Recovery Community Organizations, or RCOs, are independent, nonprofit organizations led and governed by people in recovery from substance use disorder. To be certified by MARCO, an RCO must demonstrate competency in eleven evaluation areas based on national standards and state statutes. Over the next few months, we’ll showcase some of the first RCOs to receive MARCO certification, delving into their stories, successes, and how they connect to MARCO’s mission: educate, advocate, and mobilize the grassroots recovery movement across Minnesota.
This month we sat down with the founder and CEO of Anything Helps, Emanuel Roberts, and asked him to talk about how he got involved in the grassroots recovery movement.
Meet Emanuel Roberts – Founder of Anything Helps
MARCO: How did you first step into your role in recovery? Can you share your story?
Emanuel: My journey of recovery started about 8 years ago when I landed myself in prison after stealing a bunch. At the height of my addiction I was internally trying to fill a void. I lost a job I truly loved, I was in a toxic relationship with the woman I chose to have a kid with, and I was bouncing around couch hopping and kind of just existing. Crime and drugs at the time made me feel alive. Once I was incarcerated I realized this was a path many of the men in my family followed. I was sentenced to 39 months after spending about a year in county jail and a year in prison I went through an early release program called bootcamp. Here I was introduced to structure and discipline. We worked 12 hour days, I lifted weights, tutored individuals who were trying to obtain GEDs and participated in many volunteer activities provided by the Department of Corrections. I went in not completely ready to give up my life of dysfunction but when I left that program I gained a sense of self worth again.
We had this affirmation I hated but it remains etched in my head even to today. Everyday we proclaimed ” Sir I have choice and free will. Today I commit myself to positive change. If I do my best I will succeed!” A group of over 100 incarcerated men stated this everyday for the 6 months we stayed in our program. I remember holding support circles and speaking about our hopes and dreams once we entered society again. One of my hopes was to create a non profit where I could serve people like myself. Once I completed the program I was released and when I reentered the community I had nothing, I had nowhere to go and my support system was pretty fragile. My mother has always been there for me but I wasn’t allowed at her house due to lack of trust and my previous history of very rash decision making. There was something that I realized after being released. I could be anything I wanted.
After losing my freedom and the ability to be a father, a son, a brother, a provider I realized that these things meant the world to me. My kid suffered a reality that I promised I would never make someone go through. I was a kid who grew up with a parent in the justice system. My father was incarcerated from when I was 6 till I was 16. Though my time was shorter I knew all too well what it felt like to just want to be a normal family. After I was released I vowed to change my life. I would no longer use substances, I would work as many regular jobs to sustain myself and I would travel a different path. It was hard work. I worked three jobs and was on intensive supervised release. I met my amazing wife Lauren and together we built a good life. One of my three jobs was a certified peer recovery specialist. This job kickstarted everything I am in recovery. It gave me the ability to heal my own wounds while also healing my community.
MARCO: Do you have any advice or tips to someone who is just starting their grassroots efforts in the recovery community?
Emanuel: Listen to your community and outreach is the best tool. If you’ve not been out in the community and seen what the problem is, how will you serve? Outreach provides the best insight. Also don’t be afraid to fail. My organization was denied RCO status twice before we were ready. Failure isn’t final. Sometimes you have to fail to mature and try again. Sometimes no just means not right now..
MARCO: What is the most rewarding part of working in recovery for you?
Emanuel: I love working in recovery. I have some of the greatest professionals on my team. I have met and served some of the coolest people. The stories we share are my favorite part. Truly seeing the impact we produce is the best part.
MARCO: How do you see RCOs best collaborating to build an ecosystem of recovery?
Emanuel: At Anything Helps we believe that recovery requires a village and support. I believe that RCOs should collaborate as much as possible to help each other succeed. We have limited resources separately and if we combine our efforts then we create more impact.
MARCO: What have been some of your greatest tools in sustaining your recovery?
Emanuel: Stability is something we all chase in recovery. What helps me strengthen my own recovery is serving others in recovery. I practice abstinence based recovery but I work in harm reduction and although those ideas seem to conflict they both boil down to person centered care. Recovery is not a destination, it is a journey. There are many different pathways and I find peace in walking alongside others no matter what the road looks like.
MARCO: Could you tell us more about a service area(s) your organization specializes in? How and/or why did your organization develop this specialization? What is something you are doing that you are most proud of?
Emanuel: At Anything Helps we specialize in person centered care. Person centered care is the middle ground between harm reduction and abstinence. Our goal is to help people recover. Recover means to find what is lost. People lose themselves and through connection and care we help people find themselves. Providing a safe nonjudgmental space where a person can be vulnerable and supported is key. I’m proud to say that we have created that space.
MARCO: What does “building a recovery-oriented future” mean to you?
Emanuel: “Building a recovery-oriented future” means creating a society where individuals who are facing challenges—whether related to mental health, addiction, or other personal struggles—are supported in their journey towards healing, growth, and fulfillment. It involves fostering environments that prioritize hope, resilience, and empowerment, where people are treated with dignity and respect, and have access to the resources and support systems they need.
This future is one where recovery is not seen as a linear process but as a dynamic, personalized journey that recognizes each person’s unique experiences and strengths. It means offering comprehensive services—such as therapy, peer support, education, and stable housing—that are accessible and inclusive. It also involves breaking down stigma and building communities that encourage connection and understanding, so individuals feel empowered to take ownership of their recovery and reintegrate into society with confidence.