S2-E11 | AJ Builds a NonProfit - Our People Rise From experiencing Life on The Streets
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"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."
"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/
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
Creators and Guests
Host
Hamish Niven
Host of The Crucible Podcast 🎙 Guide & Mentor 💣 Challenging your Patterns Behaviours Stories
Guest
AJ Lovewins
AJ Lovewins is a filmmaker and the founder of Our People Rise, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing stories of resilience and recovery. After a tumultuous childhood marked by adoption and family struggles, AJ faced significant challenges, including homelessness in San Francisco due to addiction. His experiences on the streets became a catalyst for personal transformation, leading him to embrace recovery and dedicate his life to helping others. Through his work, AJ aims to inspire hope and highlight the power of human resilience in overcoming adversity.
