My why

 As someone who has experienced the pain of injuries from playing sports, I know firsthand how easy it can be to turn to painkillers for relief. However, I count myself lucky that I was able to overcome my need for opioids without having to resort to costly rehab. Unfortunately, many people that I know who have struggled with addiction have not been so lucky and have even lost their lives trying to recover.

The tragic loss of my niece Rhiannon Motley underscores the devastating effects of addiction. It all started innocently enough with a C-section for her second child. However, when the pain meds ran out, she turned to other drugs to feed her addiction. Despite her efforts to get help on Methadone, she ultimately passed away before she could overcome her addiction.

But rather than sit idly by and watch as others suffer, I’ve decided to become part of the solution. As someone with a Masters degree in Real Estate Development, I’ve realized that one way to do this is by building communities where people struggling with addiction can seek help. I’ve spent countless hours trying to figure out how to get my development ideas off the ground so that I can use my skills and education for the greater good.

Sadly, society often judges those struggling with addiction without knowing anything about them. But instead of ignoring the problem, why not work together to find solutions? Using my expertise to build communities focused on helping those with addiction is just one way that I can make a positive impact in my community.

As Mr. Shawn Carter once said, “I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them.” So, I’ve worked hard to become financially successful in order to give back to those who need it most. Building communities focused on addiction recovery is just one way that I plan to give back to my community andhelp make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling.