Meet Amber!
Q1
Hello! What is your name(s) and pronouns? What have your roles/positions/titles been at Quest Center? How do you explain what you do when you meet someone in the "elevator?"
Amber Lewis- She/ Her/ Hers. Program Manager at Miracles Club since 2020- Addictions Counselor and Program Coordinator of The Resilience Initiative- since 2021.
I am honored to be one of links in a partnership between Miracles Club and Quest-this partnership allows us to deliver culturally specific substance use disorder treatment to the African American/ Black diaspora from The Miracles Club, located in the King neighborhood of NE Portland. Closing the gaps in health disparities, and delivering accesseible compassionate care is my driving passion.
Q2
What are your go-to hobbies outside of working at Quest? ( What gives you energy/makes you tick)
I love to cook and was a professional chef for over twenty years before working the recovery field. I am a student working towards my long term goal of dual masters in public health and social work.
Q3
What's going on in your particular department right now and individually- projects, themes, interests that folx might want to know some tidbits about?
The resilience initiative (TRI) is new and still developing. My hope is that this program never stops innovating and trying new relevant ways to engage clients.
Q4
What do you enjoy most about working at Quest, besides the fact that Quest is the best?
The people at Quest. My coworkers and clients alike. We are diverse, beautiful, smart, creative and most importantly, kind people.
Q5
What's a brief little story or moment you had in your department in the last year that made you feel like- "yesss," or "this is why I'm doing this work!" Could be a success story with a community member/client or anything that comes to mind that made you light up...
Being a part of a new, much needed culturally specific program is a dream come true. As a person of mixed racial background, I often feel acculturated and less than. This program has given me a voice and way to define community and connection. I believe when we truly feel connected to a community - we thrive. We are able to heal and grow.
