Steve Williams

…a jazz drummer known for hissubtlety and sensitivity during his25-year collaboration with the legendary singer-pianist ShirleyHorn. As a part of her rhythm section, he toured the world andrecorded with such artists as Branford and Wynton Marsalis,Carmen McRae, Roy Hargrove,Toots Thielemans, and Miles Davis.

Steve considers himself a Washingtonian; his family movedto the city from Rochester, NewYork when he was 2 years old. Incollege, he studied classical percussion as well as jazz. But he’sfond of saying his greatest education came from playing withthe greats and “learning on thebandstand.”

Steve released his first album—New Incentive—in 2007; plans torecord again in February 2009; andlooks to perform here in March.

Website: at www.abrushfire.com.

Winter 2008

1949 4th Street, N. E.Washington, D. C. 20002

(202) 462-7500 Phone(202) 462-7507 Faxwww.rapinc.org | info@rapinc.org

Community Relations Contact: Michael Pickering

A Publication of Regional Addiction Prevention, Inc.

RAP, Inc. - Substance Abuse

Treatment Services

“Each one, teach one.”

African drummers traditionally haveused the power of the drum for healing,consciousness and awareness, and fors e n d i n g m e s s a g e s o v e r l o n gdistances. The drum has had a centralpresence in every aspect of African village life including birth celebrations,rites of passage, cultural rituals, social dances, and storytelling.

Volume 1, No. 7

THE DRUMSeason of GratitudeThis season, we pause to give special thanks for your friendship, support, and generosity.As a non-profit human services organization, we are always mindful that we are in a partnership with you. We are willing to use our training and skills to serve the citizens ofthis city; you have been willing to provide your support and share your resources. Together,we help to create a network of care.

So much of the news warns individuals to brace themselves for hard times. We are fortunate if we can plan for looming difficulty. Those we serve cannot. All too often homeless, and weighted down by substance abuse and HIV, they have few choices.

As you think about your end-of-year giving, we ask thatyou include RAP, Inc. in your plans. There are severalways to contribute:

Online - go to www.rapinc.org and click on “ContributeOnline”.

Mail - use the form on the back of this newsletter to support our Buy-A-Brick expansion campaign that is raising funds to build additional space to serve.

Combined Federal Campaign - Federal employees maycontribute to RAP at the workplace by selecting # 73483.

We will be ever grateful for your support and for the partnership we are engaged in for thebenefit of our neighbors in need.

Wishing you and yours good health, joy, and peace this season and throughout the NewYear!

RAP, Inc., annually involved with World AIDS Day activities, participated in the rally at theDC HUD office. The activity was sponsored by DC Fights Back, an all-volunteer advocacy network and other organizations supporting people living with HIV/AIDS. Therally’s goal was to draw attention to the 278 DC residents living with HIV/AIDS who areon a waiting list for affordable housing.

DC Fights Back reports that HIV infection rates are 3-16 timeshigher among those without stable housing; that people whofound stable housing reduced their risky activities by 50% andthat stable housing allows people with HIV to keep their medicine schedules, reducing viral loads and risk of HIV transmission.

Currently, RAP, Inc. serves 71 HIV+ persons. Ron Clark, CEO,said, “World AIDS Day was another opportunity to reach peopleand engage them in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Ifindividuals do nothing else, they can talk about it. Talk aboutthe need for everyone to be tested. Talk about it and demand thatthe city go all out to prevent this disease.” He added, “An estimated one third of new HIV cases come from injection drug use. So people must also talk about the fact thatdrug use prevention and treatment also are key to preventing HIV.”

World AIDS Day Action_______ RAP, Inc. Staff

2

I was 18 years old when my mother sent me to RAP. We livedin Ward Five—Trinidad—and she contacted City CouncilmanHarry Thomas looking for suggestions about how to hold onto me. Councilman Thomas called RAP.He had done this for many young men inour community as I found out later.

I was dependent on marijuana, PCP, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. I had already been in Psychiatric Institute for30 days. I had already tried Job Corps. Iwent to the Redrock Job Corps Center inLopez, Pennsylvania at the age of 16. Igot my GED there and graduated in 14months—ahead of time—after learningsome useful building trade skills. Being ago-getter, I found my own job andworked for about a year. But the streetswere calling and I got caught up in streetlife again. This is where I was in my lifewhen I went into RAP.

I stayed in RAP for about 2 years and my class graduationwas held at the National Cathedral. I’ll never forget it…ormy experience at RAP. Although I’ve fallen several timessince my first stay at RAP (I’ve been there twice), what I received at RAP is a part of who I became…a part of who Iam now and who I know I will be for the rest of my life.

RAP was a blessing. The entire program was a re-educationprocess. I learned about Africa and African American history;I was enlightened about my African roots and great men andwomen in the civil rights movement.

All the information provided gave me a sense of who I really am. It gave me self-pride and an understanding of

Treatment Works! - Profile of Recovery successOscar M. Clark

my self-worth. It erased my low self-esteem and changedmy view of the world. I was taught about diet and nutrition and how the foods I ate supported my recovery.

The counselors helped me to check my behaviors and attitudes. I was taught theimportance of working in the community—giving back. I learned so many things andhad so many positive experiences likeworking on RAP’s citywide substanceabuse prevention campaign and the KnockOut Cocaine poster contest. I became thedepartment head of maintenance at one ofRAP’s facilities. In fact, I still know theRAP Philosophy and can recite it anytimewithout hesitation.

Now, I’m a full fledged journeyman electrician, a member of local 26 IBEW (International Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers). I own my own company, OMC

Contracting (www.omccontractors.com) - licensed,bonded, and insured in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Also, I am the proud father of an 18 year old daughter whois in her first year of college. Meeting and connecting withher and being in her life for the past 7 years have been mygreatest inspiration.

The thing to remember about recovery is that nobody doesit alone. Everybody who is still clean has some type of support system. Whether it’s family, friends, church, AA,NA, 12 steps, or groups. And what I learned at RAP is apart of my support system. I use it in every area of my life.

This holiday season, whether you celebrate winter solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or are just looking forward toa good year, it is a time of reflection as well as a celebration of all the possibilities of renewal.

Life can sometimes be like a ship moving through troubled waters. Things seemed pretty nice before we got on board. Theground so firm and reassuring. There was no danger, no rocking, no seasickness, no possibility of sinking. Sometimes it’seasier to want to go back. But let’s not forget though why we boarded the ship. This journey is and has always been asearch for the other shore. That is the deeper meaning in life.

So, take a deep breath, and another and another. Life offers no more than we can handle. The present moment is where ourpower is. Take the helm with calmness. Accept the conditions and guide your ship to that other shore. We are where weneed to be here and now. Breathe.

Nazirahk Amen, ND, L.Ac.

Holiday Wellness

3

See What We’ve Been Up To!

Matthew Kavanagh of DC Fights Back presents a donation to Buy-A-Brick campaign chairperson Yetta Galiber. The campaign is raising funds to expand RAP’s capacityto serve clients suffering from substance addiction, HIV/AIDS, and mental healthchallenges.

Conducting the Buy-A-Brick Fundraising Campaign

A half basketball court on the roof of the building will use recycled rubber flooring todecrease noise pollution and as a green element. It will share the space with a greenroof garden and a system for catching rain water for multiple uses.

Image of the new building…

Adding green elements to the design of our facility expansion

Teaching “green living”

Environmental Protection Agency tips for simple things you can do to reduce waste this holiday season:

Have a water efficient H2Oliday!

Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water and can use more than two gallonsof water every minute your tap is running. Scrape dirty dishes clean, instead of using water to rinse them before you putthem in the dishwasher.

If you don’t use a dishwasher, fill the sink with a few gallons of soapy wash water, clean your dishes, and put them aside.Then rinse them all together afterward.

Reduce Holiday Waste

Reuse newspaper, boxes, shipping "peanuts," and "bubble wrap" to ship packages.

Use your own camera instead of a disposable one to reduce waste while capturing holiday memories.

Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used during the holidays.

Don't Wait to Insulate

Start with the attic and crawl spaces; seal ducts, caulk, and weatherstrip.

Again this year, representatives from RAP, Inc. joined thousands of concerned citizens and carried the organization’s banners in the 21st Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon held on November 22, 2008 on the National Mall. There arean estimated 12,000 homeless persons in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area.

Walking to raise money to help prevent and end homelessness

ThinkGreen

1949 4th Street, N. E.

Washington, D. C. 20002

(202) 462-7500 Phone

(202) 462-7507 Fax

www.rapinc.org

Treatment Works!

A contribution from you will help provide needed

drug treatment, HIV and mental health services.

Mail your check—payable to RAP, Inc. — along with

this form to:

RAP, Inc.

Buy-A-Brick Campaign

1957 4th Street, N. E.

Washington, D. C. 20002

Cost per brick — $25.00

Your contribution $_____________________

Please Print Clearly

Your Name:______________________________

Address: ________________________________

________________________________

Phone: _________________________________

E-mail: _________________________________

RAP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Your gift is tax deductible.

Staff Ramadoolah!More than treating patients for specific ailments, Dr. John Hogancoaches them—back to health and back into life. That is the approach he has taken to his career since joining the RAP teamsome ten years ago. Dr. Hogan specializes in management ofHIV. He sees it not as a job, but as a calling - feeling that he isan agent of change and following his family’s pattern of

commitment to service. He has twobrothers who are ministers of largechurches; his mother was a missionary.

Dr. Hogan carries his message intoall parts of the city and beyond—atleast twice a month. He speaksregularly to physicians’ groups, patient support groups, families,and community groups. The coreof his message is the same to all…motivate those suffering from HIVto hold on.

Being a part of RAP has taughthim, says Dr. Hogan, that he

cannot focus on disease. He must focus on attitudes, beliefs,and fears. His goal is to help the patient develop a “why”. Whyshould a patient who may be sick and homeless care abouthis/her life? He says that once patients find the answer to “Whycare?”, they make the commitment to move forward and makechanges that improve their health and their lives.

Doctor/coach John Hogan works tirelessly at his holistic approach to wellness. We applaud him and his winning gameplan!

Dr. John Hogan

RAP, Inc. Medical DirectorNguzoSaba (The Seven Principles)

Umoja(Unity), Kujichagulia(Self-Determination), Ujima(Collective Work and Responsibility),

Ujamaa(Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba(Creativity), Imani(Faith)

________Dr. Maulana Karenga