Marin County Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous

Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity, Service

These guiding principles were born from the experience of AA’s earliest members, and together they form the foundation of our program. They remind us that staying sober isn’t just about abstinence—it’s about healing ourselves, connecting with others, and giving back.

Recovery

Recovery is the personal transformation that happens when we work the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s about healing from the inside out—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through honesty, willingness, and connection to a Higher Power of our own choosing, we begin to recover from the hopelessness of alcoholism and addiction. The Steps are a path to freedom—not just from drugs and alcohol, but from the self-centered fear, isolation, and pain that fueled it. Recovery is the daily miracle that allows us to live sober, happy, and free—one day at a time.

Unity

Unity is the spiritual glue that holds our fellowship together. It’s what makes “we” more powerful than “me.” Through the Twelve Traditions, we learn how to function as a group—with love, respect, and shared purpose—so that AA can continue to carry the message to alcoholics and addicts who still suffer. Unity invites us to put principles before personalities, practice inclusion over division, and focus on our common welfare. It’s how we turn individual recovery into collective strength.

Service is the heart of how we give back what was so freely given to us. It takes many forms—sponsoring newcomers, making coffee, speaking at meetings, chairing events, or being part of the MCYPAA committee. The Twelve Concepts for World Service show us how AA works behind the scenes, but at every level, Service is about showing up with humility, love, and willingness. It helps us stay sober by getting out of ourselves—and into action for others.

We recognize that young people face unique challenges and pressures that can make recovery difficult. For young people in recovery, the Three Legacies offer a powerful framework for navigating sobriety in a world that often doesn’t understand it. Recovery gives us a daily solution, Unity reminds us we’re not alone, and Service gives our lives purpose and direction. Through MCYPAA, we get to live out these legacies together—building a fellowship that’s fun, supportive, and rooted in spiritual action.

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