I am Brandon Parks and I am in recovery. As a Peer Advocate at the Corning Collegiate Recovery Center, I offer my lived experience to help others who could be going through a difficult time. Whether it be recovering from drug addiction, trauma, or various other problems. Everyone is in recovery from something. In this article, I will detail the services that the Recovery Center offers, at both the Corning and Elmira locations. These Recovery Centers are a great resource for students, staff, or anyone to take advantage of.
The Corning Collegiate Recovery Center has two locations. On the main campus, it can be found in the CCC commons, downstairs by the game room, in room M 136. At the Elmira campus, it is located on the first floor in room 106. Both locations have different hours that change with the demand for their service. As of the writing of this article, the Corning location is open Monday-Thursday 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
The Elmira office is open Monday-Wednesday 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. and Thursday 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Students, staff, and visitors are able to stop in anytime to talk or just hang out. We can also be reached on the phone to set up an in-person or Zoom appointment at (607) 936-5562.
We can also be reached at our e-mail recoverypeers@corning-cc.edu. Feel free to stop by and get some coaching, if that is what you need. Or if you just need a safe space to do some school work, you’re always welcome.
Every Wednesday from 3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. in Elmira, I hold an open recovery meeting called “Recovery & Redemption.” These are not AA or NA meetings, but open meetings for anyone. Together we fellowship and enjoy free coffee. Sometimes, we may watch a documentary, like “The Crime of the Century” and learn about drugs, addiction, and other various topics. At other times, we may play games, put together puzzles, partake in arts and crafts, or if an attendee is having a hard time with something, we come together and offer support for the aforementioned attendee. There have been talks of bringing this meeting to the main campus on a monthly basis and/or establish a new meeting that will be available in Corning.
The Collegiate Recovery Centers have also taken part in different on campus events or put on our own event. To name a few, we set up a table at the CCC Commons on December 1st for World AIDS day, where we passed out reading material, condoms, and other goodies.
Also, the week before finals week, we came together in the common area of Perry Hall and talked about managing stress during the hectic finals week. In the future, the CRC plans to hold numerous events and participate in others. We will be having a Narcan training on January 30th, 2023 and we have openings for several participants. Narcan training can be crucial and save someone’s life in the event of an opioid overdose. There are also talks of a Valentine’s dance, a sober St. Patrick’s Day event, etc.
The Corning Collegiate Recovery Center has been around for several years and has gone through many different phases. At this time, after the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves in a rebuilding stage. It’s important for students, staff, and others to know that this resource is available to them.
We all struggle with something. It doesn’t have to be addiction. It could be depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc., and it’s always nice to have someone to talk to. Here at the CRC, we can be listeners, helpers, and resource brokers. If we can’t help you with your situation, we can find someone, or someplace, that can.
Stay up to date with our hours of availability and future events by finding us on the student services tab at corning-cc.edu and take advantage of this great resource.