Rhode Island Rally for Recovery

Rhode Island Rally for Recovery

RIR Unplugged Set ….

Richie Supa,Ricky Byrd, and Kasim Sulton 

Sponsored by Treatment Solutions 

The Rally for Recovery is an annual festival organized by people in long term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is primarily a community building effort; we seek to strengthen the bonds between people in recovery. We are also engaged in building an attractive culture of recovery in Rhode Island, with the belief that everyone has a right to, and is capable of, recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Our goals are to reduce the negative perceptions associated with addiction recovery. It has been our experience, based on our own recoveries, that this road is filled with obstacles that hinder reintegration into society. We feel it is important that people who have chosen the recovery path be able to obtain housing,employment, and other necessities without prejudice.

Our festival is focused on families and is a child-friendly event. We feel it is important that, as children of people in recovery grow older, they have fond memories of our drug and alcohol free festival. We hope this knowledge will deter them from experimenting with alcohol and other drugs in the future. Last year we had a vast array of activities for young people including crafts, face-painting, a reptile show, a rock climbing wall provided by the Rhode Island National Guard, an “orbitron,” a giant inflatable obstacle course, and a pink fire engine from Pink Heals.

The Rally for Recovery began in 2002 with a gathering of a few hundred people. Last year we had almost 5,000 people in long term recovery attend the rally. In 2012 we expect a crowd in excess of 7,000, and in 2013, because Providence was awarded the hub event for the national Recovery Month celebration, we expect over 10,000. We are also a co-sponsor of WaterFire and include a memorial luminaria procession at the end of each rally.

This year we seek to broaden our base of support by reaching out to the business community. We offer several contribution levels. Sponsoring our festival puts your company name in front of people who are likely to patronize your business. It also bolsters your business’s reputation, sending a clear message that you support the community building efforts of those who seek not to use alcohol and other drugs.

This Year’s Rally Performances

This year we’ll have musical entertainment by the 88th Army Band, BMor7, Rockers In Recovery Unplugged, and Music One.  Our speakers include basketball star and author Chris Herren, founder of Learn to Cope Joanne Peterson, Jim Silva and more.

Recovery Month Kickoff and Quilt Unveiling will take place on Thursday, August 31st at 10 am in front of the Women’s minimum security prison in Cranston.

On September 28th we will hold the first annual Aquidnick Island Recovery Celebration at Newport Hospital atrium.

Our contact information:

Mr. Ian Knowles
RICARES
200 Metro Center Blvd. Unit 10
Warwick, RI 02886

You may also contact Ian Knowles via telephone at  401-521-5759 extension 114, or via email, iknowles@dataofri.org.