NEW ALBANY, Ind — A graduation at an women’s halfway house in New Albany is marking six months of milestones.
Lisa Livingston started the Breakaway to help women in recovery succeed, and the graduation ceremony for Kelly Pease is doing just that.
“I'm just amazed that I made it this far. This house has blessed me,” she said after completing the six month program.
The day isn’t just special for Pease, though. Livingston is also celebrating six months out of prison.
“I wake up every morning full of gratitude, I get to watch these women get their family back.”
Also in recovery, Livingston created the Breakaway in 2017. But drug charges from her past lead a judge to sentence her to 30 years in prison. An appeal overturned that sentence and she is now serving under the community corrections program.
“Now that I look back on it, I see that God was working in my life the whole time,” she said.
Livingston’s past is one many of the women relate to, but it’s what she made of here future that inspires them.
“She is one of us. And she wanted to help all of us,” said Anna McQueen who graduated and now works for the Breakaway. “The things that I have today are only because of this house. this house gave me my life back.”
Since Livingston’s return, the Breakaway has expanded and can now serve up to 24 women.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.