In the heart of North Minneapolis, where the opioid crisis continues to silently claim lives, Neighborhood HealthSource is working to turn pain into possibility.
Through a combination of medical treatment, harm reduction, peer support, and grassroots outreach, the clinic is meeting the moment — and meeting people where they are. At the center of this movement is Angela Knoell, a certified recovery coach whose story is one of resilience, transformation, and redemption.
“I just want people to know, like, regardless of where you’re at, you deserve support,” Knoell said. “Whether it’s just talking for an hour or getting resources — it doesn’t matter if you’re sober or not.”
Knoell’s battle with addiction began at 19, following what she described as a sheltered adolescence in the Wayzata and Minnetonka area. Influenced by genetics, isolation, and the pressure to catch up on missed experiences, she spiraled into drug use that would dominate nearly a decade of her life.
“I was kind of restricted a lot when I was in high school… I didn’t get to do a lot – and kind of experiment. So when I became 19, I just let loose and got into the bad crowd and just wanted to experiment on everything I feel like I missed out on from 14 to 19.”
By 28, she had lost custody of her children, spent time in jail, and faced a seven-year prison sentence in Wisconsin. Pregnant with her fifth child, she was given one final choice: serve time or get clean.
She chose recovery.
“I was 28 at my last use… I had tried to quit all through, from my first treatment at 21. It was an on-off thing to please legal obligations or family, but at 28, I asked myself, ‘Is this drug worth another seven years of my life?’ and I actually put effort into quitting.”
Knoell completed a year-long treatment program, joined AmeriCorps, and was placed at Neighborhood HealthSource. Now 31, she’s a full-time recovery coach, using her past to help others build their future.
“I try to tell people, especially women with children who feel like they can’t win, ‘If I came through this, you can, I promise.’ I was once homeless, didn’t have custody of any kids, and my parents wouldn’t talk to me. There’s hope for everybody,” she said. “I didn’t think I would be able to get sober, let alone get a brand new car, get a job, get an apartment, and have custody of my last child,” she continues. “But I did. And they can too.”
Knoell works alongside Jordan Abhold, a public health professional who earned his Master’s in Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota and now serves as Neighborhood HealthSource’s Harm Reduction Coordinator. Though Jordan doesn’t have lived experience with addiction, he’s built trust through presence — on sidewalks, in encampments, and with neighbors navigating recovery.
“I’ve treated overdoses in encampments. I’ve talked to folks who are using and unhoused. You don’t need to have struggled with addiction to care about people who have,” Abhold said. “It’s about seeing our neighbors as people first.”
Together, Angela and Jordan are part of a small but mighty team offering a range of services for those grappling with opioid use disorder:
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD): Neighborhood HealthSource prescribes Suboxone, a medication that helps curb cravings and withdrawal symptoms without the risk of abuse.
- Weekly all-recovery meetings: Every Monday at the Fremont Clinic from 1–3 p.m., the team hosts “Mindful Mondays,” a drop-in space where anyone — regardless of where they are in their recovery — can share, connect, and get access to immediate care if needed.
- Narcan trainings: Held seven times a month across various locations, including the North Regional Library, these free trainings teach community members how to administer the overdose-reversing drug.
- Outreach and harm reduction: The team conducts direct outreach in encampments twice weekly, offering harm reduction supplies and referrals. Angela and her colleagues also table at local resource hubs like the NEON Opportunity Center.
- Wraparound support: Recovery coaches assist with everything from job applications to securing ID, serving as trusted guides for those navigating the often-fragmented system of care.
“It’s not just about getting someone clean,” Knoell said. “It’s about helping them live again.”
Abhold added, “A lot of the people we work with are used to being treated like a problem. We try to remind them they’re people — people who are worthy of care, connection, and hope.”
As the opioid epidemic tightens its grip on communities across the nation, grassroots programs like Neighborhood HealthSource are proving that healing starts locally with dignity, with trust, and with people like Knoell.
For more information on recovery meetings or support services, visit www.neighborhoodhealthsource.org, or call 612-588-9411.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use, help is available. Call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com
