By Shawn Nowlin
As the old saying goes, “It’s not summer without the smell of a cookout in the air.”
On July 3, Tandem Behavioral Health (TBH) celebrated the progress of its clients at their Patterson Avenue location with free hot dogs and hamburgers, community resources and useful information for the future. A lot of behind-the-scenes work made the event possible.
TBH Marketing Coordinator Rachel Gravely said last Thursday’s gathering had three primary goals: foster connection among clients and staff, promote recovery values like hope and engage community partners to strengthen referral networks and collaborative relationships.
“We wanted our clients to know that recovery is a community journey, not a solo battle,” she said. “Celebrating milestones, both big and small, is essential for motivation. Events like this also remind clients that local organizations and staff genuinely care about their healing and success.”
For attendees, the event offered a safe space where questions could be asked. One of the event organizers was Toni Jones, a Walmart Vision Center Manager. “To make sure that Tandem Behavioral Health accomplished their goal, I wanted to help out in any way asked of me. There is so much that goes into taking care of our eyes. Simple stuff that people overlook daily. I’m glad that people stopped by my booth so we could have those conversations,” she said.
The importance of community solidarity was emphasized during the cookout. “It’s important to know the law,” Tyron Nichols said. “I didn’t just abandon the work I had to do when I was behind bars. Even after hiring some lawyers, that didn’t work. So, I started studying myself and eventually, I won two appeals. In 2020, my last appeal was granted.”
Seeing people take the opportunity to relax, connect and learn warmed Graveley’s heart.
“Despite the intense July heat and the exhaustion of cleanup, staff gathered afterwards for an impromptu huddle. Even then, many stayed to engage in meaningful discussions about how to better support clients, reviewing therapeutic topics brought back from a recent conference,” she said. “It was inspiring to see their continued passion and willingness to go above and beyond for those we serve.”
Continuing, Gravely added, “This event embodied our motto, ‘Together promoting growth through healing.’”
“We are a mission-driven organization, grounded in the belief that true recovery requires honesty, tough love, and real-life preparation,” said Dominick Swain who founded Tandem Behavioral Health alongside his wife. “Our programs are client-centered, focused on teaching life skills without sugarcoating challenges. We know that recovery isn’t about shielding clients from reality – it’s about equipping them to face it with strength and resilience.”
Tandem Behavioral Health plans to host more community events before the year comes to an end. Individuals interested are encouraged to visit https://tandembehavioralva.com for more information.
