ASF

WITHOUT A STEP FORWARD be lost BELIEVES HE’D Mark Weaver

“I don’t know where I’d be without ASF’s staff.”

-Mark Weaver

A CLEAR MIND

Despite his litany of achievements, Weaver is especially proud of the positive relationships he’s forged with his 3-year-old daughter and her mother. “Since I came here, I’ve gotten back into my daughter’s life and I now have a good friendship with her mother,” Weaver said. “My court case was also dropped and I’ve cleaned up my credit report. ASF has also helped me become even more spiritual, and that’s very important to me. But more than anything else, I have a clear mind and I’m there for my daughter. In the future, I want to become even closer to my family and just enjoy being with them.” In addition to spiritual and personal growth, Weaver has developed new professional skills while at ASF. Specifically, he’s become more computer literate thanks to ASF’s computer lab. “I’m in my comfort zone in the computer lab,” Weaver said. “Plus, I’m able to help others there, which is something that I love to do. This organization has opened the door for me and given me so many opportunities to showcase my skills.” Weaver raved about ASF’s “awesome” staff and strongly recommended their services to anyone in need. Furthermore, he discussed his present and future goals and promised to never become complacent. “I don’t know where I’d be without ASF’s staff,” Weaver said. “My present goals are to just continue on this path while not becoming content with life. My future goals are to get fully on my feet financially so that I can purchase land for my daughter to build her dream house on. But I want to buy land in a few different states, so she can choose where she wants to live.”

Mark Weaver was “just ready to give up on life” before he went to A Step Forward, Inc. (ASF) for help. Born in Riverside, California, Weaver was a military brat who lived all across the United States while his father served in the Air Force. Eventually, Weaver and his mother and sister permanently relocated to Baltimore. Regrettably, for quite some time, Weaver’s life was anything but easy in Charm City. “My parents got divorced and, after moving, I didn’t really have any contact with my dad,” Weaver, the youngest of seven children, said. “I think my dad didn’t know how to have a long-distance relationship with us. After my sister and mom had it out, it was just me and my mom. With my brother being in prison and my sisters so far away, I struggled not being able to have sibling relationships.” “Before my daughter turned 1, her mother and I split due to my drinking,” Weaver said. “Not only did the drinking cause our relationship to end, but I lost my job of 10 years as an account manager, my townhouse, and cars. I also became homeless and started having trouble with the law. Worst of all, my family got tired of me. All of this happened to me before the age of 30 and I was just ready to give up on life.” Fortunately, rather than quitting, Weaver persevered and decided to battle his demons. During a hospital visit, his life was forever transformed when he learned about ASF, a Baltimore-based residential treatment facility. “ASF is a faith-based, non-profit organization that aims to help people who are trying to recover from drug and alcohol addiction and other life-threatening issues,” Weaver said. “I liked that because I’m a spiritual person and, at the time, I was homeless and needed shelter. But I also needed housing in a stable environment to create a foundation. I knew that ASF had helped me start to turn the corner when I realized I had been there for more than two months. The staff was always there to help with any issues and always checking with me to make sure everything was okay. I really started to grow spiritually, got back in touch with myself, and discovered who I truly am.” A disheartened Weaver began using alcohol as a crutch and as a way to self-medicate. Predictably, this decision only created more problems and left him facing further challenges and complications.

From homeless to looking to buy land, Mark Weaver is a true testament to the human spirit.