Recovery Café DC

Making Recovery Real in Southeast DC

Donald ConerlyDonald and Jacqueline Conerly founded Recovery Café DC (RCDC) in 2018. Based in Ward 8, RCDC's mission is to be a healing, transformative recovery community for all who have been traumatized by addiction, other mental health challenges, homelessness and incarceration. 

RCDC believes that regardless of past trauma,Jacqueline Conerly addictive behaviors or mistakes made, everyone deserves a chance to “get back up and try again”. 

RCDC creates a safe, drug- and alcohol-free space with programs that support recovery, build resiliency, and equip members with skills and experiences. At the Café, everyone is seen as a valued member, and is treated with respect, compassion, and forgiveness. Each members' unique gifts are recognized and all are encouraged to giving back to the community through voluntary activities. 

The Headwaters initiative brings focused attention on young men (18-24 years old) in Southeast DC. Facilitated by Keith Anderson and Jim Marsh, Jr., this team both lived experience and therapeutic training. The program creates an open space for deep, authentic conversation to happen Headwaters Team: Keith (L) and Jim (R)by recreating a barbershop-like setting that is rooted in building connections authentic connection with and among where the young men. The program began 2019 at the 801 East Men's shelter run by Catholic Charities. In 2023, a new relationship with the Maya Angelou Public Charter School's Young Adult Learning Center (YALC) opened an opportunity to connect with young men working on their GED. In the Fall of 2024, the Headwaters team will also be working in the New Beginnings Detention Center.

"The model for transformation at Recovery Cafe DC would be powerful no matter what. But with Black leaders with deep roots in Southeast, it becomes unstoppable.  This team's unwavering faith in their people can be felt in every recovery circle, at every meal, and with every step toward breaking ground at our new building on Good Hope Road, SE. The leaders know the recovery struggle because it has been their own. Their commitment to create authentic healing community with the people of this city is in their every breath."  Angie Thurston