Washington Recovery Alliance

05/23/2026

What an incredible week spent in community, connection, and recovery across Washington State.

We kicked things off at the Say It Out Loud Conference at Tulalip Resort Conference Center. Thank you to Stephanie Lane and the Peer Workforce Development team for creating space for important conversations, and to Mary Lambert for serving as an inspiring emcee. It was wonderful connecting with so many leaders and advocates including Ryan Moran, Dakota Steel, Joshua Wallace, Cody B. West, LaTonya Rogers, Hallie Burchinal, and many others.

Midweek, we joined Rogers Family Support’s Felicia’s Voice Night Light Walk in Renton. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we honored loved ones lost to su***de and celebrated the power of hope, healing, and community. Thank you to LaTonya Rogers for carrying this important work forward.

Later in the week, we attended the Deflection & Diversion Summit at Great Wolf Lodge, hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. It was inspiring to reconnect with recovery champions from across the state, including Joe Barsana, Malika Lamont, Johnny Bousquet, Kimmy Reedy, Nikki Mogel, Stephanie Akins, Brian Burwell, Joseph Montalbo, and many others. We even spotted former WRA Public Policy Committee member and recovery advocate Joe Coniff featured in a conference presentation.

We wrapped up the week at a collegiate recovery event, helping students explore postsecondary recovery support options. It was great connecting with Dr. Patricia Maarhuis, El Nazarov, Cougs for Recovery, participating colleges, and familiar faces from RAD, including the Olympia College Recovery Rangers.

Recovery happens in community. Thank you to everyone who continues showing up, sharing hope, and building a stronger recovery ecosystem across Washington.

Next stop: Tri Cities for the Prairie Dog Clean and Sober Softball Tournament and a visit with Richie Ramirez and Fourth Dimension Living. Hope to see you there! 👋💜⚾️

05/21/2026

📢 Spokane-area professionals: Looking for your next opportunity to make a difference?

Our friends at We Level Up are growing their team in Spokane and are currently seeking a Director of Nursing, along with a variety of other positions dedicated to supporting individuals and families on their recovery journeys.

If you're passionate about healthcare, recovery, and helping people build healthier futures, this could be an opportunity to join a mission-driven organization making a real impact in our community.

🔗 Explore current openings and learn more: https://welevelup.com/blog/jobs

Know someone who might be a great fit? Please share this post and help connect talented professionals with meaningful careers in the recovery field.

If you’re interested in a jobs & a career in addiction or mental health treatment, we encourage you to apply to We Level Up treatment center.

05/18/2026

Join us this evening at 5 PM for the Skagit Recovery Coalition kick off at Recovery Café Skagit . 💜 Bring a friend!

Amazing friends, something wonderful is happening this evening 5-6pm. The re launching session to kickoff a Coalition for Skagit County’s Recovery Community. A delightful dinner will be provided for all to enjoy. See you all there. 💜

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05/17/2026

Tonight at the Center for Human Services Community Connections Gala, we had the honor of spending time with our friends April and E.V., along with members of the Snohomish County Recovery Coalition (SCRC) leadership team, as they received the Dorrit Pealy Award for Outstanding Community Support by an Organization.

We are incredibly proud of SCRC and the many coalitions across Washington that are helping grow the recovery movement every day through connection, advocacy, and community support. This recognition reflects the power of people coming together to create hope and lasting change.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

05/12/2026

🏡 Community Partner Spotlight

The Washington Alliance for Quality Recovery Residences (WAQRR) is hosting an upcoming webinar focused on Fair Housing Basics for recovery housing providers and community partners across Washington.

This training will feature Adria Buchanan, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Washington, and will cover protected classes, reasonable accommodations, liability under the Fair Housing Act, and more.

The conversation will continue at the June WAQRR Leadership Summit with deeper discussion around fair housing and recovery residences.

🗓 Thursday, May 14, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
💻 Microsoft Teams

Learn more & register: https://www.waqrr.org/event-details/fair-housing-basics-part-1

We’re grateful for community partners helping strengthen recovery-supportive housing across Washington. 💜

Adria Buchanan is Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Washington. Her work centers on creating inclusive communities and advocating for policies that increase housing opportunity. She received her B.A. From Dartmouth and M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Del...

05/11/2026

⚾💜 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! 💜⚾

Recovery Day at the Mariners returns to T-Mobile Park on September 27, 2026! Join the recovery community, families, friends, allies, and partners from across Washington for one unforgettable day at the ballpark.

This is more than a game. It’s a celebration of connection, visibility, hope, and community. 💜

🎟️ Grab your tickets now and be part of one of Washington’s largest recovery community events!

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact April Provost at [email protected]

Interested in volunteering? Contact Carly Campbell at [email protected]

05/10/2026

💜 Community Recovery Leadership is Growing in Skagit County 💜

The Skagit Recovery Coalition is relaunching with a community kickoff gathering focused on connection, collaboration, and strengthening recovery support in Skagit County.

Whether you’ve been involved in the recovery community before or are just looking for a place to connect, this is an opportunity to help shape what recovery community looks like locally.

🗓️ Monday, May 18
⏰ 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
📍 Skagit Recovery Cafe
1908 Riverside Dr, Mount Vernon, WA
🍽️ Dinner provided

Thank you to the community leaders and partners helping bring this effort back together. Recovery grows stronger when communities show up for each other.

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05/08/2026

💜 Training Opportunity for Peer Supervisors Across Washington 💜

Peer Washington is hosting an upcoming Supervision Train the Trainer event designed to support supervisors working with Peer Specialists in the behavioral health field.

Participants will gain guidance, tools, and certification to teach the 20-hour Supervision course.

🗓️ June 16–17
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Learn more and register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=pHeSwrVx0U6qDmqmsk_XMEa_WCNVgEBEpY3FI-V2CspUMTJPN0U1M1ROOTRYWFZVSkJYV1JIMTNJTSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl&fbclid=IwVERDUARrLOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeQa_tjJXj3s6m3otpoQJ2DfiAWHNXWbkXpk74Zn8uhwWcbeudAW9RNeTW5sQ_aem_fLj-LJveA4NFM8TPOYCRsg

Thank you to our partners at Peer Washington and the Washington State Health Care Authority for continuing to invest in peer support leadership and workforce development across Washington.

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Join us for our upcoming Supervision Train the Trainer event!

This training aims to provide guidance and support for supervisors working with Peer Specialists in the behavioral health field. Get the skills and certification to teach the 20-hour Supervision course!

To register for this training, click the link below:
https://vist.ly/5342w

05/01/2026

Sunshine like this takes us right back to Recovery Day at the Mariners last year ☀️💜

Warm weather, blue skies, and thousands of people coming together to celebrate recovery, community, and connection. It is more than a game. It is a reminder of what’s possible when we show up for each other.

This weekend, we encourage you to get outside.
Take a walk. Ride a bike. Bring your kids. Call a friend.

Recovery doesn’t only happen in big moments. It happens in days like this too. In fresh air, in laughter, in being present with the people around you.

However you spend it, we hope you find a little joy in the sunshine and a little connection in your community.

We can’t wait to do it all again this year 💜

Mariners.com/recovery

04/30/2026

Longtime advocate and internationally recognized leader in the peer and recovery movement, Laura Van Tosh ( ) is featured in a new episode of Learning from Recovery Elders, a series that lifts up the wisdom and history of leaders who helped shape today’s recovery movement. In conversation with host Livia Davis, Laura reflects on the early days of peer-run programs, the importance of local investment, and how those foundations helped create pathways for the national leadership we see today.

As Laura says:
“There are people that have created those pathways for themselves. We have national leadership now. That national leadership may not have occurred if it were not for the local programs that were funded…10 years earlier.”

This is a powerful listen for anyone who cares about peer leadership, recovery history, and the long arc of change.

Listen here: https://thinkt3.libsyn.com/learning-from-recovery-elders-laura-van-tosh

04/29/2026

The latest edition of Recovery and YOU! is out now. 💜

This issue includes updates on Recovery Day at the Mariners, the launch of the RISE Coalition, news from one of WRA’s regional coalitions, upcoming community events across Washington, and more.

It is all about connection, momentum, and the many ways recovery community continues to show up across our state.

Read the latest newsletter here: https://www.washingtonrecoveryalliance.org/post/recovery-and-you

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