Inside the Athens-Clarke County Jail, a small group of men gathers each week to hear from Shane Sims, a certified addiction recovery specialist who once served a life sentence. In the quiet of their shared living quarters, they process childhood trauma, confront unresolved grief, and begin to learn what healing might look like.
Sims’ steady voice fills the room, holding the attention of every man seated before him. Hands rise to share personal stories, each met with compassion, warmth, and understanding nods. Many participants score 8 or 9 out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences Quiz, revealing extreme levels of early-life trauma.
