July 2026 SouthLight Spotlight
SouthLight’s SDOH Team Featured in NC Health News
We’re honored that SouthLight’s Social Determinants of Health team (SDOH) was featured recently by NC Health News. The article highlights the meaningful work of Tristan Wever and Ian Hope, who work closely with clients to help them overcome unmet basic needs that can get in the way of focusing on mental health and substance use recovery.
Housing, transportation, employment, clothing, and food tend to be the most common areas of need, but thanks to Tristan and Ian’s ever-growing resource network, they can direct people to a number of community partners for a wide variety of requests (like pet care, glasses, furniture, and dental work, for example).
The team doesn’t just provide phone numbers, though. They help clients make connections and wade through the red tape. Ian Hope explained, “It’s easy to hand out a bus pass or give them a phone number, but it’s different to say ‘I’ll sit with you. We’ll walk through the process.’ It gives people a spark, a little bit of hope, like, ‘OK, I can continue this now. I have somewhere to start from.’”
Achieving a Lifelong Goal
Ben Powell, Senior Director of Operations for SouthLight’s Opioid Treatment Program, recently received a letter from a former client who arrived in Raleigh carrying everything they owned in a couple garbage bags. When they got to SouthLight, they set a goal of returning to college and finishing their degree. They did. We’ll let them tell it:
“Ben and SouthLight, thank you sincerely for your support. Because of caring people like you, those who once struggled can find hope and help. When I first arrived in Raleigh with only two half-filled trash bags, your program allowed me to stay in an Oxford House and begin rebuilding my life. The private counseling sessions and classroom participation were essential to my progress. I shared with Ben that one of my goals was to return and complete college, and today, thanks to the guidance and assistance from SouthLight and Ben, I was able to accomplish that. I truly appreciate everything you have done—thank you.”
Help Us Celebrate Recovery Month!
Each September, SouthLight brings together 500 clients, staff, and community partners for our annual Recovery Month Celebration. For all involved, it’s a joyful and important day as together, we celebrate recovery and connect clients with valuable community resources. (This year, our Fayetteville and Durham locations are also hosting events.)
You Can Help Make These Celebrations Special
Donate peanut butter.
Help us collect 300 jars of peanut butter for clients and families. Shop our Amazon Wish List, and your donation will be shipped directly to SouthLight.
Host a snack-bag packing activity.
Gather your coworkers, friends, civic group, etc., to pack snack bags filled with helpful items such as granola bars, bottled water, pudding cups, and other grab-and-go snacks. Our goal is to have 500 bags ready by September 10.
Each snack bag and jar of peanut butter is a simple way to show support for recovery and our SouthLight community. Contact our Director of Development, Jim Dempsey, for details or questions.
Thank you for being part of it!
Have You Checked Out Our YouTube Channel?
Get to know us even better by subscribing to SouthLight on YouTube. Here are a few highlights:
