Lifting up recovery community voices.
MARCO hosts listening sessions to connect recovery community members, engage policymakers, and amplify the strengths and needs within Minnesota’s diverse communities of recovery. These town halls provide a forum for collaboration and sharing of varied perspectives. We aim to ensure that the recovery community is included in public policymaking. Check our events calendar for upcoming Community Voices Town Halls, and find the recordings and other materials from past sessions below.
The Silence of Substance Use Disorder in the Hmong and Asian Communities
January 16, 2025
On January 16, 2025, MARCO partnered with Koom Recovery and Recovery Cafe Frogtown to bring community members and policymakers together for a discussion of the impact of substance use disorders on Minnesota’s Hmong and Karen communities. A panel of elected officials, policymakers, and community leaders shared updates on current issues, policies, and future plans. Community members asked questions, identified community needs, and shared personal stories about the effect of substance use disorders on individuals and families in the community. The Town Hall was a critical event that broke stigma, raised awareness, and helped set the direction for future policies and programs. 3HmongTV provided a live broadcast of the event.
Peer Recovery Support Services in Minnesota
September 26, 2024
With the closing of Kyros, one of the state’s largest providers of Peer Recovery Support Services, MARCO hosted the first of several Community Voices Townhalls about Peer Recovery Support Services in Minnesota. This virtual one-hour event was an opportunity to bring forward ideas, solutions, and constructive feedback to help shape the short- and long-term future of peer recovery support services. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shared resources for dislocated workers, and participants brought forward ideas, concerns, questions, and resources in response to these guiding questions:
- What currently works well in how peer recovery support services are provided in Minnesota?
- What could be better?
- What is needed in the next 30, 60, and 90 days to ensure delivery of and access to quality peer recovery support services across Minnesota?
- Where do we want to be in one year?
Session themes and comments
Download the PDF below for a summary of themes that emerged during the town hall, with all the comments and responses.
Resources shared:
From DEED:
Layoff and Business Closure Resources
From MARCO:
Community-Based Organizations Providing Peer Recovery Support Services
Recovery Community Organizations that are curently hiring CPRS:
