Dear friends,
Those of us in recovery have been fortunate to emerge from despair and find a new life beyond what we could have imagined for ourselves. And none of us did it alone. We are grateful for the many friends, mutual aid groups, families, service providers, treatment centers, therapists, bosses, and of course, recovery community centers that helped us find and sustain our recovery. The list goes on.
Just as our active addiction affected our families and the community in negative ways, our recovery can become a positive asset to those who love us and to the community at large. We work hard to repair harm and to become productive contributors to our employers, our families, and the towns and communities where we live and work. And most importantly, as we rebuild our lives and contribute to the greater good, we spread hope and offer assistance to the next person who may be suffering and is in need of help. We keep the gift we’ve been given by sharing it with others – freely and compassionately.
Each September, National Recovery Month is an opportunity to celebrate together, and to promote and support a strong and proud recovery community, and the service providers who make recovery in all its forms possible. Across Maine, we have seen our recovery movement grow by leaps and bounds and it’s exciting to share all the events happening throughout our state. It’s amazing to see so many people recovering and celebrating throughout September.
We hope you will join us in Portland, at the many community opportunities to celebrate around the state. We know that “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.”
With gratitude and appreciation, happy National Recovery Month!
Leslie
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PRCC to hold 10th Annual Rally 4 Recovery
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PRCC is excited to celebrate recovery at its 10th Annual Rally 4 Recovery from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Payson Park in Portland. The Rally 4 Recovery is a day of celebration and a resource fair that helps introduce and connect our community to the many organizations that help make recovery possible.
This community event is bigger than ever with more than 1,000 people expected in attendance. There will be music by DJ Sanctuary Entertainment, food trucks, resource tables, kid's activities including a bounce house and face painting, a recovery countdown by Gigi Gabor and the Curbside Queens, and more.
PRCC is honored to have special guest speaker Haner Hernandez, an expert trainer and instructor for the New England Addiction Technology Transfer Center at Brown University, speak at the rally. His focus is on disparities, building health equity, addiction treatment, recovery supports, and recovery support centers.
The Rally 4 Recovery is held in recognition of National Recovery Month, an annual event held each September to celebrate recovery, spread hope, and spotlight community organizations that work together to help people recover from substance use.
"This year’s Rally 4 Recovery in Payson Park brings the celebration of recovery into the heart of Portland’s community,” said Leslie Clark, executive director of PRCC. “The afternoon is full of music and fun activities. Over 50 businesses and organizations will be on site to share resources to help individuals and families learn about where to get help.”
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Thank you to the generous organizations who rally behind us!
Thank you
2023 sponsors!
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The Family Restored holds annual softball tournament |
Joining PRCC in the park is The Family Restored, holding its 5th Annual Softball Summer Classic starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 9, with food, drinks, games & raffle prizes. A trophy will be presented to the winning team! Then, stick around for PRCC’s Rally 4 Recovery from 12 to 3 p.m. This will be a wonderful day of recovery.
Journey Magazine held its Amplified Pop-Up Resource Event on Sept. 2 at Congress Square in Portland. The event was held in collaboration with Portland Recovery Community Center, MARR, Portland Public Health, The Family Restored, The Phoenix, and Rotary International.
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PRCC coordinates Our Side of the Street for the 1st. Annual Mobilize Recovery Day of Service |
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Portland Recovery Community Center and Maine Association of Recovery Residences have joined forces to coordinate Our Side of the Street event for Mobilize Recovery Day of Service.
Recovery community centers and recovery residences across Maine will join together to clean up their communities from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 30.
In recovery there are often things we need to "clean-up" from our active addiction. This event is a literal interpretation of cleaning-up our side of the street and giving back to the communities where we live.
If you would like to participate in Portland, please reach out to han@portlandrecovery.org to sign-up and volunteer with PRCC.
If you live in a recovery residence and want to participate, please reach out to madison@mainerecoveryresidences.com for more info and to register your house.
If you live outside the Portland area, you can reach out to your local recovery community center for more details or to help organize the event.
For more info and updates about this event, please email nicole@portlandrecovery.org.
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RCC's across Maine Celebrate Recovery |
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Lakes Region Recovery Center is celebrating its 5-year anniversary and holding a Recovery Remembrance Rally from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Music on Main, 144 Main St. in Bridgton.
Speakers, music, food trucks, fun and games. The theme for this year’s rally is Back to the 80s. A prize will be given to the best 80's costume. For more info, call 207-803-8707.
Augusta Recovery Reentry Center is partnering with the Kennebec House to hold the 1st Annual Recovery Olympics from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 at Youth Memorial Park in Augusta.
Live music and a DJ, as well as fun activities, food, and fun for the whole family. For more info, call 207-900-9179 or 207-242-5677.
Roads to Recovery Community Center is holding a barbeque and celebration from 12-3 p.m. Sept. 15 at the center, 1 Water St. in Caribou. For more info, check out the center's Facebook Page, here.
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The 7th Annual Western Maine Recovery Rally, organized by the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative (WMARI) and The HILLS Recovery Center, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at Moore Park in South Paris.
Participants will march from The HILLS Recovery Center on Tannery Street in Norway to Moore Park, where they will gather for speeches, food, and the chance to forge connections that can change lives.
For more info, call 207-744-2424 or go to wmari.org.
Larry Labonte Recovery Center will have a resource table at 7th Annual Western Maine Recovery Rally. Stop by and meet the staff. They look forward to a day filled with hope, connection, and community.
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Coastal Recovery Community Center will hold a Recovery Heroes Rally from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sept. 23 at the center, 11 White St. in Rockland. The rally will honor recovery leaders and front-line workers in the area.
Inspire Recovery Center is holding a barbeque on Sept. 29 at 24 Church St. in Ellsworth. For more info, check out their Facebook page, here.
Pir2Peer Recovery Center is holding a candlelight vigil from 6:30-7:30 Sept 26 at Recovery Center, 2323 Medway Rd. in Medway.
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Bangor Area Recovery Network is hosting Recovery-Palooza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. at the Bangor Waterfront.
Live music from The Real Young Swag, Miles Bullen, The Honeybees, & Bad Corner. The event is held in collaboration with Bangor Public Health & Community Services, BARN, Heal, Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, Northern Light Acadia Hospital, Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center, and Wellspring Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Services. All are welcome.
For more info, go to bangorrecovery.org
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Here's more Recovery Month events in Maine:
Compiled by the Maine Substance Use Disorders Services Commission
Wellspring Substance Use and Mental Health Services: 8th Annual Race for Recovery, Sept. 10, 9 a.m. pre-registration, 10 a.m. race at the Bangor Waterfront.
Cape Elizabeth Police Department: Opioids and Fentanyl 101, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cape Elizabeth Fire and Rescue, 2 Jordan Way in Cape Elizabeth.
Waldo County Recovery Community: Candlelight Vigil and Prayer, Sept. 13, 5 to 6 p.m. First Church UCC, 8 Court St. in Belfast.
OPTIONS et al: Harm Reduction Outreach, Education and Free HIV/HCV Testing, Sept. 14, 12 to 3 p.m. CLC YMCA 525 Main St. in Damariscotta.
Aroostook Recovery Center for Hope: Link for Hope 11th Annual Walk for Recovery, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 106 Main St. in Houlton
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The Maine Department of Corrections to celebrate
recovery within its facilities.
Maine State Prison is hosting a recovery meet and greet, an OPTIONS presentation and training and an author talk with Ed Kressy.
There will be a Recovery Center and Residency Virtual Tour, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18.
PRCC and other recovery community centers will join residents on Sept. 25 for the PRCC Recovery Cornhole Tournament.
The men’s unit at Maine Correctional Center is holding author talks with Ed Kressy, a Narcan Training, showings of five recovery-based movies, a recovery fair, services in their chapel, and a Survivors Celebration.
Southern Maine Women’s Re-entry Center is offering a scrapbooking/journaling event, yoga, rock painting, a candle-light vigil, self-care fair, showing two recovery-themed movies, and a dance party.
The women’s center at Maine Correctional Center in Windham is holding 24 events in recognition of National Recovery Month. The events include a talk with Southern Maine Director of Overdose Prevention, a visit from the Church of Safe Injection, a Recovery Resource Fair, a recovery coach meet and greet, a showing of the documentary, “Jacinta,” and a meet and greet with Jacinta.
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PRCC partners with Maine Department of Corrections
to Build a Culture of Recovery
In the fall of 2021, Daniel P. wrote a heart-felt letter to former Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections saying there were no opportunities for recovery for residents at Bolduc Correctional Facility in Warren, where he was incarcerated. Early efforts in 2019 to build recovery programming had come to a dramatic halt with the arrival of Covid.
PRCC and the DOC were working together to change that and to make comprehensive changes to how recovery community could be built within the Department of Corrections. Soon after that letter, Daniel met with Dave Simpson, manager of evidence-based practices at the Department of Corrections, via Zoom, to share his vision that all residents within the DOC’s five facilities have access to recovery support services.
PRCC partnered with the Maine DOC to transform what recovery could look like at the DOC if residents were empowered to build programming and help one another in a true peer model of recovery.
The Recovery Coach Program is designed to help residents with substance use disorders find their recovery pathway to live a meaningful life. PRCC trains residents as recovery coaches to guide their peers to make positive changes in their lives, maintain their recovery, and prepare them for life after release from prison. The program helps to promote and strengthen recovery, remove barriers and stigma, build recovery capital, and encourage hope and optimism at each facility.
Torie Arsenault is one of PRCC’s, CCAR trained Registered Peer Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator (RCPF) and is also the recovery program coordinator for the Maine Dept. of Corrections. Torie trains residents of the MDOC as peer recovery coaches, using the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) model. She said recovery coaches have found a new sense of purpose in helping their peers in recovery.
“There's one gentleman who will be spending the remainder of his days as a resident of the MDOC, and to see the joy in his eyes to be able to help somebody else is priceless,” Torie said. “He knows he is going to take his last breath at that facility, but he is so grateful to have the opportunity to help other people. We don't focus on their negatives. We don't focus on their past. We focus on the present, and into the future. It's just a phenomenal feeling.”
“Some people are facing long sentences, and others will be leaving to move back into the community,” said Leslie Clark, executive director of PRCC. “Laying the groundwork and foundation gives them a much better chance of success. PRCC has helped bring the language of recovery, coaching, and recovery support into the DOC. But none of that would have been possible without the leadership there - from Commissioner Randall Liberty to Dave Simpson - a champion for recovery. Having a champion in the DOC made all that possible.”
Pictured above, Alexsea, a Recovery Coach and member of the MDOC Resident Recovery Steering Committee.To read the full story, go to PRCC.
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Upcoming events: PRCC to host open mic night |
Screening of "Our American Family"
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Join us at PRCC in Portland for a Poetry Open Mic Night & Tradition Talk from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 at 102 Bishop St. in Portland.
Participants can share their original work or favorite piece of poetry starting at 6 p.m. A reading and discussion of Tradition 9 will be held from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship. Snacks & drinks will be available. The event is sponsored by our friends at Area 28, D1’s Love and Service & PI/CPC Committees.
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The Pinetree Institute and Greater Portsmouth Recovery Coalition presents an exclusive screening of “Our American Family” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughn St. Portsmouth, NH.
Our American Family is a documentary of intergenerational addiction and one family’s journey toward recovery. The event includes a panel discussion with the family featured in the film.
The cost is $15 per ticket.
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If you are an Alumni of The Farm, come share your recovery stories at the Alumni Recovery Reunion from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Farm, 382 Main St. in Limestone.
Alumni, friends, and family are invited to attend. There will be door prizes and a sobriety countdown. Please RSVP by phone or email to rtf@amhc.org or 207-325-4727.
Save a Life Recovery Resource Center started a new support group for people impacted by their loved one’s struggle with substance use disorder.
Addiction Affects Everyone is held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more info, go to Save a Life.
Want to learn how to prepare healthy foods on a budget? Save a Life Recovery Resource Center is hosting a FREE 4-week class that will give participants the skills to shop, cook, and eat healthy foods.The class will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 12, 19., and 26 at 19 VFW St. in Lincoln.
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PRCC partners with Town & Country FCU to help members find financial freedom.
PRCC is partnering with Town and Country Federal Credit Union to provide financial resources to its members from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at 102 Bishop St. in Portland.
Brittany Eaton and Lyndsey Laskey from TCFCU will be available to answer any financial questions you may have.
Town and Country Federal Credit Union is a proud sponsor of PRCC’s Rally 4 Recovery and will have a resource table at the event. Stop by the rally on Sept. 9 and say hi to Brittany and Lyndsey.
National Recovery Month is a good time to take a hard look at your financial health, create a game plan, and get excited about what’s ahead. Brittany and Lyndsey shared some easy steps on building financial freedom in recovery.
To read the full story, go to PRCC.
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PRCC is hiring!
The recovery movement is expanding to York County and we are hiring!
Portland Recovery Community Center is hiring a program manager for the new Sanford Recovery Community Center.
The Program Manager will manage and oversees the daily operations and recovery support services of Sanford Recovery Community Center, SRCC. In this role, the Program Manager is responsible for establishing a safe and welcoming environment at SRCC, assuring a recovery-focused tone and culture, and for the collection and reporting of accurate data regarding utilization and outcomes.
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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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