On October 25th, Governor Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum hosted the fifth Recovery Reinvented, a daylong in-person and online event focused on reinventing recovery through eliminating the stigma of addiction.
They were joined by national and state addiction recovery experts, more than 650 in-person attendees and over 3,000 online viewers who spanned across the state and nation, with some international audience members watching from Australia, Kenya and Spain.
“Recovery Reinvented has always been about ending the shame and stigma that surrounds the disease of addiction. And as we do every year, we’re building on that foundation and focusing on the relevant issues and topics that can help us build the strongest cultures of recovery in our state and across our nation,” Gov. Burgum said. “While today is to celebrate how far we have come, it’s also an opportunity for us to gather and reflect that we have much work in front of us still to go.”
The governor and first lady emphasized the importance of sharing individual stories of people’s journeys from addiction to recovery, creating recovery-friendly cultures in the workplace and community and eliminating stigma by getting involved in advocacy.
“Our stories have the power to end stigma because they create connection and understanding,“ First Lady Burgum said. “The results from our North Dakota Addressing Addiction survey tell us that stories are an effective community intervention because they increase addiction literacy. The state of North Dakota continues to experience positive momentum toward eliminating stigma, increasing access to behavioral health services and supports, and fostering supportive cultures for recovery.”
The event was highlighted by a number of North Dakota community members and organizations who were recognized for their efforts to implement innovative solutions to address the disease of addiction. Recovery Champion award recipients were:
Dr. Melissa Henke, Heartview Foundation, for her work in expanding access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for people with an Opioid Use Disorder and using evidence-based practices to eliminate the stigma of addiction for people struggling with addiction.
Don’t Quit the Quit and Women, Infant & Children (WIC) Programs, for supporting the health and wellness of pregnant and post-partum women on their road to recovery free of judgment, shame or discrimination.
Community of Cando, N.D., for creating a community-wide supportive culture for recovery, leveraging public-private partnerships, service providers and recreational opportunities for those in recovery or re-entering from the criminal justice system.
KX News, for creating the “Road to Recovery” series which has produced nearly 50 personal stories of recovery that have helped to educate the community and reduce stigma for those struggling with addiction.
The keynote speakers at today’s event included:
Dr. Joseph Lee, President & CEO, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, Stigma Researcher at the University of Delaware and Principal Investigator on the North Dakota Addressing Addiction study.
Laurie Johnson Wade, Co-Founder of Lost Dreams Awakening.
Jonathan Holth, community and client development manager for JLG Architects and co-owner of The Toasted Frog restaurants and Urban Stampede Coffee Bar.
AGENDA
Note: since this event is produced live, agenda times are approximate. We encourage you to check back early and often for updates, and if you are looking forward to a certain speaker, join online early since agenda times are subject to change slightly. All times are listed in Central Standard Times (CST).
8:00 am – 9:30 am – Registration, Recovery Resources Expo Open
9:30 am – Main Event Begins Hall A
Keynote: Governor Doug Burgum & First Lady Kathryn
Local Storytellers and Awards
10:15 am – Keynote: Dr. Joseph Lee, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, a social psychologist specializing in stigma and health inequities at the University of Delaware and principal investigator on the North Dakota Addressing Addiction survey
Speakers
Dr. Joseph Lee
Dr. Lee has established himself as a thought leader on all matters related to addiction, mental health and recovery, and will share his perspectives on the human condition, the needs of the human spirit, and the power of community and connection.
On June 28, 2021, Dr. Lee became the eighth president and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the fifth president of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies.
With 13 years of prior experience as a psychiatrist and the Medical Director for Hazelden Betty Ford’s nationally renowned youth services, Dr. Lee is one of the nation’s top addiction therapists and physicians. Having worked with countless young people and their families, he embodies the recovery values of humility, empathy, grace and love, and is committed to lifting up recovery voices to positively impact the broader society.
Jonathan Holth
Jonathan will share his journey to sobriety and lessons he’s learned along the way. He will also speak about what those in recovery can do to help erase the stigma of addiction, and what those who are not in recovery can do to be strong recovery allies and help decrease the chances of relapse.
Jonathan Holth is a lifelong North Dakotan, entrepreneur, and consultant who wears his long-term recovery on his sleeve. After spending 28 life-changing days at Project Turnabout in Granite Falls, MN, in 2008, Jonathan has dedicated much of his life to community service and sharing his journey with others in hopes that it will help normalize conversation around the disease of addiction and help more people find recovery.
He is the co-owner of four restaurants in ND, as well as working full-time as the Community & Client Development Manager for JLG Architects. He currently serves on the advisory council for the Office of Recovery Reinvented. He is the Chairman of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, and serves on the Boards of Directors for The University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation, The Empire Arts Center, and Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces, where his focus lies in creating recovery-friendly workplaces throughout the region. Jonathan has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 recipient by both Prairie Business Magazine and Business Watch Magazine, and was a 4 Under 40 recipient from the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals. He lives in Grand Forks with his wife, Emily, and their three daughters.
Laurie Johnson Wade
Laurie will share insights on how any individual can get involved with creating and supporting a vibrant recovery culture in their home, workplace, or community.
Laurie Johnson-Wade is the Co-Founding Director of Lost Dreams Awakening (LDA) Recovery Community Organization (RCO) in New Kensington, PA. Laurie also works as an Advanced Implementation Specialist (AIS) with the Opioid Response Network (ORN), UMKC.
Laurie’s passion is Advocacy! She is a staunch representative of the Recovery Community locally, statewide, and nationally. Laurie serves on local, state, and national recovery platforms and enjoys mentoring communities in establishing their own Recovery Community Organizations. Laurie serves on the Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee and brings over 30 years of active, ongoing, lived-recovery experience to the rewarding and revolutionary work of Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching.
Laurie was named the 2020 Advocate of the Year by the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk. Most recently, Laurie joined the Board of Directors at Faces and Voices of Recovery and is a founding member of the African American Federation of Recovery Organizations (AAFRO), and a member of Black Faces Black Voices (BFBV). Laurie seeks to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all systems.
Dr. Valerie Earnshaw
Dr. Earnshaw will discuss the theory and research of how stigma leads to substance use and undermines recovery from substance use disorders. She will also identify evidence-based tools to reduce stigma, describe the science behind how sharing stories helps to eliminate stigma surrounding substance use disorders, and share insights gained from the “North Dakota Addressing Addiction” survey for which she served as the principal investigator.
Dr. Valerie Earnshaw is a social psychologist who studies stigma and substance use disorders. Her research has contributed to understanding of how individuals in recovery experience stigma and how stigma harms recovery efforts. She is currently leading interventions funded by the National Institutes of Health to reduce stigma towards people with substance use disorders among clinicians and help people in recovery decide whether and how to disclose to others. Dr. Earnshaw is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware and the recipient of the Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association.
