Recovery Community Organizations, or RCOs, are independent, nonprofit organizations led and governed by people in recovery from substance use disorder. For MARCO’s Recovery Community Summit on May 1-2, we are honored to feature Danielle Bonanno (she/they), the Executive Director of Inclusive Recovery Athens as our keynote speaker.
A dedicated advocate for marginalized and stigmatized populations, Danielle’s work spans individuals with substance use disorders, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, homeless and low-income populations, and those navigating complex traumas.
Her professional mission is centered on bridging the gap between the queer and recovery communities by educating addiction professionals on providing trauma-informed and culturally affirming care to LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.
We asked Danielle to expand upon this advocacy and mission in the questions below:
MARCO: You emphasize that recovery is a collective fight for equity, dignity, and justice. Can you elaborate on how you envision communities building a more inclusive and equitable recovery system, especially for marginalized groups?
Danielle: I think it starts with listening. Not just hearing people, but actively making space for those most impacted to shape what recovery looks like in their own communities. That means trans folx, Black and Brown communities, people with disabilities, and anyone who’s historically been pushed to the margins. I envision communities where we stop asking people to fit into programs and instead build programs that meet people where they are. A truly inclusive system means having recovery spaces that feel like home to everyone, with staff and leadership that reflect the people they serve. It means looking beyond individual care and into structural change. Housing, healthcare, employment, and safety all have to be part of the recovery conversation.
MARCO: In your article, you highlight the systemic barriers people face in accessing recovery care, including poverty, racism, and transphobia. How do you see recovery programs or organizations addressing these barriers in tangible ways?
Danielle: We have to stop pretending recovery exists in a vacuum. Poverty, racism, transphobia, and criminalization are not “outside” issues. They are recovery issues. Programs need to get honest about who their services are really for and who they’re leaving out. I’ve seen some of the most impactful changes come from recovery centers that bring in gender-affirming care, offer transportation support, hire people with lived experience, and create programming that’s actually led by the communities they serve. It’s also about building partnerships. We can’t do this alone. Linking with orgs focused on housing justice, racial equity, and healthcare access helps make recovery more than just a service. It becomes a pathway to liberation.
MARCO: You mention the importance of community-led change and the idea that recovery is not just about individual survival but thriving. What role do you think peer support and grassroots organizing play in fostering a thriving recovery community?
Danielle: Peer support and grassroots organizing are the heart of it. Peer work is more than just check-ins or groups. It’s a form of cultural leadership. Peers understand the systems because we’ve lived them. We’re not coming in with savior energy. We’re coming in with truth and lived experience. That changes the entire dynamic. Grassroots organizing pushes that even further. It moves us from serving individuals to shifting entire systems. When you put peer leadership and organizing together, you get a movement. You get spaces where people don’t just get by. They grow, they lead, and they help build the world they needed when they were facing challenges.
MARCO: What are some concrete steps or strategies that Recovery Community Organizations and other support centers can take to ensure that recovery spaces are truly inclusive and accessible to people from diverse backgrounds
Danielle: Start with culture. If your space doesn’t feel safe or affirming to everyone, you’re not doing recovery. You’re replicating harm. Concrete steps look like evaluating your policies through an equity lens, involving community members in program design, and offering training that goes beyond your everyday DEI. Think about things like language access, physical accessibility, childcare support, and talent acquisition. Make sure your intake forms reflect people’s identities. Pay your peers well. Build partnerships with grassroots orgs and mutual aid groups. And most of all, be willing to be uncomfortable and grow. If inclusion is truly a value, it should show up in every part of your organization.
MARCO: You advocate for a vision of recovery that is rooted in justice, including access to harm reduction and trauma-informed care. How can advocates and organizations continue pushing for policy changes that support this vision, especially within systems that have traditionally been resistant to such reforms?
Danielle: We push by organizing. By telling our stories and backing them with data. By refusing to let policy conversations happen without the people most impacted in the room. Policy change doesn’t come from waiting on systems to do the right thing. It comes from building power, making a ton of noise, and continuing to show up again and again. Harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and culturally affirming services are not optional. They’re evidence-based and lifesaving. We have to speak that truth in every room we’re in. Build coalitions. Leverage media. Meet with lawmakers. And don’t back down just because the system wasn’t designed for us. That’s exactly why we’re here.
