The McShin Foundation Staff

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.

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.

Monique started her recovery journey here at the McShin Foundation in early 2021. She is now the Peer Community and Program Liaison, focused on both interacting with participants in the women’s intensive program and assisting our CEO with special events and social media. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and hopes to impact and empower young women to find a better way of life in recovery. #normalizesobriety

Walter Randall, a native of Portsmouth VA is married to Tracy L. Randall who brings three (3) daughters while he brings four (4) sons and together seven (7) grandchildren to their wonderful family. Walter graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1985, then immediately joined the Army to start his military career as a Chaplain Assistant. In 1993, he began addressing his struggle with addiction and has been clean from drugs since September 2, 1995 (25 yrs clean). Walter was called to the ministry and licensed and ordained as an Elder on October 21, 2018, by Bishop Melvin Williams Jr., Senior Pastor of The Temple of Judah in Richmond, VA.

Moses Wright, CSAC is a 30-year professional in Substance Use Disorders (SUD) who has worked in a variety of settings throughout his career. His Recovery Date is January 4th, 1982, and he currently provides Board Approved clinical supervision to those seeking certificates as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).

Diana is the Correctional Program Facilitator, for The McShin Foundation, at the Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren (RSW) Regional Jail located in Front Royal, Virginia.

Mandie was raised in Prince George, VA and is a graduate of VA Tech with a BA in History. After 20 years in active addiction, she was introduced to McShin through their jail program at Pamunkey Regional Jail while she was incarcerated there. She began interning for McShin to gain both her PRS and Substance Abuse Counseling certifications in the Fall of 2021. She is passionate about recovery, helping others, British Royal History, and Coldplay. Mandie is also the author of the book "State Blues" about her experiences while incarcerated. Mandie now has three years of sustained recovery.

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."

Art Argyris is a person in recovery from substance use disorder. California native came to McShin in December of 2021 seeking treatment. Art now serves as a house leader and a Peer Recovery Specialist. He also produces media for The McShin Foundation such as the Podcast and other promotional videos.

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 since March 2021 and is a fierce advocate of multiple pathways to recovery with an emphasis on meditation, mindfulness, and Eastern philosophy. Raymond co-hosts The McShin Foundation's award-winning recovery podcast, "Get In The Herd," which regularly spotlights a broad range of recovery-related topics. In his spare time, he enjoys writing poetry, karaoke, and spending quality time with his husband. Raymond is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Forensic Peer Support Specialist, and Recovery Coach. Additionally, he is a member of The National Communication Association, Writers Guild of America, and Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity.