Meet Mark: Respect, understanding, sincerity, and genuineness

I spent 33 years in addiction and I can’t tell you what the program Personal Empowerment at Twin Cities RISE (TCR) did to my life—the depth it gave me. In the class I felt comfortable, seen, appreciated, and valued. I still talk with many of my classmates, and we check in on each other for support. My coaches and instructors were instrumental in my transition in recovery. They played a pivotal part in my life.

I started an internship at Freedom Works as an intern and was promoted multiple times to my position now as the Treatment Program Manager. I am celebrating one year in December and will be ringing the bell at TCR. A lot of my ability to express and articulate my journey to others came out of my experience there.

Personal Empowerment helped me become emotionally aware and situationally considerate of other people’s needs through respect, understanding, sincerity, and genuineness. To make them feel valuable and important. Emotional intelligence helped me understand my children better and be a source of love to them.