For Lamont B. Taylor, recovery is both a battle and a sanctuary. Born in Hennepin County and raised in Gary, Indiana, Lamont has lived a life marked by struggle, mistakes, and the long road to self-discovery. Today, he finds solace at Anything Helps, a Minneapolis-based organization that provides resources for people navigating addiction and life’s challenges.
“It’s like a safe haven for me,” Lamont says. “It’s way calmer than any other place. I come here if I need to get anything done, I can get it done. I got all the help that I can get.”
Lamont has spent much of his life in Minneapolis’ North Side, a neighborhood he describes with honesty and frustration. He’s faced incarceration and housing instability, consequences of decisions he now reflects on with clarity. “Some stupid mistakes that I made,” he admits. “But at the same time, I’m working on it as we speak.”
Despite the hardships, Lamont sees his journey as progress. “It’s like right now I’m struggling a little bit, but then at the same time I’m not. My up game has come a very, very long way from where I used to be.”
Looking back, Lamont acknowledges that the path he took was shaped by his own choices. “Me not listening or learning…the things my grandparents used to tell me all the time: Don’t you walk down the wrong track, you end up where you don’t want to be.”
“My up game has come a very, very long way from where I used to be.”
Recovery, he notes, is no easy feat. “It’s hard. There’s a lot of temptation outside. A lot of that stuff I try my best to stay away from. I know me, and I know where I end up. I know exactly why I end up there, and I’m not trying to go there.”
For Lamont, leaving the North Side and finding a quieter environment is part of his vision for a healthier life. “I want to be somewhere with less people… I need peace and quiet,” he says.
Faith and self-discipline are what keep him moving forward. “Me keeping to a higher power is what keeps me going. Without that, I wouldn’t be able to do anything,” Lamont says.
His message to others facing similar struggles is simple but powerful: Seek help, and commit to yourself. “Come to Anything Helps,” he says. “These people right here are going to help you get right back where you need to be, but you’ve got to want to do it yourself as well.”
Lamont’s story is a testament to the challenges of recovery and the strength required to pursue a better life. In a city like Minneapolis, resources like Anything Helps can provide the guidance and support necessary to reclaim stability and hope.
For more information, visit www.anythinghelpsmn.org.
