In a world where the struggles of addiction and homelessness often go unnoticed, Vernalisa (VL) Colon is a voice in recovery in the Kitsap community. Her journey from a childhood marked by hardship to a leading advocate for recovery is nothing short of inspiring. Through her leadership, she has touched countless lives, demonstrating the power of resilience, empathy, and collaboration.
A Challenging Beginning
VL’s story begins in California, marked by hardship and resilience. Her mother struggled with alcohol addiction, which led to a devastating car accident with VL in the vehicle. At age six, injured and traumatized, VL entered the foster care system and then spent most of her youth in custody. Despite these challenges, she grew into a determined young woman, earning her CDAC credential and building a career in the recovery field.
Yet her professional success did not shield her from personal struggles. “Wherever I go, I take me with me,” she reflects. “Being clean and working in the field does not equal recovery. It equals abstinence.” Recognizing the need for deeper personal growth, VL relocated to Washington, where she faced new challenges, including legal troubles. “I thought I could manipulate the system,” she admitted. Even during these difficult times, the seeds of change were being planted.
The Road to Recovery
A turning point came at New Connections in Kent, where a peer support worker inspired VL to begin her transformation. What started as a hustle for bus tickets evolved into a series of small but meaningful victories that snowballed: enrolling in school, earning her driver’s license, and eventually becoming the agency director. Yet, VL acknowledges that external accomplishments mean little without internal growth. “Life is going to show up. If you do not have tools to support you, then life’s going to happen,” she explains.
Her recovery journey took another significant turn when she joined a clean and sober softball team in Kitsap County. After a relapse, her teammates rallied around her, moving her into a supportive environment. A stay at a substance use disorder treatment center became a pivotal moment. Though initially resistant, VL confronted her struggles with self-worth head-on, emerging with a renewed commitment to recovery.
Reflecting on her time in the foster system, VL credits those experiences with shaping her ability to connect with others in recovery. “Some of the best parts of me are because of the people who raised me in that system — the counselors who became my family,” she shares. Today, she channels that empathy into her work, recognizing that recovery often begins with simply listening. “Sometimes people just need to be heard. They’re not looking for an answer or a solution. They just need to know their voice matters.”
Advocacy and Support
By recognizing VL with the Voices in Recovery award, WSTC celebrates her for far more than her personal journey. Through her leadership on Agape’s REAL Team and her current work with the North Kitsap Recovery Resource Center, she has become a beacon of hope for individuals in recovery and a force for systemic change.
VL believes that success looks different for everyone, and this belief grounds her work. “There’s this idea of what success should look like,” she notes, “but it’s always going to look different for people.” This understanding guides her approach in peer support, case management, and working with underserved populations.
One of the most impactful aspects of her advocacy is bringing policymakers closer to the realities of addiction and homelessness. During a council meeting, VL made an emotional appeal, emphasizing her direct connection to the people that various social programs in the community serve. “Their nephew, their niece, their cousin, their brother — someone they know has been affected,” she explains.
She also stresses the importance of firsthand experience in driving change. “Don’t make decisions about how dollars are going to be spent if you’re not willing to go out there and see,” she urges. VL recalls inviting policymakers to an encampment, where they gained insights no data system could provide. These experiences underscore her belief that real understanding requires stepping into the spaces where people face challenges firsthand.
A Legacy of Leadership
For VL, success has always been a collective effort. She attributes her achievements to the trust and support of her team and the foundational work of those who came before her. “It’s never a ‘me’ thing,” she says. “It’s always a ‘we’ thing.”
When she left the REAL Team, it wasn’t because the work was done but because she felt called to take her knowledge and build something new. Her greatest pride lies in the team she cultivated — a group of leaders ready to continue the mission in her absence. “My job as a leader is to build a team of leaders,” she explains. “Every member of my team was ready to step into my role and carry the work forward.”
Inspiration by Example
VL’s journey from a system-raised youth to a recovery leader exemplifies the power of transformation and the importance of connection. For her, being a voice in recovery means more than sharing her story; it’s about holding space for others to tell theirs. “It’s never about what I can do alone,” she says. “It’s about what we can accomplish together.”
Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering belief in the power of collaboration, Vernalisa Colon reminds us all that recovery is not just an individual journey but a collective one. Her story is a testament to resilience, the strength of community, and the profound impact of listening and being heard.
