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May 26, 2023 137 mins

I have a convo today with one of my favorite people in the world, Chekesha Lakenya Ellis. She is a fellow advocate and someone who is in recovery. Her story is incredibly unique with a lot of layers to it. Her addiction to prescription opioids actually resulted in her losing her hearing and she became deaf for years until she was able to get cochlear implants. She is an inspiration to me, her charisma is contagious, and I really hope you enjoy listening to her story.

Follow me on TikTok! @jaclynbrown

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Chekesha Kay Ellis is the Founder of Chase No More, an organization that provides direct support and community outreach to individuals suffering with substance use disorder. Her own personal recovery journey began 12 years ago after a nine-year addiction to prescription opioids. She has a passion for helping others suffering with addiction and has made it her life's work to help others.

She is the Author of “A Life Of Kayos- My Opioid Journey through Hell Hope and Healing." She is a Peer Recovery Specialist and Certified Family Recovery Specialist.
Chekesha has been featured in both print and broadcast media outlets around the world, including Google, YouTube, KYW News radio "Flashpoint," Recovery Today Magazine, Jerseys Best magazine, The New Jersey Star Ledger, Bucks County Courier times, Burlington County Times, and the Intelligencer.

She has been on The Numinous Podcast, Sober Curious Podcast, Sober As A Mother Podcast, Barbershop Conversations Podcast, and featured in Penn State University ‘The Story Powered Initiative’ documentary about addiction and recovery. Chekesha has spoken at many high schools and colleges she recently spoke at Rowan College of Burlington County.

Chekesha will be featured in a 2 part 6 ABC and PBS documentary titled "LISTEN TO THE SILENCE: Women Trapped in the Opioid Epidemic." It will begin airing on some of the 200 6ABCs nationwide and their subsidiaries on Sunday June 4, 2023 and in select other states. Chekesha has a partnership with Browns Shoprites supermarket stores in 2021-2022 for meet and greet events . She has distributed over 100 boxes of Naloxone in 16 Pennsylvania Supermarkets. Chekesha was honored in 2022 as a local "Shero" for her community service by iHeartRadio and Philadelphia WDAS radio.

https://m.facebook.com/chekesha.ellis
https://divacommunications.com/documentaries/listen-to-the-silence/
TikTok: @kayslay71

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