Meet Jen O’Byrne

Jen (she/her) is the Program Manager at MARCO. Jen has had a varied and diverse career spanning education, public media, and arts spaces, but she has always been committed to community, education, storytelling, events, and mission-driven outreach. Prior to joining MARCO, Jen was at TPT – Twin Cities PBS where she produced hundreds of public, private, and virtual events; designed professional development and education event curriculum; and facilitated formal and informal learning spaces for educators, administrators, children, parents, leaders, and community members. She also produced corporate events and worked in professional theater as an IATSE wardrobe supervisor and AEA Stage Manager for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring productions. Jen was also a Special Education teacher in NYC and MN between her theater life and her work in public media. Jen holds a Master of Science in Special Education from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and English from Hamline University. 

 

Meet Jen O’Byrne

MARCO’s Program Manager

 

When I first heard the term “recovery ally”, I was happy to finally learn of a term that I could identify with. I have not personally experienced substance use disorder, but I have both family and friends who have. I always felt supportive of the recovery community, but I never quite realized that being a recovery ally was much more than being accepting. For starters, “acceptance” brings implications of something being tolerated, as if it were a flaw to be overlooked or something to be quietly ignored rather than embraced as a normal part of the human experience.

 

I know that my journey has been far from perfect, and I also expect my growth will be continuous. I’ve been in situations where I felt like I had a scarlet letter “A” for ALLY on my chest. And, I admit to having fallen into the trope where I immediately started telling someone in recovery about all the people I know in recovery. I cringe looking back on those encounters. 

 

Much of what I’ve learned thus far hasn’t been from other allies, but from what I can research on the web and from those within the community who have shared their stories with me – stories of experiencing hardship, isolation, discrimination, homelessness, recurrences, and having a hard time feeling accepted or even just existing. Being an ally doesn’t come with instructions, and like recovery, it can mean something different to everyone.

 

My brother died in 2015 after a lifetime journey of recovery and reuse. My brother was not very open about his personal experiences, but he was not a fan of the 12-steps and this is the one thing that he was VERY vocal about. He didn’t have many of the options there are now and it’s hard to say what would have happened if he had had an RCO to engage with (and maybe play D&D with!). I had a lot of discussions over the years about addiction and mental health with my brother. I know that I have been judgmental at times, both out of frustration and sibling dynamics.  But, I have also tried to learn and support whenever I could. I know I made a lot of mistakes, but that’s what human beings do. As long as each mistake helps us grow so that we can make new and different mistakes next time, we will continue to get better with our interactions.

 

I’m trying to learn from those mistakes to be a better ally to my friends that are currently in recovery – wherever they are on their personal recovery spectrum. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do or say but the most important skill I am working on is listening. I can be really bad at that sometimes. Other times I’m good at it. I just need to remember to slow my own thoughts down! (If we’re having a conversation and I’m not listening to you,PLEASE call me out about it!! NO JUDGEMENTS!)

 

My journey as a recovery ally has changed my perspective on addiction and recovery. It has taught me the importance of empathy, the power of listening, and the impact of community support. While the road to recovery is often challenging and non-linear, being there for friends and family members reinforces my belief that no one should walk this path alone. As allies, we can offer hope, understanding, and a reminder that recovery is not just a destination but a journey worth celebrating. Every experience I have had has not only shaped my relationships but has also inspired me to be a more compassionate and informed advocate for mental health and recovery in my community

 

So, my name is Jen and I am a recovery ally. What that means to me is that I love and support people who use(d) substances and do my best to educate myself and others about recovery through stigma-reducing language, harm reduction and all pathways.

 

                                                              Jen and her brother through the years

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