safe harbor project

as i have mentioned before, i joined the board of "advocates for recovery", a colorado organization which works toward furthering the rights of persons in recovery, removing the stigma of addiction and recovery, and also to begin to provide recovery support to persons looking to recover in their own lives.

i believe we have secured a room near the DNC for delegates and visitors who may be in recovery from addiction or mental illness. here is a letter which is a statement of purpose. i am happy to be a part of this effort.

Faces & Voices of Recovery
Democratic & Republican Conventions
Safe Harbor Project

We have made proposals to both the Democratic and Republican parties to host recovery rooms at their conventions for delegates and guests who are in recovery from addiction and mental illness. One’s personal recovery can be challenging to maintain at a convention. The party atmosphere, availability of alcohol and stress at conventions can pose a significant risk to those who have chosen a recovery lifestyle. Supporting a recovery room which can be used as a resource for those maintaining their recovery from addiction and mental illness makes sense and is the responsible thing for political parties to do.

The recovery room should be inside the convention facility and is typically a suite but could be setup pretty much anywhere where there is privacy. It would be used for the following purposes:

• Holding “12 Step” type meetings at scheduled times
• Connecting with others who are in recovery to create a recovery support network
• Offering assistance with recovery resources outside the convention venues
• Making recovery literature available to convention delegates and guests
• Providing refreshments and quiet space away from non-recovery related activities

We are asking that the rooms be made available at no cost and we would take on the task of staffing these rooms with volunteers and providing hospitality needs. In addition to getting space from the convention, we would of course need to have access passes (credentials) to the convention for our volunteers who are staffing the room.

The project is patterned after a similar scheme – the GRAMMY Safe Harbor Room – now in its 12th year. It has the wholehearted support and endorsement of Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN). They have reached out to Chairman Dean and Chairman Duncan respectively.

For more information contact:

TOM CODERRE
National Field Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery
1010 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20005
401.441.8632 cell / 208.439.1104 fax
tomcoderre@yahoo.com
www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org

this is a new song from a band called carolina liar. i like the riff. it makes me smile.