Everybody’s saying it so well, but I guess another contribution can’t hurt. There aren’t words for what K Street means to the GLBT recovery community or for me personally. I’ve got 5 ½ years now, and I still feel like a new-comer. One of the first gay meetings I ever attended was Sunday morning at K-Street. And I knew I was home! The place exudes a warm, comforting, "welcome home" feeling. Those shabby, old, coffee stained couches feel like the warm embrace of a kindly old grandmother. It’s just "home". Some of the most important people in my life today I met at K-Street. Thanksgiving at K-Street is a special event. That feeling of welcoming stays all year. Thanks, K-Street for my sanity and serenity. –Dorchester, MA

I recently visited K-Street for the first time. I was coming back from a hard breakup and I had just moved here to Boston. I was amazed at the spirit of the people who attend the meetings and I was glad I chose K-Street to reach out to the community again. "I plan on getting involved in this meeting place" I thought. I made connections with some great people and am still attending myself. Why wouldn't I it’s a great meeting every time. — Medford, MA

When I first got sober, I had to stay away from gay meetings. I needed to stay focused on getting and staying sober, so going to gay meetings was only going to distract me and potentially keep me from getting sober. I felt that if I went to gay meetings, I would be looking to pick-up guys and I didn’t need to be doing that. God knows all the distorted and negative relationships I’ve been in. When I finally put six months together I began to go to meetings at K-Street. I felt safe because not only was K-Street open to gays and lesbians, K-Street was open to all. I found a community that represented freedom, happiness, kindness, love and joy.

I only knew about the gay bar scene in Boston and had not seen a group of people in recovery caring about one another without wanting anything back in return. I learned to be more considerate, tolerant and serene by seeing a community; my community, expressing gratitude toward one another and helping each other stay away from a drink one day at a time. — Boston, MA

I attended my first K-Street meetings when I was looking for a place to live. I was getting a promotion and my company was moving me to Boston. I come from Hartford, CT., which has a huge GLBT community center that has almost daily AA meetings, and was where I learned to not drink one day at a time. The meeting rooms in the Hartford community center were furnished in hand-me-down, old sofas and chairs. Shabby chic!

My first impression of the hall at K-Street was, "Boy, this is a small room for such a big city." My second impression was, "Hey, they're using the same decorator!" It had the same hand-me-down, shabby chic, it had a coffee pot, and at almost every meeting, they went around the room and introduced themselves by first name only. In other words, it felt like home.

I was a barroom drinker, I was out on the town every night. When I got sober, going to AA meetings, the same AA meetings on a regular basis, helped me overcome that feeling that I was missing something (at my local bar). I needed a place where " everybody knows your name". By attending meetings at K-Street even before having arrived in Boston, I was able to make new friends and become a part of a wonderful community. I took a six month commitment at the Saturday candlelight meeting, which got me to that same meeting at that same place every Saturday night (a trick I learned from my Hartford AAs), kept me out of the bars, focused on recovery.

It's been almost three years since I moved here and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I have a place to go where everybody knows my name! That place is K-Street.

— Dorchester, MA

I first walked in to a meeting at K-Street in September of 1987. I had been ordered by the court to attend AA meetings. I was afraid, and ashamed, but I wasn't going to tell anyone. The room was dimly lit by a couple of funky lamps. The couches were warm and comforting, although a bit stinky from the homeless women who slept on them - it reminded me of home. People were mostly friendly and welcoming, They hugged me and treated me like I had survived a life threatening catastrophe. I couldn't understand where they were coming from or what they wanted but I felt a sense of real acceptance for the first time in my life. I've been going there ever since.

When I was finally ready to get sober in February 1989, I had phone numbers to call and a place to go to where I could be myself and feel safe. I don't think I would have gotten sober if it wasn't for K-Street. The atmosphere is so different from most AA meetings. The metal folding chairs in church basements make me feel completely uncomfortable. I've stayed sober over the years as I've witnessed countless numbers of friends, lovers and fellow AA members die from Aids, alcohol and drug addiction. K-Street has been a place of solace for me in good and bad times. I’m always sure there will be some one there who can relate to what I’m feeling and that gives me the strength to stay sober and clean for another day. — Leominster, MA

I attended my first K Street Meeting back in the mid to late 80's when the room was still used to house homeless women on some nights. I too was "homeless" in spirit and considered K Street as a home to rest my weary soul. It has been and still remains a very important part of my sobriety. — Roxbury, MA

Over my 16 1/2 continuous years of solid sobriety and attending 12-Step Meetings here at K-street, I’ve met a lot of people that were serious about exploring a new and better way of living life. I once was “not afraid” to die. In fact, “I was afraid to live” and/or afraid to show up for life.

My life was many “1-Day at a Time’s”. Struggling with many instances where I was sick and tired of “Getting Sick! and Tired!”.

“Hitting my head” as one would say against the “Brick Wall” every weekend, expecting different results every time in the “clubs/bars” - late into the night just to feel “wanted. Alas, the only thing that would happen was either I would stumble home “alone” or find myself in bed, the next morning, with a stranger not knowing his name. Putting down the bottle was the number one most hardest thing I’ve done within social circles.

Thank God this place maintained its integrity and the "Facility Committee" was formed. When I entered this unknown hall back in 1991, it was known for the “Monday Night AA Meetings”, where, eventually after many years of anguish, I was ready to listen, I was taught to take baby steps through my troubles of addictions to alcohol and come out the other side “One Day at a Time” victorious and still sober.

I’m glad I chose to “stick with the winners” here at K-Street. I stand here now, a free man to choose which direction, which road I want my life to go in. To try to pass on what was so freely given to me to another “drunk” or “addict”.

I don’t claim to be perfect and maybe I still have lessons to be learned, but with the friendly people at my side (both GBLT and Straight) from K-Street, anything is possible. — Bridgewater MA