Molly Kelly
Molly Kelly is the Executive Director of The Upper Room Recovery Community in South Bend, Indiana, where she leads programs that provide safe, structured housing and recovery support for individuals rebuilding their lives after addiction.
Her leadership is deeply rooted in lived experience. Having overcome addiction, incarceration, and the challenges of starting over, Molly understands firsthand the barriers individuals face in recovery. Today, she uses that experience to create pathways for others to achieve stability, independence, and lasting change.
Under her direction, The Upper Room serves men and women transitioning from homelessness, incarceration, and substance use disorder, with a strong focus on accountability, employment, and long-term success. She is also leading the development of the Bridges to Recovery Center, expanding access to critical resources such as life skills training, employment support, and community connection.
Molly is passionate about restoring dignity, strengthening families, and changing the narrative around addiction and recovery. Through collaboration with community partners, she continues to build a system of support where individuals are not only able to recover — but to thrive.
• Managing Up, Down, and Across the Organization
• Getting Talent Back to Work Certificate
• The Asana Project Management Certificate
• Computer Software Engineering Certificate
• Indiana University South Bend - BBA
• Upper Room Recovery Community
• South Bend Recovery Cafe
• Koch Associate Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, lived experience, and a deep sense of purpose.
I’ve walked through addiction, incarceration, and the challenges of rebuilding my life from the ground up. Those experiences didn’t just shape me — they gave me clarity about what truly matters and a drive to create change for others walking a similar path.
I’ve also been fortunate to have people who believed in me when I was still learning to believe in myself. Today, I carry that forward by building environments where others feel supported, seen, and capable of success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is that my story is not a weakness — it’s my greatest asset.
Owning my journey has allowed me to lead with authenticity, build real connections, and create meaningful change. The moment I stopped trying to separate my past from my leadership was the moment I truly stepped into my purpose.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Own your story and don’t shrink to fit into spaces you were meant to lead in.
Whether your path has been traditional or not, your experiences have value. In this field, authenticity and compassion are just as important as credentials. Stay committed to growth, set strong boundaries, and don’t lose sight of why you started.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the recovery and behavioral health field right now is the growing demand for services paired with a shortage of resources and workforce.
More people than ever are struggling with substance use and mental health challenges, yet access to care remains limited. Workforce shortages, burnout, and funding instability make it difficult for organizations to meet the need, especially at the community level.
At the same time, there is a major opportunity to rethink how we approach recovery — by focusing more on long-term support, housing, employment, and community connection, not just short-term treatment.
There is also growing recognition of the value of peer support and lived experience in recovery, which is helping reshape the field in a more human-centered and effective way.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, compassion, and accountability are at the core of everything I do.
I believe in being honest about where I’ve been and intentional about where I’m going. Compassion allows me to meet people where they are, while accountability helps create real, lasting change.
In both my work and my personal life, I value creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow.
Milestone Moments
Honored to be featured on the cover of Inspire Magazine 💗 This moment is a reminder of how far I’ve come — and why this work matters so much. Grateful to lead, serve, and be part of a community that believes in second chances 💚