The Rhode Island Rally4Recovery has been selected by Faces & Voices of Recovery as the 2013 National Hub event for rally celebrations held across the country. The free, family-friendly festival will take place on Saturday, September 21 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main Street in Providence. Rallies and other recovery events are held in September of each year, throughout the nation, as part of National Recovery Month.
The Rhode Island Rally brings together diverse segments of the recovery community including people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental illness. Many of their family members, friends and advocates for recovery also participate. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness by letting Rhode Islanders know that people can and do recover, treatment does work and there are many pathways to recovery. It provides those in recovery with the opportunity to share stories about their journeys to recovery and helps to dispel the negative public perception associated with substance use disorders and mental illness. It is important for people to know that, while the road to recovery may be difficult, the benefits of preventing and overcoming addiction and/or mental disorders are significant and valuable to everyone – individuals, families, and communities.
Former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, an advocate for the rights of people with addiction and mental illness, will be the Rally4Recovery Grand Marshal, kicking off events nationwide. Speakers will include David Mineta, Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and people in recovery.
Entering its 11th year, the Rhode Island Rally has grown from a gathering of 200 people to a day-long celebration of recovery, attracting over 6,000 people in 2012. The event helps build an attractive culture of recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, and from mental illness. A State-wide coalition, led by people in recovery, plans the event each year and includes advocates, public and private sector treatment providers and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.
National Recovery Month is an initiative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The goal of this initiative is to increase the understanding of behavioral health while reinforcing the message that prevention works, treatment is effective and people do recover.
2013 RI Rally4Recovery Events
Friday, August 30 Rally Kick-off
10:00 a.m. to Noon
Roger Williams Medical Center Cafeteria
Providence
Friday, September 20 Reception for Rally sponsors and honored guests
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Marriott – Downtown
Saturday, September 21 Rally4Recovery – Providence RI-National Hub Event
2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Roger Williams National Memorial
Downtown Providence
Tuesday, September 24 Recovery Housing Fair
2:00 p.m.
Anchor Recovery Community Center
September 25 Newport Rally4Recovery
1:00 p.m.
Atlantic Beach Club
2013 RI Rally4Recovery
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
