Our Director

             Deidre Badu was born and raised in Denver, CO. After a long struggle with addiction, she became one of the most compassionate and profressional counselors in the country. Deidre was one of the DUI treatment pioneers of in Denver and worked at one of Denver's legendary therapeutic community treatment centers, The Haven @ Peer I. She became a Certified Addiction counselor 2 years into her recovery and transfered her certification to Atlanta GA where she now holds a State and National Certified Addiction Counselor level II certification. "I knew I had to help other people from the chains of addiction. So with the therapuetic value of one addict helping another, I made the conscious decision to get my certification immediately". Deidre also became a scholar when returning back to College. She graduated with honors from Metropolitan State College of Denver earning a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and served as the President of the Student Association of Social Work during her senior year. "I learned how to advocate for the oppressed people and made a committment to help all people to have a quality of life...no matter what the obstacles were in preventing any less. "Six years later, Deidre earned her  MBA with a specialization in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, from Walden University. "I took back what the drugs and alcohol robbed me from 20 years ago". She is a true believer in higher education and is one of the first sponsors to tutor her sponsees in earning college degrees.

           Deidre is a very humble, God fearing woman and is adamant about giving the credit to her higher power, GOD! "I am nothing without God. I was saved from my addiction only by His grace and mercy, and my mission from now until the day I die is to help other people suffering from the ills of addiction".

Deidre is an active advocate for ending homelessness, for comprehensive treatment for co-occuring substance abuse and mental health disorders, and for linking appropriate services and housing needs to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. "Everyone needs to live a life of quality, hope, and laughter. Life is too short  to not be grateful...Only one day at a time."

Deidre is very family-oriented and believes in the "Family Way" concept to substance abuse treatment is the best form of treatment. "Most addicts forget or never had a family where there are many brothers and sisters learning specific values, morals, and ethics. Learning the American tradition all over again with focus on developing a relationship with God, sharing issues and the past without being judged, and the accountability of positive and negative behavior. The Family Way concept is a way for addicts to learn real life socialization and humbling humiliation, while practicing spiritual principles.

Deidre lost two nephews to the disease of addiction and many close friends. Just a short while ago, one of her best friends, Cindy Anderson, died while living in recovery for 17 months. Deidre refers to Cindy as her Boddhavista Sister and has named the Women's transitional program "The Cindy House", knowing that her spirit will continue to spread to other women learning how to live a holistic life in recovery.

Founder Deidre Badu and Co-founder Vickie Edwards have one of the most successful transitional housing programs for men and women in Lawrenceville where the residents are homeless, suffer with co-occuring substance abuse and mental health disorders, and live with HIV/AIDS. They have a desire to stay clean, and they slowly learn to do so. This is a holistic program where the focus in on the mind, body and soul - one day at a time.