Interview Summary: Sankofa House

Returning to Self, Restoring the Spirit

At Sankofa House, men gathered in a healing circle to talk about life after addiction, incarceration, and loss. The space was quiet but powerful — full of reflection, truth-telling, and laughter that came from survival. Their stories revealed a shared desire to rebuild identity, reclaim purpose, and learn how to be gentle with themselves after years of chaos.

The conversation reflected the meaning of Sankofa itself: to go back and fetch what was lost. Each man spoke about wanting to restore the part of himself that addiction, trauma, or violence had taken — his self-respect, his voice, his role as a father, his peace of mind.

Learning Quotes

“You can’t heal what you keep hiding. I had to look at myself like I was worth saving.”

“The hardest part wasn’t getting clean — it was forgiving myself.”

“When you ain’t had peace in so long, it feel strange at first.”

“We used to call it weakness to cry. Now I see it’s strength to feel again.”

“Recovery ain’t just about being sober. It’s about learning to love yourself like somebody else loves you.”

Conversation Overview

The men spoke candidly about rebuilding life after years of pain and disconnection. Many described how street life and incarceration normalized trauma — until they realized survival wasn’t the same as healing. One participant reflected on losing his mother while in prison and never processing the grief; another shared how being in a recovery house for the first time taught him accountability.

Faith, brotherhood, and cultural connection were central themes. The group spoke about rediscovering spirituality, redefining manhood, and repairing relationships with their children. They discussed how community expectations around “being strong” often kept them silent, even when they were breaking inside. The space gave permission to feel — something most had never experienced before.

Key Learnings

• Healing requires reflection. The men described recovery as a process of looking inward, confronting pain, and reclaiming self-worth.

• Masculinity must evolve. Real strength comes from vulnerability — from being honest, asking for help, and expressing emotion.

• Cultural pride empowers healing. Connecting to identity, history, and community purpose helped participants stay grounded and proud of their progress.

• Brotherhood sustains recovery. Peer accountability and shared space were described as the “glue” that holds the process together.

• Forgiveness is freedom. Letting go of guilt and forgiving oneself was named as one of the hardest — but most essential — steps toward peace.

Insight for Systems Change

The Sankofa House men’s dialogue revealed that recovery must go deeper than sobriety — it must include identity, purpose, and belonging. These men don’t just need services; they need spaces that affirm their worth, their culture, and their humanity.

As one participant said, “We’re not broken — we’re becoming.” That truth is the foundation for healing-centered care: systems that don’t just treat behavior, but restore dignity.

Recovery is remembering who you are — and believing that’s still enough.