Servant Leadership on the Frontlines: Yvonne Thomas & Dani Sims (2026 Gala Honorees)

Frontline recovery work isn’t about accolades—it is about showing up daily for people who feel forgotten.

In this episode of The Shield, host Nichole is joined by two remarkable leaders being honored at the upcoming Addiction Prevention Coalition Gala on September 24th: Yvonne Thomas, Executive Director of East Lake Recovery Drop-in Center (Community Service Award), and Dani Sims, Assistant Director of the Recovery Resource Center (Carrie J. Wimberly Impact Award).

In this episode, we cover:

• Filling the Gaps: How East Lake Recovery transformed from a simple drop-in center into a life-saving daily resource offering meals, hygiene, ID assistance, and treatment pathways for individuals battling fentanyl.
• Street Medicine in Action: Danny Sims details the collaborative effort behind Care for Our Journey, bringing doctors, peer specialists, and nutrition directly to Birmingham encampments.
• Radical Compassion & Boundaries: The reality of rehousing pets so clients can enter detox, balancing motherhood with mission work, and knowing when to protect your own mental health.
• Veteran Wisdom: Essential advice for anyone entering the behavioral health and recovery field today.

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