Justin McNeal is the Executive Director of Begin Anew, a Minnesota Recovery Community Organization dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by substance use and the criminal justice system. Drawing from both lived and professional experience, Justin has built his career around recovery, reentry, peer support, and creating opportunities for people to move beyond their past.

With more than six years of experience training Peer Recovery Specialists and professionals working with justice-involved populations, Justin has developed and delivered programming throughout Minnesota in both community and correctional settings. His work focuses on Peer Recovery Support, reentry, motivational interviewing, workforce development, and improving services for individuals navigating substance use and criminal justice systems.

Justin is especially passionate about ensuring that people with lived experience have meaningful opportunities to lead, serve, and influence the systems that impact their communities. Through his work with Begin Anew and his service on the board, he hopes to bring a practical, lived-experience perspective while helping strengthen partnerships, expand opportunities, and turn struggles into strengths.

Interesting in joining our board?