Meet the ceo & founder of steps to life, inc.

Aldeana Goodspeed, a native Detroiter, is the Founder and CEO of Steps to Life, Inc. which started in July 2020. Steps to Life, Inc. is a Michigan based, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to provide charitable, educational and counseling services to individuals re-entering their communities after incarceration. Steps to Life serves to enhance the overall quality of life for men, women, and families within the Detroit community to give purpose and meaning after a life of criminality and substance abuse. It is our mission to empower and encourage those to positively change while providing services to assist their needs to prevent recidivism. 

Mrs. Goodspeed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from the University of Detroit Mercy; a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix; and a Master of Science degree in Counseling/Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. In addition, Mrs. Goodspeed is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Certified Prevention Specialist, by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP).

Mrs. Goodspeed first pursued her passion and career in 1987, as a counselor trainee at the Walk-In Center, working with the indigent population in the Cass Corridor area of Detroit, MI. Since that time she has provided numerous services to empower and strengthen the forgotten; along with continuous service work within the recovery community.  

Since 2004, Mrs. Goodspeed has worked professionally throughout the Detroit, Metro area at various treatment facilities providing counseling services for substance use disorder and co- occurring disorders. In 2009, she started her private practice, Steps to Life, Professional Counseling Services where she provided, individual and group counseling consisting of: anger management; personal growth techniques; building healthy relationships; substance abuse and grief and loss support.

Since her professional career Mrs. Goodspeed has gained more passion toward the needs of the disenfranchised returning citizens. Having friends and family members incarcerated and seeing the victimization and the stigma that society places on them when it comes to employment, housing, voting, etc., it is a double sentence that contributes to recidivism.  “In the U.S. over 700,000 people are released from prisons and jails every year, with about 75% of them returning to lockup within the first three years. It is a revolving door. My hopes and dreams are to provide supportive services for returning citizens so they can have a smooth transition from prison to mainstream society to ultimately become productive members of society.