Julien Angulo-Fleming’s Full-Circle Journey

Recovery does not always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes, it begins with a safe place to stay, a chance to breathe, a job opportunity, and people who refuse to let someone believe their past is the only thing their future has to offer.

For Julien Angulo-Fleming, that beginning took place at Voices of Hope Maryland’s Men’s Recovery House.

Before entering the CPRS Certification Program, Julien was living in the Men’s Recovery House and continuing to build a foundation in his recovery. During that time, he found employment as a forklift operator in a position that offered opportunities for growth and advancement. That job became an important step forward—not just financially, but personally. It gave Julien the chance to build stability, strengthen his independence, and begin creating a life that looked different from the one he had known before.

Eventually, Julien transitioned from the Men’s Recovery House into independent living for the first time in his life.

That transition mattered.

Independent living required him to take the recovery tools, structure, and support he had been building and begin applying them in a new way. He was learning how to manage life on his own while continuing to work, grow, and stay grounded in his recovery journey.

But Julien did not see recovery as something he wanted to keep only for himself.

He began to recognize that his lived experience could become a source of connection and hope for others.

“I wanted the opportunity to give back to my community and connect with individuals who lacked the structure, support, and resources that I once needed myself,” Julien shared.

That desire led him toward becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.

For Julien, Voices of Hope Maryland was not simply an organization offering a training program. It was an organization that had been part of his early recovery journey. It was a place where he had found support, structure, opportunity, and a pathway forward when he needed it most.

Now, he has come full circle.

From living in Voices of Hope’s Men’s Recovery House, to finding employment and building stability, to transitioning into independent living, to becoming part of the Voices of Hope team, Julien has transformed lived experience into service.

Through the CPRS Certification Program, he deepened his knowledge of peer recovery support and developed practical skills that will strengthen the way he shows up for others. Julien described the program as both informative and enlightening.

“It helped me better understand how to navigate challenging situations,” he said. “It also encouraged me to examine and overcome biases, allowing me to approach others with greater understanding and empathy.”

That kind of self-reflection is a major part of strong peer support work. It is not enough to have lived experience. Peer Recovery Specialists must also learn how to hold space without judgment, maintain healthy boundaries, communicate with intention, and support people without trying to take over their journey.

Julien brought important strengths into the program from the beginning. He came with a willingness to step up and lead when needed. He learned quickly, absorbed information well, and built meaningful connections with others while understanding the importance of keeping personal and professional boundaries healthy.

Throughout the program, those strengths continued to grow.

Julien sharpened his Motivational Interviewing skills, strengthened his communication, increased his confidence, and learned how to remain calm and effective during moments of crisis. He also continued expanding his knowledge through training in areas such as outreach, family peer support, harm reduction, and recovery coaching.

Julien’s story is proof that recovery can create a ripple effect. A person who once needed structure, encouragement, resources, and a safe place to begin again can become the person who helps offer those same things to someone else.

His journey from Voices of Hope’s Men’s Recovery House to employment, independent living, peer support work, and CPRS certification is a powerful reminder that people are more than the hardest chapters of their lives.

They are also their growth.

They are their choices.

They are their resilience.

And sometimes, they become the hope that somebody else has been looking for.

We are incredibly proud of Julien Angulo-Fleming and honored to celebrate this major milestone with him.

Congratulations, Julien. Your journey is a full-circle example of recovery in action, and your work is already helping make space for others to believe that a different life is possible.

Want to learn more about our CPRS training program or peer support services?
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