Patricia Carter serves as the MARCO Recovery Project Coordinator through Recovery Corps. A woman in long-term recovery, she brings more than 27 years of experience in the recovery field and a deep passion for supporting individuals on their recovery journeys. We sat down with her to ask a few questions to get to know her – please join us in welcoming her to the team!
MARCO: How did you get involved in recovery work, and what led you to join Recovery Corps?
Patricia: In 2013 I started working at Turning Point, Inc. as an HIV Educator and Tester. Then as the Recovery Support community changed, in 2018 I became a Certified Recovery Specialist, so I had a relationship with MN Recovery Connection. As COVID brought many changes to how we operated as a Recovery Team, in 2021 we opened the Turning Point Recovery Center in North Minneapolis. I became the Community Outreach Manager with three staff as Certified Recovery Specialists. In 2022, I also became a member of the MDH Overdose Fatality Research Study that Turning Point worked with. In 2023, Turning Point started a relationship with AmeriCorps, and we were connected with our first Recovery Navigator. So that’s the connection with Recovery Corps!
MARCO: Do you have any advice or tips for someone just starting their journey in the recovery community?
Patricia: Yes, take the time to learn how to love yourself and learn how to forgive yourself and others because, no matter what, you can’t take things personally. In real recovery, you will have many ups and downs, but we must stay honest with ourselves, and the rest will follow!
MARCO: What is the most rewarding part of working in recovery for you?
Patricia: Being a part of a TEAM that makes a difference in our Community! Plus, being able to share my lived experience with others is the best reward!
MARCO: How do you see Recovery Corps members collaborating with MARCO and the broader recovery community?
Patricia: By coming together to provide even more effective services and resources for our Recovery Community! There is so much more work to be done in our Recovery Community!
MARCO: What tools, experiences, or skills do you bring to support people sustaining their recovery?
Patricia: A heart full of COMPASSION for those in the struggle; a listening ear when someone just needs to talk; and an honest approach to help those who are really in need of some direction to get to the next level in their Recovery Journey.
MARCO: Are there specific areas of recovery work you’re most passionate about, and why?
Patricia: Yes, Outreach and Advocacy, because I was once on the streets struggling with addiction and homelessness, and someone reached out to me! Before I came to a place of surrender, I was out of control as a young teen experimenting with all sorts of drugs and alcohol. I was sleeping on a friend’s sofa or wherever I could find a place to lay my head! Plus, there is still a lot of stigma in the world today.
MARCO: What does “building a recovery-oriented future” mean to you?
Patricia: It means helping more organizations get certified as RCOs, providing more education and advocacy, and getting more people connected to resources and services that can make a difference in their lives.
MARCO: What does it mean to you to be a MARCO Recovery Corps team member?
Patricia: For me, it means teaming up with my TEAM of dynamic individuals and making a bigger impact in our Recovery Community!
