Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Rachel Baribeau

As is my custom on Sunday, I write about someone that we should all admire. Rachel Baribeau is such a person. 

From Epoch Inspired:

“She had succumbed to cocaine addiction and for years led a double life: working as a successful sports broadcaster by day, and junkie by night.

While studying media and entertainment at Auburn University, she was introduced to cocaine. By 28, she had a full-blown cocaine addiction and was suffering domestic abuse.

Baribeau said. ‘My darkest moment came when I began to deal hard drugs to support my habit, because not only was it affecting me; I was contributing to the takedown, the delinquency, of other people.’

Raised a Christian, Baribeau felt she was ‘living life apart from Him’ but never stopped hearing God’s words. At her lowest point, she heard a familiar message from God with fresh ears: ‘I created you for more than this, Rachel!’

After a decade of addiction, Baribeau was subsequently rinsed clean, and she never looked back. Recovery only strengthened her will.

By 2016, Baribeau’s ambition only burned brighter. She wanted to share her story and inspire others, so she founded mental health non-profit I’m Changing the Narrative. Working and performing outreach simultaneously, she heard God’s voice again: “You’re supposed to pick up your cross, you’re supposed to do this full-time, this is what I put in front of you.”

For the past three years, Baribeau has devoted herself to her nonprofit. She now travels and works with over 60 colleges and schools, customs and border patrol, law enforcement, state halfway houses for ex-prisoners, and churches to help anyone who has strayed from their purpose to find hope and meaning in life once more.

One of Baribeau’s most impactful relationships is with border patrol, whom she has visited five times since 2019. During a humanitarian trip to El Paso, she had a chance to meet men and women putting their lives on the line to protect Americans from gangs, drugs, and other dangers flooding across the border. Contrary to certain narratives, illegal migrants crossing the border are “treated humanely.”

“There was tons of food, there was air conditioning,” Baribeau said. “I fell in love with the border patrol agents that are overworked. The things they see every single day are horrific, and they’re dealing with their own issues of depression and suicide. … I just decided I was going to start helping them.”

Baribeau connects with her audience via social media and often receives heartwarming feedback. Stories of family reconciliation, forgiveness, and forging new bonds are typical.

Her first book is coming out in June 2023. Baribeau’s overarching message is twofold: help others, and take that leap of faith.”

Rachel Baribeau, a truly admirable individual who pulled herself up by her boot straps to go from the depths of drug addiction to devoting herself to helping others.

11/20/22

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