Life & Work with Robert Booker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Booker. 

Hi Robert, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Robert Booker. I’m 51 years old. I’m from Indianapolis and I grew up on the Far Eastside, Post Road. My life was full of drama, full of mental health issues and full of trauma. A life full of trials and tribulations and testimonies.

My story starts 4 years ago, I almost lost my life, not once but twice in a 3-day span. And only then did I get on knees and cry out to God to save my life. A life of alcohol and drug abuse for over 35 plus years. A life of being in the streets. A life of mental and trauma illness. A life of physical abuse from the age of 5 to 15. A life of gang violence. A life of self-destruction. As I finished praying, I got up from my knees and opened up my phone and to my surprise, I noticed that there was something in my screen. It was a picture of a rehabilitation center in Las Vegas called Desert Hope. Not knowing how it got on my phone, I came to the realization that it wasn’t nobody but God Himself that revealed the facility to me. Well, I read about Desert Hope and everything that it had to offer and I reached out to them. I talked to a lady and I told her my story about the life that I have lived since the age of 14 and the life that I was still living at the time. Well after our conversation she offered me a one-way ticket to Las Vegas to come to Desert Hope and I excepted it. A week later I found myself on a flight to Las Vegas to Desert Hope. I got off the plane, and when I entered the doors of Desert Hope, something hit my spirit so hard. Something that I’ve never felt before. And then I heard that voice from God saying, “Now You Have Done What I’ve Been Telling You To Do For The Last 35 Years.” And that was the day my life changed. That was the day that God had broken the chains that were holding me back for over 35 years of my life. I spent the next 90 days at Desert Hope learning more about my life, my addiction, and my journey and assignment that God was about to prepare me for. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely was a struggle at first. I was trying to find my way, my purpose once I got out of rehab. I was still hanging around friends that were still living the street life. That was trying to get me drink, knowing if I had taken that drink that it would have led me back down that dark path, that dark road again. So, I had to separate myself from friends that no longer meant me no good. I tried going to NA and AA meetings only to find myself talking about my addiction to the same people day in and day out, talking inside of a room, inside four walls, and for me it really was frustrating. It was like I had another purpose so I started talking and telling my story about my life, my addiction, my journey outside those four walls, and through social media, and only then did everything about my life, about my growth change. Not only was I helping myself, I was helping others as well by telling my story. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a grassroots organization called Reaching Our Brothers Inc. It’s a grassroots organization that builds and strengthens relationships in the community to help stop gun violence. I started Reaching Our Brothers Inc. because I started seeing all the gun violence in my neighborhood, in my community against my own people. Young men that grew up together all their lives. Whose parents grew up together their whole lives. I started seeing the hurt and pain in the mother’s eyes and I just wanted to do something about it. Knowing that I have a voice in my community, I wanted to change the narrative in my community. I wanted to let my young black men know that, “You Are Not A Product Of Your Environment. You Are A Part Of Your Decisions.” And to try to let my young brothers know that, “The Streets Don’t Love You! The Game Don’t Love You! The Drugs Don’t Love You! All It Does Is Take You Away From The People That Do Love You.” Reaching Our Brothers Inc has monthly Safe Summer Community Barbecues. I go around the surrounding apartments on the Far Eastside and feed the community from April through November. I also do Community Game Night with the children as well. I also work with other organizations doing food giveaways twice a week. I have Mental Health & Trauma classes. I’m part of a group called, “Christ Up Collective Group”, where we collectively come together and work together to help our community. I’m also a Life Coach. I love working and helping men just like me. That’s been down the same destructive path that I went down, that wants to change but doesn’t have the tools that they need. That push that they need. The motivation that they need. That love that they never had, that they longed for, find their way back to a healthy and productive life by making life-changing goals and choices.? What am I most proud of? Me! Coming from where I came from. Going through the things that I went through. All the tests, trials, and tribulations, I am still alive today to live my truth. That God loved me enough to not give up on me. To give me another chance to get it right. What sets me apart from others? Everything that I do I do it from the heart. I have no hidden agendas in what I do. I don’t do it for the fame and accolades. I do what I do because I truly care. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
All I can say is find someone safe to talk to. I have an amazing counselor that has changed my life. I have an awesome pastor. And I’ve surrounded myself with the right people. People that are genuine. People with good hearts. People that truly care about me and my future. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/reachingourbrothers/
• Facebook: Reaching Our Brothers Inc.