The McShin Foundation Staff

Joyce is a person in recovery from Richmond, VA. She has been involved with The McShin Foundation since April 2019. Her journey started as a participant, she quickly became a peer leader and house leader within the organization. The experiences she had while a participant in the program have fueled her passion for helping newcomers feel at home when they arrive at The McShin Foundation, the same way she was welcomed when she first arrived. Joyce is dedicated to her job and motivated, currently she is continuing her education and pursuing her BA in Psychology with a concentration in Addiction.

Melanie Belden was born in Prince George's County, Maryland and moved to Hanover, Virginia in 2000. She has battled on and off with the disease of addiction since her late teens. She found recovery when she entered The McShin Foundation as a participant on December 10th, 2016.

From Hanover County, Virginia, Cricket was first exposed to recovery at the age of 15 when a judge ordered him to attend 12-step meetings because of his addiction. For nearly two decades, he continued to use substances uncontrollably until The McShin Foundation began a substance abuse program in Pamunkey Regional Jail, where he was incarcerated at the time. Since his graduation and release in August of 2015, he has not been arrested, has been a member of a multi jurisdiction re-entry council, has had his civil rights restored, and has traveled the country carrying his message of hope wherever he goes.

Klay Porter is a person in sustained recovery from substance use disorder since July 26, 2020. A Mangohick, Virginia native, Klay struggled for decades with addiction and fought many times to rebuild his life after losing everything as a direct result. He entered the McShin Foundation’s 28-day program from jail in December 2020 and since completion has transitioned into sober-living where he became a volunteer, recovery coach, house leader and Peer Recovery Specialist. Klay is involved with multiple pathways of recovery and advocates for others to discover what works for them.

Christina is a grateful person in recovery. She came through the intensive program of McShin in June of 2021. Since completion of the program she became an AmeriCorps representative and after completing the service term she became the Women's Program Manager. Christina enjoys giving back to her community and being a part of. She states "I never thought that I would ever be able to live free of my addiction but thanks to the McShin foundation and my fellow peers it has become possible."

Raymond is a Brooklyn, New York, native and graduate of Randolph-Macon College where he earned his BA in Communications. Raymond is a person with sustained recovery from co-occurring conditions and is a fierce advocate of multiple pathways to recovery with an emphasis on meditation, mindfulness, and Eastern philosophy. In his spare time, he enjoys writing poetry, singing karaoke, and spending quality time with his husband. Raymond is a Registered Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Forensic Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Coach, and a member of the Richmond Opioid Task Force. Additionally, Raymond is a proud member of The National Communication Association, Writers Guild of America, and Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity.