<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2117852/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p>Justin Volpe shares his journey from being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and incarcerated to becoming a certified recovery peer specialist who has trained over 3,500 police officers in crisis intervention. </p><p>His story demonstrates how individuals with lived experience can transform systems and save lives by bridging gaps between law enforcement, courts, and treatment providers.<br><br>• Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in his early 20s after struggling with substance abuse<br>• Released from jail through Miami's Jail Diversion Program, which provides support, therapy, and resources<br>• Became a peer specialist within 8 months of incarceration, helping others navigate the system<br>• Worked for 14 years getting thousands of people out of incarceration and connecting them to services<br>• Describes his role as a "bridger" between systems that don't typically communicate with each other<br>• Trained over 3,500 police officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) approaches<br>• Featured in documentaries "The Definition of Insanity" and Ken Burns' "Hiding in Plain Sight"<br>• Now works nationally with state behavioral health teams at NASMHPD<br>• Advocates for including people with lived experience at policy and planning tables<br>• Emphasizes that recovery is possible: "I was written off and told I'd die on the street"<br><br>Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me: The World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone that you are not alone in this world.<br><br><br></p><p>https://tonymantor.com<br>https://Facebook.com/tonymantor<br>https://instagram.com/tonymantor<br>https://twitter.com/tonymantor<br>https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic<br>intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild<br>Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)</p>