The collective was formed by case managers working in the recovery and criminal justice fields in East TN. We have experienced many of the same hardships as the folks we guide and support. We see the persistent gaps in services, the uncertainty of grant funding, and often a lack of genuine trauma-informed care in our workplaces. We wanted to provide an alternative, sustainable, and holistic model of recovery support in our community that empowers us all. Therefore, the collective exists because of Recovery Makers, and Recovery Makers exists from the efforts of the collective.

We empower Recovery Makers participants with the social, mental, and practical benefits of making. Making can foster a state of mindfulness and is a healthy outlet for expressing and processing emotions. When a person creates something beautiful, useful, or both, they gain a sense of purpose and meaning. Confidence, sense of accomplishment, and self-esteem grows. Learning new skills can lead to new hobbies and financial opportunities. We encourage and support our Recovery Makers participants in the same way we encourage and support our collective members, and apply the same maker culture emphasis on informal, peer-led learning through action.

Recovery Makers classes and support services are funded through our item sales and community makers classes. Currently, we offer classes free of charge to our friends in local outpatient or residential recovery programs and sober living houses.