Today we’d like to introduce you to Malik Mckenzie-Canterbury.
Hi Malik, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story begins at 17 years of age when I had lost my mom and I just finished getting out of juvenile detention. My mom diagnosed with kidney failure when I was 13, between 13 and 17 I was acting out and misbehaving. This was all too me not knowing how to manage stress that I had with my mom being sick. I ended up going into juvenile detention because of it.
When my mom passed, I had to come to New Jersey actually right after her memorial the next day I moved to New Jersey with my dad.
Immediately when I came here, I did not know how to cope. I turned to the street. I got involved with the gang life, gangbaning the MOB PIRUs of New Jersey.
I remember for that was NOT enough for me. I went to a high school party my senior year of high school and Xanax was a huge trend that was going on. I remember I take two the next day when I woke up I remember that was the feeling that I need and it wasn’t long before I was in a deep hole with this drug.
I wish shipped off to California, and for the next 7-8 years . I was in and out of treatment, I experience homelessness, the gang lifestyle over there in the motherland. I was body brokering people and myself.
Took me a long time to finally realize that that wasn’t a lifetime that I wanted to live anymore. I decided to get sober in the process of getting sober I had my daughter Aaliyah and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do the for this girl, I love her to death.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. There’s been a lot of bumps. A lot. Facilities,Homelessness,withdrawals
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work in ABA I’m an ABA therapist. I work with kids who have developmental disability. I’m most proud of that. I’m helping the next person to grow, there’s nothing more than I love to see.
I’d say what sets me apart from other is that I have a charismatic aura from what I’m told . people like being around me I light up the room per se.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I don’t like the future trip, but I like to say I would like to see myself working in treatment and in a higher position in the ABA field
