Reginald Penn - Shows the World His Invisible Scars

"Not all scars can be seen by the naked eye, on the inside I cry, on the inside I die...it was like I was born to be rejected and disrespected...so many of us brothers are locked behind bars, that is not justice, that is just us, and our invisible scars."

These are the words of Reginald Penn, the poet and playwright, however, Penn is no regular poet. His words mean more to him than most. Penn's words lead him to his recovery.

Penn grew up in the tough streets of Brooklyn, New York, and with little money he began selling drugs to meet his needs. "Growing up, I did not have positive role models. I did not know there was a better way to live, and I thought this was it, this life is my only option."

At the young age of 26, Penn's life was changed forever. After a bad drug deal, Penn watched as his 20-year-old brother was shot to death. Penn was also shot six times. He knew this was the end for him and his brother but to Penn's surprise, he survived.

His brother's death scarred Penn. "I blamed myself for his death, I felt it was partially my fault," Penn remembers. "My friends and family felt the same, I was alone and suffering, and the pain would not go away."

At first Penn turned to geological escapes. Over the next few years, Penn moved from Brooklyn, Atlanta, Detroit, and finally found his home with his girlfriend and children in Columbus.

While in Columbus, the memory of his brother's death haunted Penn and he found himself having suicidal thoughts and called Netcare Access's 24-hour crisis hotline for help. "That memory alone contributed to my downward spiral," Penn remembers.

Later, Penn would find out that the incident that happened when he was 26-years-old with him and his brother attributed to his suicidal state as he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

With the assistance of Netcare, Penn found help with the Columbus Area Inc. Bell Center Africentric Therapeutic Community. While working with the Bell Center he participated in a nine month behavioral modification program where he received treatment for his illness, job readiness training, and family training.

"At the Bell Center, recovery was easy, but in the real world when you are constantly confronted by negativity, things are different. It is hard," stated Penn, who now focuses his gift and energy to positive work. In April 2009, Penn displayed his talent with his cast from the Bell Center during the first showing of his play, Invisible Scars: The Stage Play to a sold out crowd at the King Arts Complex.

The Stage Play—Invisible Scars—explores issues of gang affiliation, incarceration, and addiction that have affected today's youth. "The play addresses the need to educate young males within our urban communities against becoming victims of their environment, showing them a different perspective," says Penn. "So many kids today are convinced there are no opportunities for them to live a better life, but there is a way. To live a life filled with addiction and destruction is not OK."

The Bell Center Africentric Therapeutic Community's mission is to empower individuals with chemical dependency to live a drug-free lifestyle by providing a continuum of treatment with the objective of sustaining "right-living" through Africentric principles. Upon graduation of the program people like Penn, who successfully complete the program, are able to participate in the Winner's Circle Program on Mondays. "The Winner's Circle Program has kept me, and others like me, motivated," says Penn. "We support each other and encourage new members of the Bell Center to keep moving forward."

Penn is now planning the next showing of his play which will be at the Lincoln Theatre this summer. He enjoys spending time with his two children, Sydney and Reggie, twins who are now 18 years old, and his grandson, Cameron.

"Without the help of ADAMH agency programs, like the Bell Center," Penn states, "I wouldn't be who I am today."