-Today -I am driving into Johnson -to tell a story about -an unusual set of businesses, -all of which are connected -to an increasingly -well known nonprofit called -Jennas Promise.

-Now, this story is -a very emotionally heavy one.

-It is an unconventional -one when I think -about the context of -small Vermont businesses.

-And my hope is that -I can do it justice.

-This is the story -of Jennas promise.

-So I'm Dawn Tatro.

-Our daughter -Jenna struggled with opiate -addiction, for six years.

-It happened -when she was prescribed -OxyContin -in an emergency room -with not even a broken bone.

-But she was given that.

-And that really started this, -this addiction, -and it just kept -spiraling out of control.

-We lost Jenna to an overdose.

-She had said that -she wanted to help others.

-And now we -are carrying on her promise.

-I'm here to tell the story of -a set of small businesses, -all connected -to the nonprofit.

-That is Jenna's promise.

-Now, the small businesses -associated with Jenna's -promise are here to support -Jenna's promise to provide -financial support for it, -but also to give the -participants of the program -job skills so that they can -reenter the workforce -in a meaningful way.

-And also a sense of purpose, -sense of place.

-It's a totally unconventional -way to approach -small businesses, -but I think it's worthwhile -to look at and to examine.

-How did they all get -started to begin with?

-Who underwrote it?

-How did it happen?

-Well, Dawn -and I underwrote it.

-We've donated -probably a million -and a half dollars -to this cause -since we started, -I kind of lost track, -and it doesn't really matter -to me because we're -rebuilding people -or giving them -the opportunity -to rebuild themselves.

-When you're kind of down -and out and things there -rough, you know, going to -work is actually a break.

-And so we want -folks that coming out of, -hard addictions to -work on their recovery first, -but then they need a reason -to feel -good about themselves.

-So we created a few different -businesses in town.

-My name is Andrew Bunting.

-I run the coffee -roastery here, -which is Jennas Promise -roasting company.

-It's one of our -social enterprises.

-We teach these women -some really awesome skills to -get out into the workplace.

-And just be comfortable -and listen to some music -and have kind of a fun time.

-People in recovery cant -You know, -you're not going to go out -to a bar and drink.

-There's a lot of coffee.

-A lot of these meetings.

-And it's a way of getting -together with somebody.

-Way of, you know, having -a drink and connecting.

-How's that work experience -been for you?

-Oh, it's been fantastic.

-That's why -we need to break down -the stigma, -because, honestly, -everybody who's -ever come in here has been, -like, extremely helpful.

-We work cohesively together, -so it's just kind of -using that and then showing -another future employer -that they have these skills.

-My name is Hailey Wilkinson.

-I am JP's store manager.

-This place was created -so the women would -have a stepping stone, -a place to start work, -getting back out -into society.

-And how did you get involved?

-I personally was in rehab.

-I was in sober -living in Florida, -and I was a little nervous -to come back to my hometown.

-And Dawn and Greg -actually helped my boyfriend -and I get sober, go -get into detox and get help.

-This place opened up -by the time I was ready, -I called Dawn -and she said that there -would be a place for me here.

-And what's your position here -now at Jennas Promise?

-I slowly moved up from moving -furniture -to running the rummage sale -to being the assistant store -manager.

-And now, as of a few months -ago, I am the store manager.

-All profits from the -coffee roasting, -the store, -the appliance sales and -all go right back to -Jenna's promise.

-We are trying to be, -sustainable for the long -haul.

It's my hope -that this lasts for decades.

-And if that's what it takes -to, you know, -help people after I'm -long gone, then shoot, -I'm up for that challenge -any day.

-We didn't -get to finish the journey -with Jenna and -so now we put our energy -towards finishing, -helping people finish -their journeys.

-There were so many people -who, through -corporate greed -and the lack of governmental -regulation and oversight -and just through crime, -there's no other way -of putting it is crime.

-It's criminal -that so many people -have lost their lives, -and so many people have lost -their loved ones.

-And every day -that I get to go around -and do what I do, -which I feel so blessed -about my life, is a day -that so many people do not.

-One of the things I've -seen Dawn do and it's heart -wrenching actually, is -she'll say, I believe in you.

-And some of these women -will say, nobody's ever -told me that my entire life.

-And we just want people -to understand that -once you pull the veil off, -these folks, -the veil of addiction, -that they're no different -than you or I.

-So if customers can reduce -their stigma and say, gosh, -you know, -I didn't realize you were -you were in such trouble.

-And look at you now.

-Makes us proud -to be a part of that journey.

-Being a part of Jenna's -promise.

-Even back when I was doing -just like the rummage -sale on the furniture -gave me a purpose.

-And now being in the role -that I'm in, I feel like I'm -a decent role model -to these other -young ladies -that are newly sober -because I've, I've been -there, I've done that.

-and I feel like I try -to show like a little bit of -hope and -strength to these women.

-Cory Booker -once said that, you know, -pain can become purpose.

-And I think that that is -embodied in Jenna's promise.

-You have Jenna as -the beginning of this.

Yeah.

-And then the promise -of that holds -the promise that she made.

-Right?

-And so the family -is taking on that promise.

-I think a lot of people -believe -that Jenna is still with us.

-And, you know, -I feel her, some days -I feel her and and, you -know, I know she's watching -and I think she's smiling, -knowing that her sacrifice, -Because that's what it was, -honestly, has helped -so many other people.

-So this is the story -of Jenna's promise.

-Even though Jenna -Tatro is no longer with us -here on Earth, -the promise of her potential -lives -on through this organization -and the promise -that the Tatro family -has made to Jenna, -and carrying on her legacy -and her spirit, -that all of that is embodied -within this organization -and within -the small businesses around.

-So much wrong has been -wrought on our country -and on people -who did not deserve to suffer -the way they have.

-And I feel that organizations -like Jenna's promise -are modeling out -a path forward -for us to find productive, -constructive solutions -to healing.

-It's been a tremendous honor -to be able -to spend time -with the Tatro family -and Jenna's promise, -and the community of Johnson.

-And I am really inspired -by this idea that even pain -and suffering can be turned -into something beautiful, -profound, and positive.