17th Annual NC 'One Community in Recovery' Conference - Rooted in Resilience: Reimagined through Change
The NC "One Community in Recovery" Conference is a place where individuals working and involved in recovery as defined in its broadest terms can share their work and gain support from others involved in the recovery movement. The conference is primarily focused on promoting the growth of the North Carolina Recovery Movement, teaching participants how to get recovery programming up and running in their own communities, showcasing the most progressive recovery practices, and bringing individuals interested in the recovery movement together as students and partners.
Annual NC “One Community in Recovery” Conference Celebrates 17 Years
The Annual NC One Community in Recovery Conference is a statewide gathering planned by a diverse committee of behavioral health providers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience in mental health and substance use recovery.
From March 4–6, 2026, more than 200 participants came together to celebrate the conference’s 17th year under the theme “Rooted in Resilience: Reimagined through Change.” The event highlighted the strength, innovation, and collective voice of North Carolina’s recovery community.
Conference Highlights
This year’s conference featured a pre‑conference session on Emotional CPR (eCPR)—a public health education program designed to support individuals through emotional crises, strengthen community connections, and promote meaningful organizational change.
Participants also had the opportunity to engage in 16 breakout sessions, offering a wide range of perspectives, tools, and strategies to support recovery‑oriented systems of care across the state.
Keynote Speakers
Attendees were inspired by powerful keynote presentations from:
- Devin Lyall, Co‑Founding Executive Director of Wilkes Recovery Revolution, a peer‑run Recovery Community Organization serving Wilkes County, NC
- Robert Whitaker, acclaimed journalist and author of Mad in America and Anatomy of an Epidemic
Both speakers shared thought‑provoking insights that challenged participants to reimagine recovery through resilience, advocacy, and systems change.
Recovery Champion Award Recipients
The conference also honored outstanding leaders and advocates with the Recovery Champion Awards:
- Ulysses Banks – Eastern Region
- Jemm Eubanks – Central Region
- Brandi Greer – Western Region
- Emily Wall – Youth/Young Adult Voice Award
These individuals were recognized for their dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on recovery communities across North Carolina.
Save the Date
Please mark your calendars for the 18th Annual NC One Community in Recovery Conference, taking place March 10–12, 2027. We look forward to continuing this important work together.
Check out these conference photos!
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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.
