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Friend,
Rickey’s upbringing was rough. With an absent father at a young age, his single mom worked two jobs to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. This also kept her from giving him the supervision he needed. In middle school, Rickey’s fears and sense of hopelessness worsened. Drugs were an escape from his fears. Prison ended up a consequence of his addiction. When Rickey’s mother and grandmother heard about Volunteers of America, they secured him a bed at one of our Mid-States Men's Addiction Recovery programs. This would be Rickey’s turning point. Now when he gives speeches about his turnaround with VOA, Rickey talks about the “trained, credentialed professionals who have a genuine desire to make the world a better place,” and who helped him thrive. Without them, Rickey reflects, he wouldn’t be alive. Today, Rickey is healthy, happy and doing great work. And intent on giving back. As he sees it, just having a great life is not the end goal. It’s a launch point, to make a difference every day "for the people behind me." Rickey's work is a living legacy. He continues to change lives of men, women and youth through his talents of connecting, gaining trust, and successfully inspiring them on their pathway to a better life.
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