S2-E11 | AJ Builds a NonProfit - Our People Rise From experiencing Life on The Streets

The Crucible:Conversations for the Curious

Highlight

"When I see people on the streets, I see future nonprofit leaders, I see future teachers, parents, retaking the head of their families. The days of going into a hospital after overdosing and some social worker handing you three pieces of wrinkled paper that are stapled together and saying good luck, call these numbers and nobody answering need to be over. It's not acceptable."

Summary

AJ Lovewins shares his profound journey from a troubled childhood marked by adoption and family struggles to a life of resilience and purpose. He discusses the impact of his upbringing, the challenges of addiction, and the importance of community and support in recovery. AJ emphasises the role of shame in addiction, the transformative power of service, and the necessity of finding a higher purpose. He introduces his vision for 'Our People Rise,' a project to empower those affected by homelessness and addiction through storytelling and community engagement.

Where to find AJ

website - https://ourpeoplerise.com/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OurPeopleRise
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ajlovewins/

Takeaways

• AJ's journey began with adoption and family struggles.
• He experienced significant rage and emotional challenges during childhood.
• The impact of family dynamics shaped his emotional development.
• High school was a time of rebellion and substance use.
• Addiction became a coping mechanism for deeper issues.
• Shame plays a critical role in the recovery process.
• Service to others can be a powerful tool for healing.
• Experiences on the streets highlighted the despair of homelessness.
• Recovery is a continuous journey with ongoing challenges.
• 'Our People Rise' aims to empower communities through shared stories.

Sound Bites

• "I was loved, but they just didn't know what to do with me."
• "I would break all my BMX trophies with a baseball bat in my room. I didn't know how to process emotions."
• "Once you lose everything, you're forced into primal living, right into survival mode."
• "I would go and give blood, donate blood, and they would pay you for that 40 bucks... And I would take the money and go buy crack cocaine. I was literally selling my internal fluids, my blood for drugs."
• "There was a guy that came up to me... he used the word devastated. He took a look at me and just said, 'wow, you're devastated."
• "If you don't have the toolkit to navigate through those programs and those offerings, you're gonna get turned around and you're gonna go back out to what you know and potentially use or die."

Chapters

01:28 - Early Life and Adoption

07:21 - Struggles with Family Dynamics

08:38 - Transition to a New Family

10:25 -High School Years and Early Adulthood

16:00 -The Descent into Addiction

18:51 - Understanding Addiction and Shame

26:13 - Living on the Streets

30:25 - Reflections on Homelessness and Hope

31:43 - Life on the Streets: A Harrowing Reality

33:05 - The Spectrum of Homelessness: Despair and Hope

34:55 - Finding Faith: The Role of a Higher Power

38:40 - The Journey to Recovery: Tools and Community

45:32 - Service as Healing: The Power of Giving Back

51:41 - Navigating Vulnerability: The Ongoing Battle

53:22 - Our People Rise: A Vision for Change