when they just need a little bit of help to get where they need to go.

“We’re more than that. We’re people,” she said. “We have families, loved ones and children.”

She credited Catalyst with helping her through her recovery.

“Catalyst, they saved my life,” Jennifer said.

Anna Hamilton, founder of Mother’s Love Ministry, also attended the event. She said her ministry works alongside women and men in addiction by offering support and connecting them with resources.

Hamilton said that support can include attending events, going to court with people, helping children visit their parents, providing clothing and hygiene items and connecting people with other resources.

She started Mother’s Love Ministry about three years ago and holds a weekly faith-based recovery meeting at 6 p.m. every Monday at 291 W. Cook Rd. 

Hamilton said she especially values bringing people who are newly sober to events like Thursday’s celebration so they can see how far others have come and find hope for their own recovery.

“I think it’s very important to bring those that are just getting sober so it can show them how far they have come,” Hamilton said.

“I just love coming to these events because it gives me more knowledge. And that way, when I come across others that need help, I can point them in the right direction.”

For Hamilton, recovery also depends on people working together. She noted those who do recovery events all begin to know each other and grow as a family.

“You have a whole community,” she said. “And that’s what I love about Mansfield.”

(Photos from the 5th annual New Beginnings recovery event. Credit: Hannah Martin)