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Pathways To Spirit is hosted by Dr. Troy Melendez and Dr. Nate Velez of Journey to Recovery, offering an inside look at the people, practices, and purpose behind a culturally grounded approach to healing from addiction. Through conversations with the Journey to Recovery team, the podcast explores the program’s history, its new facility, and the clinical and cultural principles that guide their work. Pathways To Spirit provides a welcoming space to learn how Community, culture, and connection support the recovery journey, and how this program is shaping a path toward wellness and a deeper sense of spirit.
Welcome to Pathways to Spirit. Our journey today seeks to honor the sacred land, revered teachings, and ancestral wisdom that guide us through the path of mental health wellness and holistic recovery. Together, we'll explore the stories of strength, healing, hope, embracing the clinical techniques and cultural foundations that remind us we are never alone on this sacred journey toward wellness and a strong personal connection to spirit.
Dr. Melendez:Welcome to our first episode of Pathways to Spirit. I'm doctor Troy Melendez, and with me in the studio is
Dr. Velez:Hey. This is doctor doctor Velez, Nate Velez. Thanks for being a part of this, Troy. This is exciting and having our first episode and
Dr. Melendez:Yeah.
Dr. Velez:I'm really excited that we're we're we're talking about what we're talking about today.
Dr. Melendez:Sure. Yeah. This has been a long time in the making. I think it was probably a year ago at least that we started talking about the possibility of a podcast to talk about all the new things going on at JTR and in the Community, and here we are.
Dr. Velez:You know, it is.
Dr. Velez:It feels like it's been a while and and, you know, to be here, kind of have arrived at being able to launch something that's, you know,
Dr. Velez:I think just so exciting for us. And we don't often get to tap into some of the the energy around what we're thinking or what goes behind our thinking all the time. And and then being able to kind of let people hear that, I think, is is important too. So but, yeah, it's been it's been a minute since we've been talking about this and being able to go live with it is, you know, it's just special. It's a special way to to to add a piece to what we do for the people we serve, for the Community, you know, etcetera.
Dr. Velez:But Yeah. You know, it's great.
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. So I guess we can we can start by exploring a little bit of of what, you know, brought us both here to to Salt River, and and kinda what was the inspiration behind pulling this together to get the word out about, you know, what we're doing over in JTR.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. I think that's a good starting point, you know. I think about our journey, even our journey together.
Dr. Melendez:And, Oh,
Dr. Velez:you know, what what brought us here to Salt River and, you know, I'm a firm believer in you'll be right where you need to. Right. Having this, you know, this place that is you know, and it goes along with what we're talking about in terms of our our sacred pathways is like, you know, you'll be right where you need to be. And so I'm I'm a firm believer that over the years, you know, through my experiences anyway
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:In my own personal recovery and experiences and jobs and even my upbringing.
Dr. Velez:You know?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:I think about I think about being raised in Northern Arizona in a in a border town
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Where I've been among, you know, Native American and indigenous people and communities my whole life. Growing up, playing Rez Ball, and You know, being a part of the culture of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Hopi Nation and Apache Nation has been a big part of my life. And so, you know, coming down here, you know, to the to to the Metro Phoenix Metro Area Right. I felt was an absolute mistake.
Dr. Melendez:i kinda remember those days.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. What am I doing down And and, you know, I struggled for a bit trying to find something that was meaningful for me, both professionally, interpersonally, spiritually, all those things connect to me in my work environment. And and so, you know, when I when I was, you know, told about Salt River, I never knew it was here Right. Quite honestly.
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. Same.
Dr. Velez:You go around the 101 and the 202 and you get lost in the city. Mhmm. And, you know, having found this place on accident, I didn't realize what I stumbled into.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:You know, I originally applied for a position here as a practice administrator, not even knowing what that was for Journey to Recovery. I just thought it sounded really cool. Right, right. Interviewed for the job and thought like, oh my gosh, this is a piece of this is a little slice of heaven and and it reminds me of home. So ever since, you know, near nearly five years later
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:I still feel so connected, not only to the work, but the Community. And
Dr. Melendez:Yes.
Dr. Velez:It really for me, I don't know about you, but for me, it it complements and supports who I am as a person Mhmm. And as a leader, and as a person in this space in business. But I know, you know, and then you and I knew each other.
Dr. Melendez:That was twenty years ago.
Dr. Velez:Twenty, twenty plus years Twenty five years know, not a lot of people know that you were my mentor.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:You know? You were my mentor in Northern Arizona, and seeing your work in front of me as another indigenous person, a Latino person, you inspired me. And so, you know, how do I get I used to think about how do I get to where you're at?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:How do I get to where doctor Melendez is at? Mhmm. And so, you know, your work inspired me to continue my journey and my educational path Mhmm. And my experiences. So to come full circle twenty five years later, sitting in a podcast room with you
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Building what we've built together. I I could have never dreamed this.
Dr. Melendez:No. Not at all. I don't know.
Dr. Velez:I'm I'm interested to hear your your your reflection on all that and then your your arrival here too.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh. Yeah. It's similarly, I mean, I grew up in in a rural area of Wisconsin, and so definitely being in this community is is very reminiscent of of what I remember home to be, you know? Houses are spaced out, lots of farmland, and it's very comfortable to drive into this community every day. You kinda leave everything else behind.
Dr. Melendez:Yeah, growing up in an environment like that, my grandparents ran a supper club in a resort community, and so I was around a lot of alcohol use and a lot of not not real positive behavior and positive role models. I didn't I think I I could have gone in a lot of different directions, but I think like a lot of folks that get into our profession, was I was inspired to know more about why people act acted the way they did Mhmm. And why they chose the you know, certain lifestyles. And so that's that's what drew me to Arizona, coming in, to ASU for their PhD program. And then, it was my internship that, pulled me up to Flagstaff in 2000, and that's where I met Bruce and Rory.
Dr. Velez:Mhmm.
Dr. Melendez:And they were doing some grant work in Winslow, and that's how I met you. I was introduced to you by Bruce Packard, and, yeah, it kinda took off from there.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. What a story. And, you know, so I think personally, this has just complemented everything about my life and my career. Mhmm. And when I'm among folks, you know, here, albeit Community members and our staff who are so talented
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And lucky enough to have found this place Mhmm. You know, many of us have struggled in other environments that are not, what I consider kinda high touch Right. Personal touch quality environments where you can slow things down.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:You have the ability to just connect with people, you know, and and and do meaningful work and actually see it come to life, but see the results and outcomes within the community
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And within our, you know, within our our circle of how we have influence around recovery work and mental health work, like, it's just it's a blessing. And, you know, when I think about that coming full circle, it's just so meaningful. So, well, first of all, you know, when I when I was brought in as the administrator of Journey to Recovery, it had been through several iterations
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Right? Of leadership
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Of change, of non stability. And, you know, and respectfully, it served a purpose in the Community but Definitely.
Dr. Velez:It struggled to have an identity.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:You know? And so, being able to come in as an employee, I feel today as a trusted partner to the Community, an advisor in these areas, to be able to assess, you know, what was going on. And, you know, part of that assessment, a lot of folks don't know that part of that assessment was not just through one lens, right?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And I don't know if you know this, but I spent some time recruiting the right folks to help set the foundation.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:But part of that was also getting information from the actual Community members.
Dr. Melendez:Okay.
Dr. Velez:The elders asking them what what was journey to recovery? What is the history of journey to recovery?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:All that information that helped us formulate an idea of what it could become. Mhmm. You know? Really, really meaningful experience.
Dr. Melendez:Yes. Very much.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. So, know, insert kind of you into that picture, you know, as one of our first hires to establish some of our care. You've had some experience too in this, like building it from the ground up.
Dr. Melendez:Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the PHP coming in to kind of head that and establish that in our continuum of care. It was a great experience, you know, it was definitely a perfect kind of complement to what we were doing in residential and the new programming and the kind of the new process of bringing people through the continuum of care. But having something real significant like that, it could be, you know, an additional twelve weeks for somebody to really, you know, apply what they have learned and really test out their new habits and their new strategies. But it was a great experience.
Dr. Melendez:And then just building that team and adding to that, you know. We started with, it was three of us, and I think we had two patients that were regularly attending.
Dr. Velez:You know, it's
Dr. Velez:a true story, man. I came on the first week here over four and a half years ago, and I came to the unit thinking and, you know, my experience before this, you know, I was an executive down the road at one of the biggest recovery centers in Arizona, a 150 beds, and I came the first day of work here and, you know, I think we had 11 beds and And two people I go, what a a change, you And so, know, walking into that, not knowing
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:What the possibilities could be, just really being. I think part of being here and adjusting to life in our world as practitioners and clinicians and and academics, right?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Both of us come from the university world as well.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Is none of that matters.
Dr. Melendez:Mm-mm.
Dr. Velez:Right?
Dr. Melendez:Nope.
Dr. Velez:None of that matters. And so that's what's really beautiful about you get kinda back, in my opinion, you get back to the roots of why we entered this profession, and it's about relationships.
Dr. Melendez:Definitely. Yeah. Right? Yeah. It's it's certainly what's carrying us forward as well as we as we grow and as we expand services, then the relationships grow.
Dr. Melendez:And and not only within the Community, but outside. As we grow and as we expand, other people are taking notice of what's going on here and recognizing that they would like some of that in their communities as well. And so building and really expanding the reach of what we came here to do has been extremely rewarding.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. No. Yeah. It's interesting because, you know, you you think about people reaching in now to us wanting help replicating this in other in other communities. And that's meaningful.
Dr. Velez:But, you know, as I look across at your shirt, you know, we started off with a what's our philosophy of care?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Like, before you design anything and we got all the technical stuff, you know, like, we had to define, like, what's our philosophy?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:What's our philosophy of care in this community in regards to recovery work?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And so, I've always believed in this concept and a lot of people have heard this now, it's kinda growing some legs, but I've always believed in this concept of what I call stickiness.
Dr. Melendez:Yes, definitely.
Dr. Velez:And people always wonder what that means. Uh-huh. You know, for me, it's a philosophy of what we defined it to be as love.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:A philosophy of love, like really loving what you do.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Loving the people you serve. Just the basic elements of humanistic approaches to care. Right?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Being genuine in what you do.
Dr. Melendez:Yes.
Dr. Velez:Being empathetic. Being able to connect with people. Like, and we know research starts there.
Dr. Melendez:Yes. Right? Yeah.
Dr. Velez:And so that was the basic kind of philosophy is love.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Love. And and then when we when we kept talking about, well, what else is our philosophy? What else do we do? Well, we we connect with people. When you love people up, you connect with them.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And connection is often one of the first thing that dissipates when you're not sober.
Dr. Melendez:Definitely, yes.
Dr. Velez:Right? It thrives in isolation.
Dr. Melendez:It does.
Dr. Velez:Addiction thrives in isolation and aloneness and so connection had to be part of our philosophy, we're gonna love you up and we're gonna reconnect with you. We're gonna bring you in and reel you in.
Dr. Melendez:Yes.
Dr. Velez:And support you.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:And when you do that, you create an environment of hope. We know that by science and all this data and meta analytic research and stuff, right, the two variables, you know, that work well, the science has worked well, is having relationships with people and creating an environment of hope where people can change.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And that was a fundamental part of before we did anything.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:You know? And that's a powerful thing for us now. It's actually our why.
Dr. Melendez:It is, yeah. It guides everything that we do. And not only our interactions with the patients, but again, our interactions with our peers, know, other folks in the Community, other departments. We're connecting to create that hope for folks because it's a bleak world when you're caught addiction, and nothing really seems like it's gonna be helpful for you. And so when we can instill that and help folks to start moving through their life with that hope, we start to see action, we start to see movement.
Dr. Velez:Yeah, it's awesome. You know, and then so you come full circle, right? Here we are four and a half, five years later, and we've built this amazing legacy for the people where most Community members work that are in recovery. Yes. You know, that's the foundational element of it.
Dr. Velez:And so, you know, this cultural success, sobriety success where people are doing well and thriving. So then, I thought a long time ago, and you and I chopped this up, how do we get this information out?
Dr. Melendez:Right. Yeah. How do we talk more about What what we're we're
Dr. Velez:doing right now and so, Oh, how about a podcast?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:How about a podcast, a mechanism? Because part of our philosophy too is innovation. Yes. Is that, you know, we're bringing a spirit of innovation to what we do to traditionally indigenous communities that may not get to experience the same innovation on the state side or other big box health systems that they don't get to experience. And so what we're bringing to this is a spirit of innovation of how do we use our gifts and talents to demonstrate to others what's going on here and the most innovative platform to do that where we can have others share.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Others share. So part of the theory too of this is, right, is getting folks on here who could share their experiences in the continuum, in their recovery, as providers, as leaders, like, let's get people on here talking about things, right? And so But when you started having ideas about the pod a podcast, like, did that some of that stuff come up for you?
Dr. Melendez:Definitely. Yeah. It was, you know, being here and watching all the growth and seeing what we were doing and the tremendous impact that that was having in the community inspired me to want to talk more about this. And, you know, of course, initially as somebody from the academic world, I started thinking conferences and presentations and, you know, things that we've done in the past. But then when you started talking about this potential to do a podcast, then then the ideas really started to come because then it's like, oh, we can talk about what we're doing, and we can talk about the people that are doing it with us.
Dr. Melendez:And we've got, you know, the Peer Academy, and we've got, you know, our reentry step program, you know, all the different programmings that, you know, that we offer. And they're growing fast, and they're having an impact. And and we wanna tell people about that. We wanna, you know, kind of, you know, wave the flag for folks that are doing the hard work to make And these things so this just seemed like a really a natural outlet for that.
Dr. Velez:It is. And too, like, I think another reason for, like, this platform too is being from a small community, and you know this, Like, sometimes in small communities, like, people don't hear certain things or hear things later or mishear things.
Dr. Melendez:Hear it through three
Dr. Velez:or Yeah. Sometimes four things can can be misunderstood or misconstrued sometimes or just simply not understood. And I've found that most of the time, in my experience here in other communities is, you know, when you spend time sitting down, talking, being a part of it, inviting people in, being transparent, like, all that matters, and it leads to understanding. Right. You know?
Dr. Velez:So another great reason why we talk about these things open and we want people to hear it. We want people to sense it and feel it. Right? Yeah. You know?
Dr. Velez:So, you know, those are some other, I think, benefits of this idea Sure. Coming to life. And so, you know, today was interesting because, you know, our community manager, mister Meyers' video came out today
Dr. Melendez:Yes. I saw that.
Dr. Velez:Reviewing the year of 2025 and, you know, he asked our our President President Harvier, what's the most impactful thing that happened to the Community this year?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And for for our for for President Harvier to to say, I think it's the opening of Journey to Recovery. Yes. Like, that was special.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, yeah. Right? Yeah. That felt good.
Dr. Velez:Did you hear that?
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. It felt good to hear that. I was like, okay. Well, we've done a lot has happened over the last year, and for that to be something. But also to realize kinda the the history of this.
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. You know? It started before we got here.
Dr. Velez:It did.
Dr. Melendez:Just the vision for it.
Dr. Velez:It did.
Dr. Melendez:And then really putting that vision into motion.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. I'm glad you mentioned that because we're kinda like the tip
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Of the spear. Like, we we came at a you know, I've I talked to to Joe Remitera, our Director, about this a lot. It's like, sometimes, you know, you catch a good wave in your life, the timing sometimes is just like perfect.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And I feel like the wave was coming up, and and I I personally happen to be, like, riding that wave up
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:For a community that already had a vision.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:What I mean is, you know, back in 2018, the proclamation set forth by the council Mhmm. To really do all it all it can do to ensure we're doing as a Community all we can do to do the best we can do around recovery work and substance abuse. Because it leads to a lot of deaths, this Community.
Dr. Melendez:Early deaths.
Dr. Velez:Early deaths, right? And then you think about our five in five strategy with Health and Human Services is really increasing life span five years over the next five years. And two of the biggest indicators of early deaths are substance abuse and accidents and stuff. And so, when I think about that, when I think about that wave, this was a concept long before us. Sure.
Dr. Velez:Right? Ten plus years ago that people had.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And so the ability to come in at the right time, in the right moments, that allowed us to kind of be a part of that vision and help execute that, man, it's been special for me. Very. Very special for me, and why not talk about this openly? Right?
Dr. Melendez:Sure.
Dr. Velez:And not only about what we've built and what the Community has now, but where we're going as an organization in behavioral health and our addiction work and mental health work. Right. Like, think there's stigma around that still today.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, for sure.
Dr. Velez:And so, as we start to talk more about, you know, this openly, you know, it opens doors for understanding and accept acceptance and and sometimes people are hearing this and saying, hey, I I need I need some help or Sure. I I could use these services or, oh, I have a loved one.
Dr. Melendez:Right. I know somebody. Yeah.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. And any form of media or an access, whether it be emails or information or just talking about it is
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:It reduces stigma.
Dr. Melendez:Sure. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Dr. Melendez:And it's it's, you know, our own recovery journeys, you know, are a part of this as well. It helps us shape how we see this and what we see as possible. And, you know, I I was had recently started mine before coming to the Community, and and I've shared with you several times. It's like my my healing journey really kicked into high gear getting here. Yeah.
Dr. Melendez:Just seeing the commitment to health that that I've never been, you know, employed by somebody that had such a strong commitment to their employees' health, and all the benefits and all the incentives to work on yourself. And yeah, I was at a difficult place, and being here and being part of this really helped. But also just seeing that small Community impact on everybody that works here and just, you know, how we're held up and how we're encouraged to take care of ourselves, especially in this field, you know, where where you mentioned, you know, there is a lot of stigma around this. But us being open about our own processes and, you know, our own journeys in this regard, I think it it carries a lot of weight for the folks that we serve, you know, when they hear, you know, about our past and it's like, you understand this in in the same way I do. And so I think it helps them to open up a little bit more to what we're offering.
Dr. Melendez:And so it's definitely a benefit for what we do.
Dr. Velez:And then some, right?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:You know? So it normalizes who we are
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And what we do. And, you know, I think how impactful for let's take our peer support program for instance. Right? You know, we had this is another idea that we had is it three years now? Two and half, three years?
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. Three, three and a half maybe. It was early conversations.
Dr. Velez:Just absolutely nuts. Yep. You know, how a spark of a vision turns into a concept and then reality. And so, let's take that for instance, peer support, right? So we always knew as part of the philosophy of stickiness
Dr. Melendez:Yes.
Dr. Velez:Right? Connect supporting and hope and love that especially in communities like this, you know, where a Community so small is afflicted by this disease. How can we get those people who are afflicted by the disease healthy?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Healthy and well and back on track?
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Melendez:And then how can we get those people to help us?
Dr. Melendez:Right. Right.
Dr. Velez:Right? Insert the Peer Support Academy and and, you know, you've been instrumental in that. Right? And what's that work been like for you?
Dr. Melendez:That's yeah. That's been amazing and and so rewarding. I mean, it's you know, we just like you mentioned, we we just wrapped up our third year of providing that service. We've had nine cohorts through there. I just I just today, before coming over here, I sent our HR partners the proposed schedule for all of next year.
Dr. Melendez:So I have three more coming up and but being able to see people I think now it's it's I I see people when I first meet them coming into either residential or coming into PHP, and you can kinda pick them out now. You can kinda see these folks that it's like, okay. You're gonna be one that we're gonna be kinda pushing to head down this direction and get this training and come back and work with us. And then just, you know, reflecting on just those early classes and coming into work and and these are my coworkers, you know, these are my colleagues and what we're doing. And just, you know, being able to see their amazing journey and then how they continue to develop as professionals and move up the ladder.
Dr. Melendez:Know, some of those early peer supports are BHTs and are looking to be case managers, and some of them are in counseling programs, and some of them are in nursing programs, and it's just, it's very rewarding and just amazing to be a witness to that process.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. It is absolutely stunning To see the success in people's lives, from a program and a philosophy. I I will say, like, we have some damn amazing staff.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, incredible.
Dr. Velez:Like, you know, like, these staff members, our staff members, they are so connected to their work.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And it doesn't happen without them. You could have a vision and build a program, but they make this happen.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:You know, when I think about the peer program, I've always believed in legacy. You know, I think about sports and stuff like that, know, all these legacy Patriots, Lakers, all these, like, legacy systems that Right. What did they have? What was the element they had to continue on being great?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And I think the greatest part of what we have are the people from the Community. Right. And then why not build the system around that because it'll outlast me.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, for sure.
Dr. Velez:It'll outlast you.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:It'll always be with the people. Uh-huh. It'll always be with the Community.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And the philosophy will always be there.
Dr. Melendez:Yes.
Dr. Velez:And so, you know, to be able to share that too, I think, is is a success piece for the Community is is ongoing and it's gonna never it it won't stop. That'll be the gift that keeps on giving.
Dr. Melendez:It sure will. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Dr. Velez:You know? Oh, by the way, we were talking about when we first got here, so I showed up, I had like two patients or three patients on the and I think I had maybe like 11 staff members. Okay. Okay? And at the time, John Godfrey was the chief behavioral health officer.
Dr. Velez:Okay. And jokingly, I was kinda like, John, you didn't tell me any of this.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:He kinda tricked me to get here.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Because he had dangled the thought of a vision too, and I believed in that vision when he dangled it. Today today Mhmm. Almost five years later, we have it takes a 100 plus staff to run our our facility twenty four seven.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:It takes three doctors full time. It takes 12 nurses full time. Right? So and then our techs and our counselors and all that, like, it's amazing. Like, one thing I appreciate too, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention it, is the commitment we have from the council and the Community.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, definitely.
Dr. Velez:Like our leaders, our ACM, Lina, and our President and Vice President and Council, Joe, our Director. Right. Like, it has been build it. Yes. It has been do what we need to do.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:And so to be in an environment like that where you can actually you can actually do something so meaningful that nobody has the chance to do that Mhmm. It comes once in a lifetime in terms of career.
Dr. Melendez:Definitely.
Dr. Velez:Right?
Dr. Velez:Yeah. Would you agree?
Dr. Melendez:Oh, yeah. I've not experienced a work environment like this and then this initiative and how fast it's moved and how big we've grown. I've not been a part of that previous and I've been, you know, part of big institutions and universities and Yeah. You know, with similar dreams and similar initiatives to push things forward and grow. But, yeah, it's really it's the Community.
Dr. Melendez:It's the relationships that we've built. It's the tie in that that Community members have to this effort. It's the history that they understand related to why we're here and what we're trying to do that really just makes this a very unique and special experience.
Dr. Velez:So you mentioned that, and I agree with you. The other thing too that I've always said Mhmm. Doc, is there is such a gift here that most people don't see. Just I'm putting my administrator hat on and my clinical administrator, and then my experience with design and development of programs over the last two decades.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Sovereignty. The word sovereignty.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, yes.
Dr. Velez:Right? So the word sovereignty rings true.
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:Right? Because one thing that I know to be true that cannot be done anywhere else is in a sovereign nation.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And so the perfect blend
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:Of people, talent, Community members, clinical practice, cultural practice, and this blend of sovereignty.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:It actually is the underlying foundation of everything because and you know this as well as I do, and a lot of people don't understand this, you can't do this five miles down the road in the stateside environment because managed care and payer relations and prior authorizations govern that. But when you have the concept of self governance
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Within a community of sovereignty, I mean, it's limitless. And so, we were able to design a system that is dreamy, that nobody has, and doesn't exist anywhere because of those barriers, but sovereignty and self governance
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Has allowed that to be true.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And and because of that, we're seeing different outcomes.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, for sure.
Dr. Velez:Right?
Dr. Melendez:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There are numbers that we see for folks and success and and and how people move through the continuum. I've I've not experienced that before professionally.
Dr. Melendez:I've not seen that in stateside institutions, and it's just it's a it's a level. And and it goes back to what you were talking about with the stickiness. Once they're with us, they're stuck. They're, you know, they're programmatically involved, their relationships are involved. Then eventually, a lot of them come back and they're employed, they're still connected to the services and the programs.
Dr. Melendez:They're just on the other side of that for the most part. Yeah. It's definitely a benefit for us.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. So, I think a handful of people really recognize that that plays an impact of what we do as just being sovereign and being able to help self governance inside this Community. It really impacted design. And so lately, we've had a lot of tours. Right?
Dr. Velez:We've had our our part, our our sister tribe, Gila River's, coming next week. You know, we've had tribes throughout the country come to see how how we're doing this and how to replicate this. We recently had a visit from, you know, the White House, from the HHS and CDC as Kennedy came to to see what we're doing in inside this self governance. So we've been the example in the model, and it's been a beautiful thing to be able to help other people outside of this Community because all people deserve a model like this.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:All indigenous communities deserve a model like this.
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:And so to be able to share that has been also really, really, really unique. You know, another thing too that really has has been at the top of my mind during this conversation is, you know, you mentioned this is the connectedness to a lot of our staff who are in recovery themselves.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:Right?
Dr. Melendez:Uh-huh.
Dr. Velez:And so I'm just curious, in your opinion, you know, when when someone's in recovery and they get to do this work, like, how impactful is that? Right? Not only for themselves, but for the people that they're serving.
Dr. Melendez:Oh, tremendously. Yeah. To to to have somebody that's already traveled this road and and maybe struggled with very similar circumstances, you know, and been through some of the difficulties that they're trying to guide someone else through, It's night and day difference. I mean, you can learn a lot about addiction. You can learn a lot about recovery.
Dr. Melendez:But to have folks that have experienced it and have successfully moved through it that are helping to provide that service and provide that opportunity for others to take that similar journey. It's it's invaluable.
Dr. Velez:Yeah. No. I agree. And and I think about my own journey, you know, and how I arrived here and the struggles I've been through to get here. I think about that in all the faces we see every day.
Dr. Velez:You know, about eighty eighty some percent of our staff are in recovery and are doing this work to help others and help heal themselves. Right. And so the power, the gift that keeps on giving.
Dr. Melendez:It sure does.
Dr. Velez:Right? So, you know, when you know, I I think about all those little things, and they matter. They matter to me, and they matter as our leaders, you know, and as you know, you're you're you've been recently promoted to a manager, one of our leaders inside this Yes. System. And so how do you see that that role Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:Differently from being, you know, a clinician in the system?
Dr. Melendez:I think as a manager, I have the time now to kind of push forward with the visions that I've had, you know, that we look at our curriculum development and our program offerings and tying that more into the traditions and the practices of the Community, our cultural counselor coming on board and, you know, more time to foster those relationships and talk about those initiatives and start to implement those aspects that are gonna really connect our offerings, our programming, to this Community. Yeah. You know, that it is something that naturally kinda was born out of the Community.
Dr. Velez:Yeah.
Dr. Melendez:And and and like you mentioned, you know, it will be a part of this Community long after we're gone.
Dr. Velez:That's true. Yeah. You know, so coming full circle, right? I think we first started off talking about why a podcast?
Dr. Melendez:Mhmm.
Dr. Velez:This is why. This is why we have so much to to share. Mhmm. And we have so many people to connect to. And we have solicited we want feedback.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:And we want our our you know, we want that to be an open book. And so I I I'm really I'm really excited about this first episode here and sitting in the studio talking to you about what was and what has become and where we're going.
Dr. Melendez:Right.
Dr. Velez:We're not done yet, certainly.
Dr. Melendez:Not at all.
Dr. Velez:But at this point, to be able to share this with others is phenomenal. And I couldn't thank you more for being a part of it. And we have a lot of stories to hear from other people and other leaders to bring to the table.
Dr. Melendez:Yes. Definitely. Looking forward to it. Yeah.
Dr. Melendez:Thank you for joining us on Pathways to Spirit.
Dr. Melendez:Remember, within our traditions and our spirit lies connection, support, love, and hope. Let us walk forward together, honoring our paths and supporting one another on the journey toward physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wholeness. Until next time, may the spirits of the ancestors guide you, and may you find peace, healing, and renewal in every step along your journey.