BREAKING THE CYCLE: HOW THE MIRACLES CLUB IS LEADING PORTLAND’S RECOVERY REVOLUTION BY FAWN ABERSON PHOTO CREDIT: FLOSSIN STAFF
unintended consequences of Measure 110, which decriminalized drug possession. Communities, especially Black neighborhoods, are bearing the brunt of these intersecting crises. Tents line city streets, businesses report rising break-ins, and families face daily reminders of the trauma wrought by addiction. Amid these challenges, culturally responsive organizations like the Miracles Club provide a much-needed bridge between harm reduction and recovery, offering solutions tailored to the unique needs of Black communities.
Julia Mines Executive Director (left) & Kayla Moore Program Manager (right) – The Miracles Club
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n the heart of Portland’s African American community stands the Miracles Club, a Black-led recovery center that has served as a lifeline for over three decades. Founded in 1993 by three men seeking to create a safe space for Black individuals in recovery, the Miracles Club addresses systemic inequities that have long marginalized African Americans in traditional addiction
treatment. Today, it continues to expand its impact, offering culturally responsive, peer-supported services that empower individuals to reclaim their lives while addressing broader community challenges, including homelessness. Portland's homelessness crisis has reached alarming levels, exacerbated by the fentanyl epidemic and the
“Our people are dying, often indoors and unseen,” says Executive Director Julia Mines. “Fentanyl has infiltrated every corner of our community, but the response has not been equitable. Traditional treatment centers don’t understand our history, our trauma, or our needs. That’s why Miracles exists—to meet our people where they are and bring them where they need to be.”
Our people are dying, often indoors and unseen. Fentanyl has infiltrated every
inequities to daily microaggressions. thrive, and where our people can corner of our Mines explains, “If you walk into a reclaim their futures.” room and no one looks like you, or community, but worse, they’ve already judged you, In a city grappling with mounting how can you heal there? At Miracles, challenges, the Miracles Club stands as the response our clients see themselves reflected in a testament to the power of culturally responsive, peer-led care. Through its their mentors and their peers. That’s has not been unwavering commitment to equity, powerful.” equitable. the Club is not only transforming Under Mines’ leadership, the Miracles Club has transformed from a struggling nonprofit into a powerhouse of community support. When Mines took the helm in 2019, the Club operated with just four staff members and a budget of $100,000. Today, Miracles employs over 30 staff, operates on a $2 million annual budget, and offers programs that include transitional and permanent housing, stabilization services, and harm reduction outreach. Its doors are open from 8 AM to 10 PM, welcoming anyone seeking support, no matter where they are on their recovery journey. The Club’s work directly addresses Portland’s homelessness crisis. Through housing programs tailored to African Americans, including stabilization housing for those still using substances and permanent housing for families, Miracles is helping people find not just shelter, but a pathway to stability. Outreach teams venture into encampments, providing essentials like Narcan, clothing, and meals while building trust with the unhoused. Culturally responsive care is at the heart of Miracles’ success. Traditional recovery programs often fail to account for the layers of trauma faced by Black individuals, from historical
Kayla Moore, a survivor and now a staff member, embodies this ethos. After surviving a traumatic shooting and years of substance abuse, she found purpose and belonging at Miracles. “We show up for people who aren’t ready to show up for themselves,” Moore shares. Her journey highlights the Club’s ability to turn pain into purpose, offering not just recovery, but transformation.
individual lives but also reshaping the narrative of recovery and community healing in Portland. This article supported by the Oregon Health Authority, coming together for change because, when it comes to health, we are all connected.
Culturally responsive care is about more than recovery— it’s about restoring dignity and reclaiming our futures. Beyond addiction recovery, the Miracles Club is a cornerstone for rebuilding community and tackling systemic barriers. Mines emphasizes that solving Portland’s homelessness and addiction crises requires culturally specific programs that prioritize equity and dignity. “This isn’t just about one person getting clean,” Mines says. “It’s about creating a place where families can heal, where neighborhoods can
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