When I created Writing for the Soul Workshop and launched it nearly 11 years ago, I simply wanted to do some good for a change. In my active addiction, I hurt a lot of people -most of all my children. I wanted to show them that I’d changed. And I did.
My writing program prevented teen suicides, restored families and relationships, paired students with well trained mentors and even put money in some of their pockets. My impact included cities in Africa, Asia, Australia and throughout the US. All at no cost to those who accessed it or their families.
Looking back at my journey, I can hardly believe the life I’ve lived. Unless you’re in my circle, you probably didn’t know that I’ve impacted over 13,000 students around the world and gave away over $2.8 million in programs, books, food, clothes and school supplies. I never gave a damn about profits.
The thing is, I no longer have anything to prove and I feel like my job with the program is done. I’ve had offers to sell the brand and content, but I can’t. I made a promise to all those who submitted their stories for publishing. Instead, TGIM Digital Publishing will continue to carry our books.
Thank you to all of you who supported me and my program. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I have left the website up as an online vault and archive for those of you who asked that I don’t delete it, or our facebook page. With your support, I will continue to work to give away 10,000 books annually to teens living in our deadliest cities.
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Published by Eric Jones, Author & Recovery Coach
Eric was born and raised in Aubrey, Arkansas, and is a Gulf War veteran. After returning from Iraq, Eric settled down in Kansas City and started a family of his own.
Growing up, Eric was introduced to marijuana at an early age. He says, "My friends smoked it because it was fun to them, I smoked it to escape. For the first time, I had something to help me get through the things that happened to me." At 16-years-old, Eric tried crack cocaine and his life would never be the same.
Addiction seemed to follow Eric everywhere he went after returning from Iraq. He spent the next 26 years, doing life on an installment plan in jails and institutions. On October 5, 2005, Eric found it no longer necessary to smoke crack cocaine. In 2010, he founded TGIM Digital Publishing and launched its premier program: Writing for the Soul Workshop™.
Youth and young adults accessed the program in Africa, Asia, Australia and throughout the US until Eric retired the program on December 31, 2020. While offering the program, Eric was able to give away just over $2.8 million in books, food, workshops, cash, and school supplies.
Eric completed Recovery Coach Training and Peer Recovery Support Specialist Core Training in the Texas model in 2016. On March 8, 2019, Eric was one of the first 50 peers to complete the PRSS Core Training in the Arkansas model.
Eric's work experience as a Recovery Coach in North Little Rock includes CEU's along with over 6,000 hours of Master's level clinical supervision as a Qualified Behavioral Health Provider, and registered CIT with the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board.
Currently, Eric offers private Recovery Coaching throughout Central and Northwest Arkansas from his headquarters in beautiful downtown Little Rock, and satellite office in Rogers.
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Writing for the Soul Workshop™ 