A Path Forward — And a Mentor’s Footsteps to Follow

Each step forward that a Ready, Willing & Able trainee takes is shaped by hard work and determination. It’s also shaped by the guidance of others who understand the challenges they face — and who offer a path to overcome them.

For Andy, a 2025 Ready, Willing & Able graduate, the first step began after a long period of incarceration and a family tragedy.

“I knew I had to change my life,” he recalls. “I had lost my brother — it was a wake-up call.”

That call came in the form of David Stewart, another Ready, Willing & Able graduate. Now a Peer Recovery Specialist at a peer organization, David connects people to the services they need to achieve success.

David’s words were so impactful that Andy felt compelled to speak with him afterward. David had just shared his story with a group — and in the conversation that followed, he gave Andy a challenge: if he was truly committed to changing his life, he needed to go to Ready, Willing & Able.

“It was one of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever had,” Andy says. “That’s when I knew I had to keep going.”

Andy took the challenge to heart. He entered Ready, Willing & Able’s Harlem Center for Opportunity and enrolled in the same Peer Recovery Specialist classes David had once taken. Early in the program, he gained valuable work experience as one of the Men in Blue while making progress on his professional certifications.

“I got my license in three months,” says Andy. “During that time, I worked hard, saved money, and found a good-paying job.”

That’s not all he found: while in the program, he met the love of his life. The two had a whirlwind romance and got married in January! He credits Ready, Willing & Able’s classes and case management sessions with laying the foundation he needed to maintain healthy relationships.

Today, Andy is a counselor who runs groups every day with 15–20 people. His work includes Narcan trainings, helping people with job applications, and providing housing placement assistance, among many other responsibilities. Andy is proud of having his own office, a higher salary, and above all, being able to give back to others in need of support.

“Whenever I lead groups, I always say I am where I am today in this seat because of David,” Andy says. “I tell them to find that person, that moment, that will help them get from where they are to where they want to be. It’s what got me here.”

Andy is eager to continue growing his career and helping more people. He has started taking Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) classes, just like his mentor did.

“Everything’s good in my life, and it all started with Ready, Willing & Able,” says Andy. “The program gave me a stable foundation, and I just built from there.”

Andy’s advice to current and future trainees is simple: “Patience. Everything is going to come in due time. Everyone is going to get their time.”