OUR DREAM TEAM

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 PROGRAMS MANAGER

Jeff Walker is an individual in long term recovery. For him, that means that he does not find it necessary to use drugs or alcohol to cope with life and his responsibilities today. Jeff is also a formerly incarcerated male who passed through various points in the sequential intercept model who uses his lived experience to help others. Jeff is the Programs Director at Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc.,  where he oversees 7 programs including Phases Transitional Housing Program, R3 Recovery Community Center, Project HOW (Healing our workforce), Wilkes Harm Reduction Collective, Revolution Thrift Store, Fresh Start Farm, and Hope Warriors. Jeff is an NC Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Recovery Coach, and a Peer Support in the criminal justice system. He is a facilitator for the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy, Language Matters training, Recovery Coach: A Harm Reduction Pathway training, and an eCPR (Emotional CPR) educator. He will soon be one of the first facilitators of the Forensic Peer Support Specialist training in the state of North Carolina. He is currently working towards being a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Jeff uses his lived experience to go into the prisons to offer support groups and locally works with Wilkes County Jail to offer pre-trail release services and re-entry services through Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc. Jeff spends much of his time serving and participating in groups locally, statewide, and nationally including but not limited to; Peer Justice Initiative, Peer Voice NC, Peer Expert Commission, Nation Recovery Advocacy Project, Second Chance Alliance, Reform Alliance, Wilkes Opioid Response Project, High Country Re-Entry, and Watauga County Justice Initiative. Jeff is a father, dog-lover, and outdoorsman in his free time. Jeff believes that the opposite of addiction is connection, connection is community, and community is recovery. Jeff believes in authenticity and the voices of lived experience. If you spend a lot of time with Jeff, you will often hear him saying “Live your best life” and he means that because he is living his best life today due to the gifts of recovery.  

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

A native of Caldwell County, Amanda had to leave her home to find the support she needed, and her personal journey in long-term, abstinence-based recovery began right here, in North Wilkesboro.  After completing inpatient and residential treatment, she returned to the Wilkes Recovery Revolution family to work as the Female House Manager for Phases, our Transitional Housing Program. She now is the Operations Director, supporting the Executive Director with Administrative tasks.  Amanda is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, a Recovery Coach, a Community Health Worker, is working towards becoming Certifies Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and is in her second year of college, working towards a BA in Psychology.  Amanda has officially planted roots in the place she found Recovery, purchasing a home with her fiancé and their son.   Amanda firmly believes in practicing radical love, showing compassion and grace, and creating a judgement-free space, where people feel comfortable to be who they are. 

THRIFT STORE MANAGER

Born and raised in Wilkes County, Brenda finds joy and belonging in helping others.  She began her journey with Wilkes Recovery Revolution as a volunteer, and has recently become an employee.  She is a devoted follower of the Lord, and she loves her family fiercely.  When Brenda is not working, volunteering, or attending church, she fills her time with kayaking, crafting, and working in the yard, planting flowers.