Executive Director of Message Carriers of Pennsylvania
With over twenty plus years in the Human Service field, Ms. Horston Spencer has worked the last 16 years exclusively in the recovery supportive services of addiction field. Her start in the Human Service Field began as a Teacher’s Aide in the Pittsburgh Public School system in that capacity she worked with severely physically challenged children. Robin believes in volunteering for other organizations in the roles of mentoring school children and oversight of the school board. She has worked with families on reunifications, individuals with mental health, drug & alcohol issues; as a group facilitator, trainer of trainers, certified counselor and mobile therapist.
Ms. Horston Spencer holds a Master Degree of Science in Human Service (MHS) from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, PA where she was inducted into the Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Science and was awarded the Rose B. Pinky Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Human Service Field. While attending Lincoln University she wrote “Training Recovering Individuals with Criminal Histories to Become Advocates and Mentors”. She is a firm believer that learning is lifelong in addition, one must become a change agent. In 2004, she helped to create as workforce development certification the Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) that is being used throughout the state. This certification was designed to assist those with lived experiences an opportunity to find gainful employment in the Drug &Alcohol field. In 2007 through 2009, she attended Carlow University where she received two more masters’ degrees. A Master of Science in Professional Leadership, specializing in Training and Development (MSPL) and Master of Business Administration (MBA). Ms. Horston Spencer also was one of the first in Pennsylvania to become a Certified Offenders Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) and is a certified Recovery Coach Trainer (RCT).
She currently writes in two publications the Soul Pitt magazine and Pennsylvania Recovery Community-Alliance Quarterly Report. Robin has been acknowledged by several entities for her work in the community, such as 2011, New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence, on the cover of Soul Pitt as one of the people to watch in 2014 and 2017, she was recognized as a Women of Purpose. In June of 2018 became an ordained Minister at Petra International Ministries, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ms. Horston Spencer is in long term recovery and will attest that to mean since being in recovery she has given back to the community in various ways. She is well known by many from all walks of life and venues of services, through her collaborative efforts with churches, agencies and the 12 Step communities. Presently, she sits on several advisory boards locally, statewide and nationally. She has made it her life’s work to promote recovery by educating anyone who will listen. Her passion is to put a positive face and voice for recovery wherever she goes! She has a magnetic personally that most people who have the pleasure to meet her feel that they have not met a stranger. Her approach of making one feel that they are the only person to exist at time of distress is amazing. She is also known for her loyalty, trustworthiness and has the heart of gold to care for all those who come into her life. Ms. Spencer resides in Pittsburgh, PA and is the proud mother of Leigh Horston (Malika), granddaughters, Jazmine and Jordan all of Columbus, Ohio