ARTIE WILLIAMS - Overcoming A Troubled Past

At the age of nine, Artie William's world was shattered when his mother killed his father. Although he doesn't recall much about his early years, he does remember happy times before his father's death, including the golden day he rode atop his father's shoulders at the State Fair.

Shortly after his father's death, Artie and his brothers faced a parentless future when his mother was found guilty and sent to women's prison. An aunt decided to take the children in. "I just started running with the kids in the neighborhood. We were stealing from beer trucks and drinking," Artie said. "I was just trying to fit in with the other kids. I was totally lost. I had no goals for myself other than to be accepted."

Despite Artie's drinking habit, he stayed in school, but isolation and loneliness overwhelmed him. He was convinced that things would be better if his father were alive. "I had a lot of pain that I never dealt with," Artie explained.

After three years, Artie's mother came back to reclaim the boys. "I didn't feel loved by my mother. But now that I look back on it, she did the best she could because of the way she was raised," he said. At this time, rage and violence affected the family again through his brother. "He often threatened members of the family," Artie said. Ultimately, his brother's temper ended in his own death, when his cousin shot him during an altercation over some borrowed money. In an attempt to cope, Artie started smoking pot and drinking very heavily to deal with the pain he could not bury.

With just one year to go, Artie dropped out of high school. He tried to get his GED through Milwaukee Area Technical College, but drug-induced paranoia got in the way. "I started out with the intention of getting my GED, but all I knew how to do was party," said Artie. Despite his drug addiction, Artie was able to hold down a job in the Miletzer's Bakery for seven years, but then his addiction turned to cocaine.

In and out of drug treatment centers, Artie finally got the help he needed when he successfully completed a two week in-patient program at Northwest General. After his release, he moved into a supportive living facility. There he met a house resident assistant named Janice who made a real difference in his life. "She is someone I opened up to," said Artie. Janice helped Artie make it through his first year of sobriety, then she suggested he move to Hope Street. "It's less crowded here at Hope Street and the program is better," he said. "What I like is that the staff and people from outside come to minister to us. Prayer time has been helpful and I've developed a personal relationship with God."

Grateful for the changes in his life, Artie explains that his whole outlook changed when he realized he could rely on God. "I've become real responsible and if I can't handle something, I just give it to Him," Artie said.

Gainfully employed at Tropic Banana for more than two years now, Artie works as an order filler for wholesale produce. "Things are going great! My health is fine, and I want to help other people." He added, "When I was sleeping on the streets I did disgusting, shameful things to other people and myself. But now I want to help others. I got brothers that are still using and I know they want to quit. I tell them to trust in God and try some recovery meetings. There is a way out, but you've got to want it."

Clean for almost three years, Artie does not take full credit for his recovery. "It's God that's keeping me sober because my way would be to go get more drugs," he said. "But I'm tired of sleeping on the streets. I know what's good for me and what's not. I'm going to have bumps and bruises, but I'm accepting life on those terms. The key is living for God, because man can't do it. What I did in the past is done and I can't change it, but now I feel really good about myself through Jesus."