Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Hodges.
Hi Christopher, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in East St. Louis, where I witnessed firsthand the deep-rooted health disparities, systemic neglect, and cycles of recidivism that affected my community. These experiences shaped not just my awareness, but my calling. I knew I wanted to be part of the solution — not just for one person, but for neighborhoods that had long been overlooked.
After becoming a Certified Community Health Worker, I dedicated myself to hands-on outreach: going door-to-door, conducting wellness checks, distributing Narcan, educating families on CPR, and connecting individuals to life-saving services. But I realized something deeper — we didn’t just need programs. We needed a structure that the community could trust.
That’s what inspired me to create T.R.U.S.T. (Treating Recidivism Undertaking Safety Transformation) that you can view at www.trustestl.org— a community health worker company rooted in healing, safety, and transformation. What started as a one-man mission has grown into a respected organization that partners with schools, health departments, housing authorities, and local providers to bring care directly into the heart of our neighborhoods.
I’ve since expanded our reach with CPR/Narcan training, violence prevention programs, reentry support, and strategic partnerships with organizations like SIHF Healthcare. Every step has been driven by the belief that health equity begins with trust, and that real change starts when the community leads the way
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — the road has been anything but smooth. But every bump and barrier shaped the foundation of T.R.U.S.T.
Coming from a city like East St. Louis, I’ve faced more than just resistance — I’ve had to battle for credibility, for funding, and sometimes just to be heard. Starting out, I didn’t have a team, a building, or big-name partners. I had a vision, a mission, and a strong will to serve my community — but that wasn’t always enough to get support.
There were times I used my own money to print flyers, buy CPR dummies, or supply Narcan just to make sure our people had access to life-saving tools. I had to educate decision-makers about what a Community Health Worker actually does and prove our worth with results, not titles.
The system itself can be discouraging — especially when you’re building something for people that society often forgets. But I turned every “no” into motivation and every closed door into a reason to keep knocking.
What kept me going was knowing that someone was counting on me — whether it was a young person coming home from incarceration or a grandmother needing help navigating her meds. T.R.U.S.T. was born out of struggle, and that’s what makes it resilient, real, and respected.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Treating Recidivism Undertaking Safety Transformation LLC?
T.R.U.S.T. stands for Treating Recidivism Undertaking Safety Transformation, and we’re more than just a community health organization — we’re a movement.
We specialize in meeting people where they are, physically and emotionally. Our core team of certified Community Health Workers is trained in CPR, Narcan, emergency response, behavioral health support, and crisis intervention. We operate in the trenches — doing door-to-door wellness checks, conducting health screenings, leading violence prevention events, and supporting individuals returning home from incarceration. We don’t just talk community — we are community.
What sets T.R.U.S.T. apart is our grassroots power combined with professional structure. We’re known for being hands-on, respected in the neighborhoods we serve, and relentless when it comes to helping people access healthcare, housing, employment, or mental health resources. We don’t wait for people to come to us — we go to them.
I’m most proud of how T.R.U.S.T. has become a brand people believe in. Our shirts, our logo, our message — they symbolize safety, action, and connection. When people see T.R.U.S.T. in their neighborhood, they know help is there — not judgment. We’ve also become a respected partner to schools, health departments, housing authorities, and clinics like SIHF Healthcare because we get real results in the community.
For your readers, I want them to know this: T.R.U.S.T. is here to heal, protect, and uplift urban communities. Whether you need training, reentry support, or someone to advocate for your wellness — we’re not just a service. We’re your people.
How do you define success?
To me, success is impact.
It’s not just about how many people we reach — it’s about how deeply we help them change their lives. Success is when someone we helped last year becomes a volunteer this year. It’s when a young man coming out of incarceration says, “T.R.U.S.T. gave me direction.” It’s when a mother learns CPR and uses it to save a life before the ambulance arrives. That’s success.
I don’t measure success by money or media attention — I measure it by the relationships we build, the lives we help stabilize, and the trust we restore in communities that have been overlooked for too long.
Success is when people in the neighborhood no longer feel forgotten. It’s when they know someone is out here fighting for them. That’s what drives me. That’s what T.R.U.S.T. stands for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trustestl.org
