Walter is one of the most kind-hearted, positive, and motivating people I know. I don’t think I know anyone that doesn’t like Walter. Walter grew up playing football. He loved football and was good at it too. On the field, Walter was like a force of nature, he felt like he was born to play. As one of the fastest, and most powerful players on his team, Walter was recruited and received a full-ride scholarship to a top 10 university for football.

Walter had NFL potential. Unfortunately, as quickly as his football career was moving, so was his drug and alcohol addiction. Walter began drinking and experimenting with party drugs. He moved on to hard drugs, slipped through the cracks, and eventually lost everything. Walter says drugs became his highest and only priority. In the end Walter was homeless, spiritually bankrupt, and had what we call in recovery, “a skid-row of the soul.”

Eventually drug addiction brought Walter to his knees, praying for God’s help. His prayers were answered and he received treatment for his addiction. After getting clean Walter has continued his education, and worked in the mental health and recovery field. I met Walter at the Imani Center, a culturally specific treatment and mental health program at Central City Concern. Walter was a case manager and facilitated classes that processed trauma, taught basic life-skills for addicts, and helped people create plans to achieve their goals, during and after treatment.

I was always excited to go to Walters class because I knew it would be passionate, energetic, hopeful, and motivating. Walter has been one of the mentors in my life who encouraged me to go deep when working on myself, and use my God given talents to create a space for myself the world. It is nothing short of an honor to sit down and hear Walter dive deep into his journey battling addiction. He sheds new light on the un-talked about matters of athletes who struggle with addiction. He discusses the solution, and how he has dedicated his life to supporting those athletes like himself. You don’t want to miss out on this life changing message.

Do you know an athlete that struggles with drugs or alcohol? Watch this episode and seek help.

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