Recovery Advocacy Day: Champions of Hope | King County Recovery Conversations

January 08, 2024

In this compelling conversation about Recovery Advocacy Day, hosts Tristan Seikel and Heather Venegas join forces with recovery champions April Provost, Victor Estrada, and Paulette Chaussee, delving into the transformative power of advocacy. Hear April’s journey from stigma to social services, Victor’s strides with Narcan vending machines, and Paulette’s heartfelt legislative triumph inspired by her granddaughter.

Learn about the Washington Recovery Alliance’s upcoming Recovery Advocacy Day 2024 on January 25 and how personal experiences fuel passionate policy work. With raw insights and inspiring achievements, this episode is a rallying cry for everyone to raise their voice for recovery.

Here are some helpful tips if you’d like to participate in the Recovery Advocacy Day event, where hundreds of recovery advocates from across the state ask their lawmakers to vote in support of pro-recovery policy and funding requests:

  1. Review legislative priorities, think about your story, and decide which priority resonates with your experience. Write down bullet points you want to make sure you include. 

  2. Tell the parts of your story that match the legislative priority you are speaking to. 

  3. State the focus/intent of the priority, then tell them why it is essential by talking about the part of your story that relates directly to that. You want to leave them with a clear picture that they can recall when that particular legislation is in committee or up for a vote. 

  4. If your district has several people in attendance, decide beforehand (even if it’s on the walk to the capital) who has a story they want to share that relates to each specific priority. Remember, there is a limited amount of time, so you want to focus on the priorities and WHY they are important.  

  5. Attend the virtual Elevate Training – this gives you all the information and practical experience you need to feel prepared and ease your concerns about participating in RAD!  

Resources from the episode:

  1. RSVP for Recovery Advocacy Day here.  

  2. Get more information about Elevate training sessions here.  

  3. Connect with show hosts Heather Venegas and Tristan Seikel on LinkedIn.  

  4. Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do here. To become a volunteer, a member, an advocate, or an event guest, visit their website.

  5. The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do here. Want to find a way to get involved? Click here to become a member, volunteer, or donate to help change hearts and minds around mental health and substance use disorder in Washington state.  

  6. If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the Washington Recovery Helpline for resources and a 24-hour helpline. 

  7. King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you’re someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.  

Connect with King County Recovery Coalition online, on Facebook (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition), or on YouTube (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition).

If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at [email protected].

SOBER IN SEATTLE: Sober living in the greater Seattle area doesn’t have to be boring; living free of substances opens the door to a world of new explorations and experiences. With our Sober in Seattle section, you have access to some of the hottest spots in the emerald city!

Do you have an event, product, restaurant, experience, or story that is based in the Pacific Northwest? We want to hear about it! Email us at [email protected] or slide on into our DM’s on social media.

Looking for recovery resources in the greater Seattle area? Be sure to check out our ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCE GUIDE and scroll to the Seattle section.

RECOVERY PODCASTLAND: Welcome to RECOVERY PODCASTLAND, your audio haven for all things recovery! With an overwhelming number of engaging podcasts constantly updating each week, it can be hard to keep up. That’s where The Sober Curator steps in!

We’re tirelessly curating and producing original podcast content with a focus on recovery, so you don’t have to wade through the noise. Sober Curator Pro Tip: Tune into our recommended podcasts while driving, dog-walking, working out, house-cleaning, crafting, prepping for the day, or cooking. It’s a perfect way to infuse your daily routine with a dose of recovery inspiration.

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