When it comes to addiction, the road to recovery is unique to each individual. A one-size-fits all approach doesn’t work.
However, one commonality anyone striving to overcome addiction needs is support. Support from family, friends and even the community. To that end, Pace, Public Advocates in Community Re-entry, will celebrate National Recovery Month with a community-wide event on Sept. 28. The free event, which will feature food, vendors and speakers, will celebrate success stories and encourage others to begin their journey and help create a support system.
“People do recover,” said Gina Fears, recovery services peer-to-peer coach coordinator at Pace. “It is not always the tragic story, so we’re celebrating that.”
This is the first time Pace has participated in the national celebration. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose and Community.” Representatives from the ACLU will be on hand to discuss voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals. In addition, representatives from the mayor’s office, Indy Peacemakers and health care organizations will be on hand to address other needs those attending may have.
The celebration also is an opportunity to shine a positive spotlight on the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, which is often viewed as a hotbed of drug addiction. Fears hopes to shift that view and turn Martindale-Brightwood into a community known for recovery and supporting recovery efforts.
“I believe it’s three major things that we’re trying to accomplish,” Fears said. “One is awareness around addiction, so that it’s not a silent issue anymore; that we go ahead and call it out. Secondly, that addiction is a family and community disease. Thirdly is the advocacy piece. We are standing on the advocacy piece that addiction is a health issue and not a crime.”
As part of its mission to prevent recidivism, addressing addiction and recovery issues is vital, Pace executive director Rhiannon T. Edwards said.
“We’re hoping to have a lot of people at this event,” Edwards said. “We want the green space in front of our building, we want it full. A lot of times people in recovery as well as ex-offenders they don’t have a voice. People are always speaking for them.”
Contact Editor Oseye Boyd at 317-762-7850. Follow her on Twitter @oseye_boyd.
Recovery Month Celebration
Pace will have a National Recovery Month celebration featuring free food, vendors, speakers and music.
When: 2-6 p.m. Sept. 28
Where: Pace parking lot, 2855 N. Keystone Ave.
Cost: Free
Pace National Recovery Month