For 16 years, the NC “One Community in Recovery” Conference has served as a powerful gathering of individuals dedicated to fostering recovery, resilience, and advocacy in mental health and substance use. Planned by a statewide committee of behavioral health providers and advocates—many with lived experience—this annual event continues to be a beacon of hope and progress.
This year, from March 5-7, 2025, over 200 participants came together under the theme “Healing Together: Building Stronger Communities.” The conference provided a platform for insightful discussions, innovative strategies, and shared experiences that continue to shape the future of recovery in North Carolina.
Conference Highlights
One of the standout sessions was “Addressing the Connection of Brain Injury, Public Health, and the Legal System in North Carolina” presented by Desireé Gorbea-Finalet of Disability Rights NC. This thought-provoking discussion shed light on how brain injuries intersect with public health and justice systems, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support and policy changes.
The pre-conference session also sparked important dialogue with a panel discussion on “Exploring Alternatives to Involuntary Commitment in North Carolina.” Featuring a diverse group of stakeholders, this session explored real-world challenges and potential solutions to ensure a more person-centered approach in crisis response.
Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in 16 breakout sessions, covering a wide range of recovery-focused topics, and hear from two inspiring keynote speakers:
- Jeff Walker of Wilkes Recovery Revolution, a peer-run Recovery Community Organization in Wilkes County, NC.
- Vesper Moore, an Indigenous activist and mental health rights leader, who spoke on recovery, advocacy, and the importance of elevating lived experiences in policy and practice.
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Celebrating Our Recovery Champions
A highlight of the event was the recognition of individuals making a significant impact in the recovery community. Congratulations to our Recovery Champion Award recipients:
🏆 Tara Tucker – Eastern Region
🏆 Carlisa Booker – Central Region
🏆 John Weeks – Western Region
🏆 Anna Buckley – Youth/Young Adult Voice Award
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on this year’s conference, the conversations and connections made continue to fuel momentum for change. Whether you attended in person or are just learning about this community, we encourage you to stay engaged, share your insights, and join us in shaping the future of recovery in North Carolina.
📅 Mark your calendars for next year’s conference on March 4-6, 2026 and stay connected for updates!
Who Should Attend?
We warmly invite all individuals involved in any aspect of recovery and resiliency around mental health and substance use disorders. This conference will be beneficial to addictions specialists, administrators, advocates, allies, counselors, educators, family members, individuals with lived experience, marriage and family therapists, peer support specialists, policy makers, psychologists, social workers, and other health and human service professionals interested in recovery.
