Jan Brown
Founding/executive director
Williamsburg Location • Warrenton Location
Jan@spiritworksFoundation.org
The Rev. Jan Brown is Founder/Executive Director of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul. An ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church and Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, she serves at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA. Jan is a graduate of the College of William and Mary with a BA in Psychology, is certified as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist and a Recovery Coach Professional, and is an international scholar on Addiction Studies. She has a Master of Science Degree in Addiction Studies from the International Programme on Addiction Studies at King’s College in London, the University of Adelaide and Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a woman with addiction in long term recovery, the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of Faces and Voices of Recovery, Recovery Consultant on SAMHSA States Targeted Response (STR) Technical Assistance Center Team, Consensus Panel member for the SAMHSA TIP – Peer Recovery Support Specialists, Opioid Response Network (ORN) Consultant and co-chair of the Addictions and Recovery Commission for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. In 2014 she was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse. In 2015 Jan was appointed by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to serve on the Commission on Impairment and Leadership. She continues to hold appointed positions within The Episcopal Church as well as the international addiction and recovery community. Jan was inducted into the Hall of Fame, class of 2022, of the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery.
lauren mcdonald
Director of Spiritual & community programming / williamsburg Location
Lauren@spiritworksFoundation.org
The Rev. Lauren McDonald is the Director of Spiritual and Community Programming at SpiritWorks Foundation. Lauren has been a friend and volunteer of SpiritWorks since 2008 and began employment in January 2012. She has been living in recovery from co-dependence since February 2011. Lauren is an Episcopal priest with a passion for healing and spiritual practices. At SpiritWorks she oversees volunteer management, faith community education and training, and recovery ministry. Lauren received a B.A. in Speech and Theatre Arts from The University of the South in 1991 and a M.Div. from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 2008. She has a Certificate in Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families through the National Association for Children of Addiction. She co-chairs the Addictions and Recovery Commission for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Lauren also serves as the Associate Rector for Outreach and Women’s Ministries at Bruton Parish, where we hold our monthly First Fridays Recovery Service.
lynn smyth
Volunteer coordinator / Williamsburg Location
Lynn@spiritworksFoundation.org
Lynn Smyth is the Volunteer Coordinator at SpiritWorks Foundation. She is the mother of a recovering addict. Through her journey, Lynn found a passion for nurturing those in recovery that SpiritWorks serves. She loves to celebrate birthdays, milestones and organize events and fundraisers that are designed to celebrate life in recovery. Formerly a trial paralegal, Lynn has woven together a network of volunteer attorneys donate their time to help members of the SpiritWorks community to navigate their legal issues. Lynn also serves SpiritWorks by monitoring pending state and federal legislation that promote recovery services and funding initiatives. Lynn graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Political Science and received her paralegal certificate from the National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta, Georgia. Last year, Lynn completed SpiritWorks’ peer recovery specialist training course.
Yolanda Jackson
Case Manager & liaison
Williamsburg Location
Yolanda Jackson is the SUD Recovery Case Manager at Colonial Behavioral Health and serves as the liaison between CBH and Spiritworks. She received her BSW from Virginia Union University in 2002 and her MAED with a concentration in Family & Community Services from Ashford University in 2013.
kristy piette
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist / Assistant operations manager
Kristy@spiritworksfoundation.org / Warrenton Location
Kristy Piette, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Assistant Operations Manager-SpiritWorks Warrenton, and a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder with sobriety date of September 9, 2012. With over 30 years of going through the revolving door of 12-step programs, jails, institutions and treatment centers, Kristy has firsthand experience of the progressive nature of the disease of addiction. Kristy shares her experience, strength and hope through her empathy to the women “Inside the Walls”, as well as peers on the street and all who come into the recovery center showing them there is an easier, softer way. Kristy had been a daily volunteer at the Warrenton Recovery Center which eventually led to her full time position with SpiritWorks. Kristy is very much involved in community collaboration projects and supporting local non-profit organizations. She also assists in re-entry and building solid foundations for the holistic well-being of her peers, meeting each individual where they are at. Kristy makes herself available 24/7 taking women to 12-step meetings, Celebrate Recovery, spiritual fellowship, free clothing as well as nutritious needs. Kristy believes one must give freely in order to keep inner peace and for others to also carry-on the message of hope. Together we do recover!
Allison Bellamy
Recovery Corps Recovery Project Coordinator Allie@spiritworksfoundation.org / Williamsburg Location
Allie is a woman in recovery from addiction. She is in her 2nd year as a Recovery Project Coordinator with Recovery Corps at SpiritWorks Foundation in Williamsburg, while she prepares for a career working in the recovery field. A Mom in Recovery, Allie has a passion for working with women seeking recovery from substance use related problems and reunification with their children, especially mothers who are experiencing incarceration. Allie is a mom to four children and is grateful for opportunities to make positive contributions to the community as a woman who is thriving in recovery.
Justene Kmetz
Recovery Corps Recovery Project Coordinator justene@spiritworksfoundation.org / Williamsburg Location
Justene is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist a Recovery Project Coordinator with Recovery Corps serving at the SpiritWorks Center in Williamsburg. She has been in recovery from a substance use disorder for five years and in her 2nd year with Recovery Corps. Her goal is to walk alongside others and help advocate for them as well as support them on their personal journey to recovery. She is also inspired by and focused on providing support to those children whose lives are connected and affected by their loved ones’ and family members who are on their own personal journey.
Brian Bordeaux
Recovery Corps Recovery Project Coordinator Brian@spiritworksfoundation.org / Warrenton Location
Brian Bordeaux, is a Recovery Coach from Virginia and a person in long term sustained recovery from a substance use disorder with a sobriety date of August 20, 2021. He shares his experience, strength, hope, and empathy with those still struggling with addiction by focusing his efforts on helping people seek treatment and teaching relapse prevention. Brian has additional experience in Emotional CPR, Self Care, and Relapse Prevention. He is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Psychology with an addiction counseling specialization.