Arizona Together

Across the nation and the world people in recovery, families, friends and allies are coming together this September to demonstrate the reality of recovery as part of the 20th annual Recovery Month (www.recoverymonth.gov). Faces & Voices of Recovery, the national voice of the recovery community, is working with recovery community organizations and our allies to raise the profile of recovery on September 12th under the banner of Rally for Recovery!

Like other health and social justice movements, recovery advocates are coming together in public spaces during September to broaden public understanding of the reality of recovery. Over 20 million Americans are living new lives free from addiction. Walks, rallies, concerts, picnics and the many other events that have been organized give us a chance to have fun, celebrate and build support for policies that will make it possible for even people to recover.

Recovery community organizations have been learning from each other about how to put on incredible events that bring together people newly in recovery; kids and families; elected officials and friends and allies.

Eight years ago, advocates in Washington and Oregon held the first "Hands Across the Bridge" rally, building a human recovery community chain on a bridge linking the two states. This year on September 12th there will be rallies and walks on bridges linking Kentucky and Ohio; in Miami, FL; St. Louis, MO; and in Brooklyn, NY.

We expect tens of thousands of people to be rallying that day and will be reporting on the turn-out at this year’s hub event, the A&E Brooklyn Bridge Recovery Rally.

One feature of these activities is celebration, whether it’s face painting for kids, concerts by musicians in long-term recovery, or honoring people in long-term recovery.

This year’s Art of Recovery Expo on September 19 at the Phoenix Convention Center features Christopher Kennedy Lawford. The sharing of recovery—not addiction—stories, being living proof of the many pathways to recovery has been front and center each September over the last 20 years. For details visit www.artofrecoveryexpo.com

On Sunday, September 27th join the Walk and Rally for Recovery. This event is open to the public, which features speakers, fun, food and a Recovery Walk. WINR is located at 860 N. Center Street in Mesa. For more information call 480-464-5764 or email winrmgr@winr. org.

Another critical element of Rally for Recovery! is building our advocacy movement. There will be voter registration activities and Advocacy Action Areas at many events, where participants can endorse the Recovery Bill of Rights, email their members of Congress about including addiction recovery in health reform and sign-up to get involved, give back and support recovery year-round in their communities.

It is our collective strength that will ensure our success. As we rally for recovery this year, we can bring the power and proof of recovery to everyone in America.

Faces & Voices of Recovery is collecting photographs from Recovery Month events. Please send us your favorites at info@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Pat Taylor joined Faces & Voices of Recovery as campaign coordinator in 2003, building on many years of grassroots advocacy leadership.

Most recently, Pat served as deputy director of Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems at George Washington University Medical Center; other work includes service as associate director of Neighborhood Funders Group, director of the Alcohol Policies Group at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and director of the Advocates Senior Alert Process at the health advocacy group Families USA. She has also worked as a U.S. Senate campaign staff member.