Today we’d like to introduce you to Justo Chalaire.
Hi Justo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From Darkness to Light: A Journey of Transformation
Early Struggles and Adversities
My story begins with two alcoholic parents, which led to growing up in a single-parent household without a father to guide me. By the age of nine, I was arrested for the first time, and with five more charges as a youth, it was clear I was headed down a troubled path. These circumstances exposed me to harsh realities and traumatic experiences early in life. Sports became my escape, but at 14, a fractured spine from football and a broken and dislocated elbow from wrestling took away that solace. Prescribed opioids for pain management, I thought I’d found a new solution, but instead, it only deepened my struggles. As a kid with many dreams, my addiction to substances overshadowed my future, leading to poor outcomes and shattered self-esteem. Throughout high school, I used various substances daily, trying to escape. I started college but didn’t finish due to my addiction. By 18, heroin became my daily companion, along with cocaine whenever possible. Despite attempts to hide my addiction, it worsened, leading to more toxic environments that were involved in crime and destruction.
The Downward Spiral
By the summer of 2017, my situation had deteriorated. Arrested for several felonies, I was given a chance to go to treatment, which I completed. However, my belief that I could still drink at 23 only reignited my addiction. My use of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine intensified, leading to worse environments and jail time for 8 months of the year in 2018. My addiction, fueled by trauma and poor mental health, reached its peak as I found myself living in an abandoned house. I narrowly escaped death multiple times, including a near-fatal overdose in 2018. Realizing I had hit rock bottom, I turned myself in that November, marking a pivotal moment in my life.
A Turning Point
In jail, with the odds stacked against me, I detoxed and became willing to seek help. My family, especially my praying mother and grandmother, played a crucial role in my recovery. After my release in March 2019, I entered Oaks Recovery Center in Greenwood, SC, where my journey to redemption began at 25. The 12-step program helped me understand my addiction, process my past, and, most importantly, form a relationship with God. This newfound faith brought significant healing and clarity. I secured a part-time job while in the program and began looking for something more permanent. Despite facing rejections due to pending charges, I found hope in a job listing for a Peer Support Specialist(community health worker). To my surprise, I got the job and started supporting families dealing with behavioral and mental health issues and addiction.
Rebuilding and Giving Back
As I continued my career and education, I restored relationships with my family. Eventually, all my felony charges were dropped. I became actively involved in my community, leading recovery meetings and support groups, drug court at the solicitor’s office, and chairing the Greenwood Abbeville Coalition to combat substance misuse. Our GAC initiative, Gratitude Gathering, received the Outstanding Community Health Project award. I created a coaching method to transformation and started a coaching business to help others navigate their path to wellness. This includes national speaking engagements, corporate wellness, and individual coaching. Additionally, I served as the Teen Center Director for Starz 24, initiated by NFL player Josh Norman. Now, as the Director of Community Impact at the United Way of the Lakelands, I oversee initiatives to improve health and well being outcomes, especially for marginalized communities. Recently, I was awarded the Stars Under 40 award by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce for this work. I’m also a Christian rap artist, known as Justo Chalaire, and use my music to spread a positive message of faith.
A Testament to Transformation
On a personal note, I’m in love with my wife, a beautiful woman who loves God, and together we have a 1-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. I’ve gone from being a distant family member to a loving son, brother, and uncle. From homelessness to owning a home, from anxiety to peace, from chaos to creating art, my life is a testament to God’s transformational power. Recovery is real, and my story is a testament to the fact that we can overcome any obstacle through faith and perseverance. Today, I focus on spreading hope and reducing the stigma around addiction and asking for help, proving that anyone can turn their life around while providing tangible actions to form resiliency and foster growth.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been far from smooth. I’ve faced numerous challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of many friends to addiction and seeing family members continue to struggle. Rebuilding my relationship with my father, which is now strong, was a significant hurdle. I’ve also dealt with extreme anxiety, the uncertainty of my path, and triggers that brought back negative memories. Confronting old environments and situations tied to those memories was tough, but each time I did, I worked hard to create new, positive memories.
Since launching my business and professional career, I’ve encountered a lot of stigma around mental health and addiction. I’ve also faced barrier on a personal level. However, these challenges have built my strength and resiliency which translates into my professional and business realm enabling me to connect deeply with others and make it through obstacles. My experiences also hone my ability to foster trust and inspire hope, making me both a compassionate business owner and a dedicated coach for others.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Absolutely. I’m Justo Chalaire, originally from Virginia Beach, VA, now calling Greenwood, SC, my home. My life experiences with mental health, substance use disorder, incarceration, and homelessness have deeply shaped my work as a community health advocate, focusing on at-risk populations here in the Lakelands. This work is not just a career for me—it’s a passion driven by a commitment to the greater good.
Currently, I serve as the Director of Community Impact at the United Way of the Lakelands. In this role, I oversee our impact programs improving health and well-being outcomes for the Lakelands. I also oversee the Lakelands Counts data platform and lead the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium, a collective impact group aiming to improve health outcomes by bringing communities together. Additionally, I am certified in Systems approaches for Healthy Communities, Grant Writing, Data and Analytics, Peer Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, Mental Health Coach, Life Coach, and studied and received direct mentorship from elite professionals in non-profit management, public health, and business. These qualifications are integral to my Personal Development Coaching business, Reinforced Coaching, where I help individuals achieve wellness by fostering resilience, balance, and fulfillment.
I also chair the Greenwood Abbeville Coalition, which focuses on eliminating substance misuse in our community through education and resources. I firmly believe that those with lived experience have a unique ability to empower their communities. This empowerment fosters a willingness in individuals to overcome adversities and develop the resilience needed to live purposeful, vibrant lives.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Our city is deeply rooted in faith and exemplifies servant leadership, with community members constantly going the extra mile to support one another. However, we are still held back by an outdated mindset that limits our potential, particularly in improving health and mental health.
As part of my coaching services, I get to interact with individuals and local industries to guide them in forming a stronger, more resilient mindset that leads to an improved quality of life. To learn more visit: reinforcedco.com
Pricing:
- Corporate Wellness- starting at $750
- Individual Coaching Programs- starting $275
Contact Info:
- Website: Reinforced Coaching
- Instagram: Reinforcedco
- Facebook: Reinforced Coaching on Facebook
- YouTube: Reinforced Coaching on YouTube
Image Credits
Justo Chalaire, Sandra Calvo
