Regina is one of the first women to graduate from Magdalene’s two year residence program. Regina works with Magdalene now, as director of outreach. She has been clean for nearly ten years.
I asked her to show me where she used to use and take her tricks – and where some of the girls out on the street work. Regina said she was comfortable taking me, so we went to a dilapidated, boarded-up apartment building on a hill in South Nashville. I could feel eyes watching from behind curtains. There was an older man hanging over the balcony, who slipped into his apartment. A thin ragged woman with the voice of a long time smoker recognized Regina and came over to give her hug. She seemed relieved to see her, though she was clearly not ready to leave the streets and enter recovery.
As I was packing up my gear, a well dressed man walked out of a door on the first floor, and jumped into his car with a girl. She sent a sharp glance our way. Regina told me our being there blew her trick.
