Participant Stories

Tarisha Johnson: A Story of Resilience and Second Chances

If there were one word to describe Tarisha Johnson, it would be resilient.

Despite so many forces working against her – a difficult childhood, an abusive partner, addiction, incarceration – she has transformed herself into a person with a fierce sense of determination and inner strength.

Tarisha grew up in the Bronx, raised by her mother Diann and stepfather Daniel, alongside her two sisters Lakisha and Baleisha. It wasn’t always an easy life. “When I was young, I had behavior issues because I was yearning for attention,” Tarisha says. By the time she was a teenager, Tarisha was disengaged from school and had turned to alcohol and drugs. Her mother and stepfather stood by her until her alcohol problem started getting out of control.

“They did what they could to support me, but I had to build my own confidence,” Tarisha says. 

Earning that self-confidence, however, was years in the making. A mother of four daughters, Zy’Asia, Zy’Nasia, Zy’Aira and Zy’Mirra, Tarisha struggled to make ends meet – and to stay sober. Most of the adults in her life were also struggling with addiction issues. The future looked hopeless, and incarceration only made it worse.

After her release, Tarisha was placed in Keenan House North, a residential rehabilitation facility for those struggling with addiction. There, something in Tarisha began to change.

“The Keenan House North program helped me with self-discipline. It kind of put me back in place,” Tarisha recalls. She began to realize that she needed to make significant changes in her life if she were to be the role model her children needed.

“My children gave me the strength to say, ‘I need to change,’” Tarisha says. Determined to improve herself, Tarisha found the motivation she was looking for in a pivotal moment that would change her life.

That moment happened while she was still undergoing treatment at Keenan House: A parole officer introduced her to 2nd Street Executive Director Lindsay Cornwell and caseworker Rosy Gonzales. Motivated by her love for her four daughters and her young granddaughter, Tarisha accepted Lindsay and Rosy’s suggestion to join the women’s aftercare group, which became a turning point in her life.

“I started going to the meetings faithfully. I was feeling good and meeting new people, telling each other our stories. We just connected,” Tarisha says. She also received case management support from 2nd Street, which helped her navigate employment, personal documentation and housing. She made meaningful connections.

“Rosy motivated me when I wanted to give up,” Tarisha says. “She even made sure I could attend meetings if I needed help getting there.”

That support helped cement Tarisha’s determination to get better. “I never relapsed – I had just had enough. At first I did it for my kids, but then I did it for me. Once I realized that, everything gradually started falling into place,” she says.

Recognizing that her old life had been pulling her down, she made a commitment to change her “people, places and things.” Although the father of her children, Allen, had helped out with the kids through her addiction, Tarisha realized their relationship had become unmanageable, and they parted ways.

“I had to get away from people with negative influences. I had to take myself away from things I shouldn’t be doing,” Tarisha reflects. “I had to change my whole mindset.”

That meant staying away from friends and acquaintances who struggled with addiction. It wasn’t easy, but Tarisha took a firm stance. She offered them help and connection to services if they wanted it, but if they were unwilling to change, she asked them not to contact her.

“I didn’t want to go backwards,” says Tarisha. She did maintain a close connection with her childhood best friend, Kimberly, who she calls a “constant source of support” on her journey to sobriety.

Tarisha has now been sober for 11 months. During that time, her accomplishments include landing a job at Berkshire Health Systems as a dietary aide. Previously a certified nursing assistant (CNA), Tarisha finds her experience lends itself well to her new position – and she is grateful for the opportunity.

“BHS gave me a second chance to get back into the job field. I’ve been a CNA now for 20 years, but I was looking for something different,” she says. “It’s a good fit because I cook very well.”

In fact, Tarisha dreams of owning and operating a food truck one day, specializing in Jamaican oxtails, so she can give back to her community.

“That was one of the things I used to do when I was alone – I would cook. I had four daughters, so I had to make a meal every day,” Tarisha recalls. “No matter what I was going through, I always made sure they came home, they did their homework, and then I cooked food for them.”

Tarisha is proud to say she now has a good relationship with her daughters, who range in age from 13 to 22. She also has a three-year-old granddaughter, A’Zaiah.

“I talk to them now. I’m a present parent. They tell me how proud they are of me, and it makes me feel so good,” she says. “When I was at my down point, I used to watch them drive off and I would be in tears. Now, I feel joy.”

Getting to the place she is today seemed impossible just a few short years ago, but Tarisha knows she isn’t alone in her struggles – and she offers words of wisdom to young people like herself who find themselves in difficult situations of abuse, addiction or incarceration.

“There are so many resources out there. You’re not alone, and we all need people in our corner,” she says. “Step up to the people who are putting you down and tell them how you really feel. If they’re not going to better you, you need to take them out of your life. You have to believe in yourself.”

Today, Tarisha is quick to credit 2nd Street for helping her get back on track.

“2nd Street helped me get my life back. They had faith in me,” she says. “That’s what I needed – someone to believe in me. I’m proud of them, but I’m also proud of myself for putting the work in.”

The future is bright for Tarisha, who says she feels a good energy now. With the help of 2nd Street, she secured a room at the Vanderburgh, a sober living community in Pittsfield. It’s yet another success on her road to recovery.

“I see a positive future. I see a sober future. I see me working, having my own business and taking care of my children,” she says. “I’m doing the right thing. I’m on the right track, and I’m going to stay on the right track. I’m not giving up.”