My name is Kim and I am a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist with a passion for mental health and recovery. My journey hasn’t been easy, and because of my own lived experience, I’ve found deep meaning in walking alongside others as they take their first steps toward healing. I love what I do—especially driving for Wings to Recovery, where I get to meet incredible people from all walks of life, each in a unique stage of their recovery. Every conversation reminds me why peer support is so vital today: no one should ever feel like they’re alone. In addition to my peer support certification, I’m trained in Mental Health First Aid and I am also a Certified Recovery Coach and Guardian Ad Litem. I believe in the power of connection, understanding, and second chances—because we do recover.

Outside of work, I’m a proud mom of three and have been in a loving relationship with my partner, Chip, for the past four years. We have four dogs and love to take cruises. Everything I do is rooted in compassion, hope, and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

My name is Danielle, and I am a single mother of three teenage boys. I began struggling with substance use at a young age, and in 2021 my addiction led to the loss of custody of my children. Within 24 hours of their removal, I also lost my home, vehicle, and nearly everything I held dear. My substance use escalated, and I experienced a life-threatening overdose that became a turning point—one that made it clear my recovery was a matter of life or death.

I entered inpatient treatment and committed fully to recovery, where I lived for nine months. Through that process, I rebuilt my life and was reunified with my children. Recovery not only restored my family—it gave me purpose.

For the past year, I have worked as a peer mentor, supporting DHS-involved mothers as they navigate the child welfare system and their own recovery journeys. Now, as a Wings to Recovery driver, I am honored to continue using my lived experience to provide hope, practical support, and understanding to others on their path to healing.

My name is Shelby and I’m a dedicated and compassionate professional with a passion for helping others while continuously working to become the best version of myself. My journey has taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of never giving up, and those experiences have shaped the way I approach both my personal life and my work.

I take pride in being dependable, hardworking, and someone who genuinely cares about the people around me. Whether I’m supporting others, building meaningful relationships, or taking on new opportunities, I bring honesty, empathy, and a strong work ethic to everything I do.

My name is Karita Bullock, and I am a Certified Peer Support Specialist who has been on my recovery journey since 2017. My experiences have shaped my passion for helping others, and I have deep respect for those who fall down and find the strength to rise again. Guided by my faith in God, I believe in grace even when it’s hard to see, and I’m committed to uplifting others—because sometimes people don’t need a handout, just a hand up.

Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my fur babies, drawing, and connecting with music that feeds the soul. Music inspires me daily, and the right song can completely shift my outlook. I also love movies and value a calm, peaceful lifestyle—I’m naturally laid-back and grounded, true to my Taurus nature.

My name is Kutina. I am a CPS-MH, FPM, and CNA living in long-term recovery who has been sober since 2023. Raised in Bridgeton, NJ. After having twin girls at 14 years old I struggled silently with anxiety and low self-worth. In my teens I began using alcohol and marijuana to cope, which eventually led to dependency and a cycle of unhealthy relationships, and emotional isolation.

After hitting rock bottom, and another pregnancy, I made the decision to seek help. I didn’t go into treatment because I had no-one to take care of my children. Through therapy, faith, the support of a strong recovery community and after several failed attempts at sobriety, I decided this time was my time. I began rebuilding my life one day at a time. I currently work at Wings To Recovery in peer support, helping people navigate their own recovery journeys. I am passionate about empowering others, breaking stigma, and reminding people that healing and freedom are always possible.

As a dedicated Peer Recovery Coach, I bring compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to helping others navigate their recovery journey. I genuinely care about every client I work with, taking the time to listen, understand, and support them with respect and attention to detail.

My approach is rooted in lived experience and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Through my own recovery, I have learned that transformation is real and sustainable. I use my story not only as a foundation for connection, but as a source of hope—showing others that if I can do recovery, so can they. Every step forward matters, and I am here to walk alongside my clients as they build healthier, more fulfilling lives.

My name is Chris. I was born in Delaware and moved around quite a bit growing up. I first found recovery as a young person in Los Angeles after a difficult and unstable adolescence. That experience changed my life, gave me lifelong friendships, and helped me build a strong foundation in recovery.

Over the years, I have faced challenges with both mental illness and substance use, but I found my way back to recovery and the Twelve Step community. As a parent, I became even more committed to building a life rooted in stability, purpose, and hope.

I returned to school as a non-traditional student and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. I have worked in the mental health field for twenty-five years and remain passionate about helping others who are struggling with mental illness, addiction, and recovery.

My life experiences have taught me that healing is possible, and I believe deeply in the idea that we keep recovery by giving it away.

I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with a Justice Involved Endorsement, as well as a Nationally Certified Recovery Coach.

Eleven years ago I found recovery through an incarceration intervention and the gift of desperation that turned my life around. I now use my experience with addiction and mental health struggles to share with others who may be in the situations I once found myself in that there is hope for a better way.

I am trained in a trauma-informed approach, trained in QPR Suicide Prevention, I teach a Life Recovery class at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center and have the privilege of being a mentor for women who are about to be released from prison through the Tennessee Governor's Mentorship Initiative.

I am a board member for various sober-living and recovery programs in Middle Tennessee as well as the Recovery Coordinator for Family Worship Center in Murfreesboro, where in 2019 we became a Certified Recovery Friendly Church through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Giving back is the most rewarding thing I get to do. To see hope come back alive in a person's eyes touches my soul like nothing else.

My name is Zach Carlisle. I grew up in a loving, faith-filled home in Flower Mound, Texas. I was a quiet kid who just wanted to fit in. Eventually, I started spending time with older peers who introduced me to drugs. By 15, I was drinking and smoking weed. By 18, I was abusing Adderall, Ritalin, and soon after, cocaine and meth.

Addiction quickly took over my life. I lost over 130 pounds, became deeply involved in crime, and found myself facing multiple misdemeanors and felony charges. After spending time in jail, I hit rock bottom. I realized I couldn’t keep living that way—I needed help, and I needed God.

After completing residential treatment, I moved to Austin for sober living and began rebuilding my life through faith and recovery. It wasn’t easy, but with a sponsor, a support system, and a willingness to change, I found real freedom.

I’ve been sober since September 24th, 2017, and I now live in Madison, Mississippi. I’m a certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist and a Nationally Certified Sober Coach. I’m passionate about helping others find freedom from addiction, and I use my personal experience to walk alongside those still struggling—showing them that they’re not alone and that recovery is possible.

With honesty, willingness, and an open mind, a new life is within reach. I don’t run from my past—I use it to bring hope to others and remind myself every day how far I’ve come.

My name is Chris, and I am a recovering addict who recently relocated to Chattanooga, TN, from Charleston, WV. My journey here wasn’t a straight line. Addiction took hold of my life quickly, and it eventually led me to felony charges and time in prison. At some point I knew I couldn’t keep living that way. After completing a recovery program, I began the slow work of rebuilding my life through faith and recovery. It wasn’t easy, but with the right support system and a real willingness to change, I found genuine freedom.

One of the greatest parts of that support system has been my wife, Val. Her steady presence has been part of my healing. A reminder that recovery isn’t something we do alone, but something that grows in the company of people who believe in us.

After graduating from the recovery program, I became a Peer Recovery Coach in the state of West Virginia so I could walk alongside others doing the same hard, hopeful work, and now that we’ve settled in Tennessee, my goal is to earn that credential here as well. I do this work because I know what it’s like to feel like change isn’t possible, and I want to be for others the kind of presence I once needed.

I’m also a student at Liberty University Online, pursuing my Bachelor of Social Work with the goal of one day becoming a licensed therapist. Through my own recovery, I’ve learned that transformation is real and sustainable and I share my story as a source of hope and inspiration for others.

Outside of my work, life with Val is my favorite part of the story we’re still writing. We’ve been married for nine months, and we love spending our free time together whether we’re driving for Uber, exploring our new city, or settling in for a good movie.