Bennie’s story is like many others, growing up he got himself caught up with the wrong people, and through them was introduced to drugs and alcohol at an early age. Many of the people Bennie hung out with could use recreationally and still be OK, that was not the case for Bennie.
Bennie grew up in North Minneapolis, A formally notorious series of black neighborhoods that for years were always poor, crime ridden, and ignored. Bennie’s family was not the normal black family, Bennie’s Mom and Dad were happily married and raising their family together. This is a sad commentary about life in America but a truth never-the-less. The culture in the neighborhood was that everyone smoked weed and drank, that was the norm and not looked at as a problem. When some one started using harder drugs, coke, meth, etc. then then community would look at you as someone with a problem.
In this episode we talk about…
- Bennie reveals his story and offers his advice and hopes for those who still struggle.
- Growing up in tough part of Minneapolis, the culture
- Overcoming the odds and making his life great in recovery
Bennie represents the millions of people who work hard trying to carve out a piece of the American dream in a system that sometimes backfires on people. Keeping people dependent on assistance to live, single Mothers trying to raise 3 kids at the age of 25. The system is not set up for you to prosper but to become dependent and entrapped.
Bennie’s experiences followed the same trajectory as many of us in recovery have experienced, but his was unique in that there were cultural and social considerations to consider. Bennie has been sober for 10 years, growing stronger in his resolve each year. Bennie now leads an A.A. group in Minneapolis, has inspired countless people and is rocking his life. North Minneapolis has been seeing a change, new business, new renewal, Bennie owns a house in North Minneapolis and was a big part of the new momentum, never quit never give up.
