Scholar of Change – Jackie Kundert

Scholar of Change – Jackie  Kundert Program Transcript

JACKIE  KUNDERT: My  name is  Jackie Kundert. I'm a mother  and a nurse from  Monroe, Wisconsin, which is  part of Green county. Monroe's population is  roughly  10,000 people. And it's the largest city  in Green county.

During the past five to seven years  the issues  of drug overdose have become popular  throughout the nation. What once was  a big city  problem  is  now felt in small cities  across  the nation. This  issue touches  me greatly  as  I have a son who got caught up in the cycle. My  son ended up on prescription pain medication, which he became very  addicted to. And from  there it was  a short leap for  him  to start heroin.

What really  spurred me on to try  and make a difference was  looking at a Wisconsin State Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse map that showed the heroinrates  in Wisconsin, but particularly, for  me, in Green county. When I saw those rates  it spurred something in me that made me know that I had to somehow try  and make a positive impact on this  community.

FEMALE  SPEAKER: My  son came to us  when he was  one year  old. He started out with dope, but then he went to cocaine. So then the next step for  most people is  heroin.

The last time I'm not sure if it was  another  call for  help or  if it was  just a mistake. I could tell that he was  dead, you know, that he was brain dead.

JACKIE  KUNDERT: In June, 2015 I started an organization called F.A.I.T.H., which stands  for  fighting addiction it takes  account. And I believe it takes  help not only  from  the addict, but also their  family  as  well as  a community.

My time at Walden University  has  given me the confidence to put my  thoughts  for  battering this  community  into action. It has  given me a base to gather  data, and empowered me to begin the process  of getting valuable education to the entire community. If someone could be inspired in every  community  across  the nation to create change, together  all of our  small changes  would make one huge change.

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