Spring: A Lovely Reminder of How Beautiful Change Can Truly Be
Dear friends,
Here at PRCC, the blooms are beginning to appear one by one from the ground and on the trees. Daffodils, tulips, cherry blossoms, chestnut buds — it’s a delight to see this new life, feel the warm air, listen to birds sing, and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts into the evening.
Maine’s recovery community centers are alive with new beginnings, as people embark on their recovery journeys and continue their personal growth. We celebrate spring with 17 recovery community centers statewide, connected by our common missions to help people find their way out of addiction and grow in their recovery journeys.
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A NEW LOOK: As part of this new spring energy, I am also pleased to present a new logo for the Portland Recovery Community Center.
Back in March, we surveyed members, staff, board members, and community to ask whether PRCC should change its name to reflect our growing work throughout Maine. 81 percent of people said PRCC should keep its current name. We listened, and we heard from people from all over the state. In one person’s words, "PRCC is already connecting with the recovery community statewide — why change now!" We decided to keep the name and refresh our logo as we move into the next decade. With community input, we had the pleasure of collaborating with Rubi Hernandez, Marketing & Education Specialist at IDEXX, who donated her time. Together, we envisioned how to create a logo that speaks to the belonging, hope, and support that people feel at the PRCC.
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And so, we landed on keeping an image of the compass, which is part of PRCC’s current logo. A compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it. We believe that the compass best represents PRCC’s mission of pointing in the direction of hope and safety, across many pathways of recovery.
As PRCC celebrates ten years serving Maine's recovery community, we are pleased to share further growth, renewal, and fresh energy at 102 Bishop Street and beyond. Over the past year, our community has come together to begin the renovations of PRCC's new building, and it is looking amazing — complete with new furniture, plenty of sunlight, and (of course) hot coffee. With over double the capacity of the previous site, the PRCC warmly welcomes you to come by for a meeting, activity, or just to say hello and check it out. As always, everything is offered at no cost.
Over the coming months, PRCC will move into the next phase of renovations at 102 Bishop Street. We celebrate our growth and consider what it says to our community — our growth says that we are committed to Maine’s recovery community long-term, and the logo revision is just the bow on top. Our hope is that this refreshed look and feel across the organization will solidify our progression as we continue to expand.
Stay tuned for announcements about the big celebration of PRCC’s 10-year anniversary and grand opening ribbon cutting!
Kindly,
Leslie Clark, Executive Director
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Softball in Recovery: A Movement of Connection |
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In April 2017, recovery advocate Tess Parks gathered with a group of her friends in recovery to create a softball team to play in the Casco Bay Sports league in Portland. They named themselves the "Jaywalkers" based on a parable in the AA Big Book.
By the following year, a few other softball teams emerged with team members in recovery, including the "Free Basers," which was started by Ethan Grove in 2018. By 2021, there were a whole collection of teams in recovery all over Maine, with a multitude of pathways represented.
"Once we were all together, we got to experience a healthy competitiveness that can be difficult to find sometimes," said Grove. "Beyond that, what I noticed was that the community kept growing — with connections and friendships. People got to talk to others that they wouldn't normally be exposed to, in a cool setting that wasn't just a meeting or sober house."
"Softball brings people joy, fun, and the opportunity to be on a team. But it's more than that," said Parks. "Joining a team with people at all different stages of recovery inspires hope, especially to players in early recovery. The kind of connection you can find on a team also creates a protective barrier, making it less likely to return to their old way of life."
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In addition to the personal connection and support that these teams have provided, the softball games have also become opportunities for public advocacy and education. This has included a tournament fundraiser for the Family Restored, an organization that holds family support meetings throughout New England, as well as further games that were held as public advocacy events.
One of these games was on On August 31, 2021, which is recognized as Overdose Awareness Day. That day, two teams of people in recovery played against each other in Lewiston, Maine. The game was followed by a cookout with community resources and a candlelit ceremony to honor lives lost and raise awareness.
All in all, the softball in recovery movement is well underway, and more and more people are impacted by this community each season.
"Softball gave me a sense of community in my recovery" said Carly Flagg, another softball player in recovery. "It gave me a bigger community than I could have imagined. It allowed me to see that there are things that bring me joy that I can do without being blinded by drugs or alcohol. It’s a beautiful feeling when you have multiple years of recovery on the sidelines cheering you on!"
To learn more and get connected, contact Tess Parks.
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Pathway$ — Finding Financial Recovery
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PRCC is teaming up with Town & Country Federal Credit Union to provide financial tips and help for people in recovery community through our monthly newsletter, social media, in-person consultation and workshops. Please enjoy this first issue!
Taking Financial Inventory
Money can often be a stressful and emotionally charged subject for someone in recovery. Past debts, lost savings and mismanaged funds have caused financial hardship for many people in recovery. Plus, money can become a trigger that can threaten their sobriety.
Wherever you are on your recovery journey, assessing your situation and rebuilding your personal finances is a vital part of regaining your life and becoming financially healthy. Your current financial situation didn’t happen overnight and becoming financially healthy will take time, too.
Start by taking a financial inventory. A financial inventory will help get your financial picture in view by determining what is coming in and what is going out, what you owe and what you own. Make a list of all your:
- Sources of Income – every dollar that comes in. Income includes salary, benefits, child support, alimony, or spousal support, etc.
- Debts – Who do you owe? How much? What are the terms? Write down everything you owe from smallest to largest.
- Monthly Bills – What do you need to pay each month? Rent, utilities, car payment, gas, food?
- Assets – What do you own? A house, a camp, a car, or a boat? Determine the value of all your assets, including savings accounts.
Once you know where you stand financially, you can make a plan to get on the road to your financial future.
Like with many other things in recovery, one step at a time.
If you would like to talk with someone at Town & Country FCU about starting this process or other financial questions you may have, contact us at info@tcfcu.com.
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Collaboration with Larry Labonte Recovery Center Supports Re-entry |
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This collaboration resulted in 50 harm reduction backpacks, specifically for residents of Oxford County Jail upon their release. These backpacks contain items such as Narcan, fentanyl test strips, local recovery resources and brochures that can connect people to services.
Lt. Kate Armstrong from Oxford County Jail said, “People leaving the jail often feel lonely and may have little in the way of social supports when they leave the jail. They may be facing challenges of housing, employment and an exposure to the same environment and drug use immediately.
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“The mission of LLRC is to provide no cost support, recovery coaching and resource information, reduce stigma and provide a safe environment in the community for people to discuss their challenges with substance use, acquire naloxone and find a path to recovery,” said LLRC Director Kathie Williams. “We hope the packs will provide resources that encourage people to reach out to us or other community organizations like Project SaveME.”
This is incredibly important work, and PRCC is proud to be serving Maine's recovery community among such thoughtful and dedicated leadership.
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Mental Health Awareness, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national movement to raise awareness about mental health and reduce stigma. Before May is over, take some time to check in on your own mental health, as well as loved ones', and visit a local recovery community center for connection.
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Mother's Day is May 8, and PRCC is giving a special shout-out to all the wonderful mothers in Maine's recovery community! If you're a mom in recovery, check out the "Sober Mamas" group! |
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On Memorial Day and everyday, PRCC remembers and honors all who have served, and especially the veterans in our recovery community. |
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2022 HOPE Conference is May 18 — Register today! |
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The 2022 Maine Hope Conference will be held on May 18 at the Augusta Civic Center. This year's theme is "Rising with Hope, Building a New World: Revolutionizing Systems, Reimagining Wellness, & Rebuilding Community."
The Hope conference (which stands for Having Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) is an annual peer led conference offering workshops, learning and discussion about recovery and wellness. The event was created to help participants gain a greater understanding of what recovery/wellness is from the many paths and different perspectives on the journey of life.
The conference is open to all people in recovery and community members interested in well being.
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Coaching Corner — Summer Trainings Open for Registration!
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Are you interested in becoming a recovery coach, or learning more about recovery as a community member or ally?
PRCC offers CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery) certified Recovery Coach Academy classes throughout the state of Maine for Maine residents. PRCC Recovery Coaches honor multiple pathways, meet and support each individual on their recovery journey. Learn about recovery coaching here.
July, August, September Trainings — Registration open now!
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Recovery Coaching Basics: For community members and allies.
- August 26, 9:30am-4pm online via Zoom. Register here.
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Recovery Coach Academy: For people wanting to become a recovery coach.
- July 18-22, 10:00am-2:30pm online via Zoom. Register here.
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Ethical Considerations: For trained CCAR recovery coaches.
- September 7-9, Day 1 & 2 9:00am-4:00pm, Day 3 9:00am-1:00pm online via Zoom. Register here.
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Recovery Coaching in the Emergency Department: For trained CCAR recovery coaches.
- September 29-30, 9:00-4:00pm online via Zoom. Register here.
If you are already a trained recovery coach, be sure to check out the new Maine Recovery Coach Certification Board (MRCCB) website. The MRCCB website has all of the details on how to become a Registered or Certified Peer Recovery Coach, view credentials, find training resources and more.
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Building Recovery Community Throughout Maine
This newsletter allows us to connect with you, our Maine recovery community. Whether you're a person in recovery, family member, or ally, you are part of the solution to addiction. Published on a regular basis and sent via email, this newsletter provides updates and gives you an opportunity to help support recovery and spread the message of hope throughout the state of Maine. To learn more about PRCC, whose programs are funded in part by the Maine Department of Health & Human Services, visit our website. Please send any feedback or information you'd like us to include to newsletter@portlandrecovery.org.
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PORTLAND RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER portlandrecovery.org |
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