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On Saturday, April 15, SMART San Diego will be hosting a Speakers Event online from 10am to 1:30pm. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this event organized by our Facilitator Training Committee: Jayne, Bill and Megan. This informational event features three presentations covering diverse topics related to addiction and recovery. Each will be followed by a Q&A session. You are welcome to come for the whole event or just a portion of it.
10am: Gretchen Bergman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of A New Path. Gretchen will speak about her organization’s mission to reduce the stigma associated with addictive illness through education and compassionate support, and to advocate for therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies.
11am: Ted Perkins, Author of Addicted in Film. Ted will discuss his book, Addicted in Film: Movies We Love About Habits We Hate. The book is a behind-the-scenes exploration of the best (and worst) movies ever made about addiction and recovery and what they can teach us about living a more balanced life.
12pm: Dr. Tom Horvath, Co-Founder of SMART Recovery. Tom will speak about the science behind mutual help groups for addictive problems and what features these groups all have in common. Tom will also address how the principles of harm reduction apply to SMART Recovery.
We are lucky to have these three speakers join us to share their ideas and answer our questions. Please join us and help spread the word about these thought-provoking talks. Contact the training committee with any questions about this event.
Volunteer of the Month
Each month at the Community Development Meeting, we say a special thanks to volunteers who’ve stepped up for SMART San Diego.
This month we would like to recognize and thank Trey for his contributions to our community over the last several years. Trey has been facilitating SMART meetings since 2017. During that time he has facilitated up to three weekly meetings. He’s been a huge support to the community through subbing when people needed backup, being a sounding board for other facilitators and participants, and being an important part of conversations at our monthly Community Development meetings. Trey, we know you’re leaving San Diego but you’ll always be a big part of the San Diego SMART community!
Do you know a volunteer who has made your SMART experience better? Let us know so their contribution can be recognized!
Collaborating with The Phoenix
Several members of the SMART community have participated in and hosted events for The Phoenix, an organization whose goals are to provide access to active and engaging events, and to help those who’ve struggled with addictive behaviors build a social network of peers. They do this through hosting in-person and online events including indoor rock climbing, tai chi, pickleball, yoga, meditation, and more. All of these events are free to anyone with at least 48 hours of sobriety. The Phoenix supports all pathways to recovery; they focus on the activities themselves and creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive for all.
We approached The Phoenix about collaborating on events and registering as a group to participate in their offerings. Jonathan Prim, the Volunteer Coordinator for The Phoenix, San Diego joined a group of SMART community members at our recent Social Activity Planning Session. Jonathan is enthusiastic about working together which will allow us to create some really exciting social activities that are beyond what we are able to do with our limited resources. “The Phoenix San Diego is so excited to be collaborating with the SMART Recovery community. We cannot wait to build programs, activities, and community with you all!”
What can you do to foster this relationship? Start by looking at their website or download their easy-to-use app to discover the broad range of options The Phoenix has on their calendar. It’s easy to sign up for their events. If there are activities that you’d like to do with a group from SMART, let Kristi know.
Represent SMART at the NAMI Walk
Coming up on Saturday April 29th: the NAMI Walk and Resource Fair at Liberty Station. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the US. They work to raise awareness and provide support through their network of local affiliates. Participating in this event is a SMART San Diego tradition and a great way to meet others in our community. We will have a booth for outreach and a team participating in their fundraising walk. Find out more about NAMI’s organization and mission here.
The Walk begins at 8am. Meet near our SMART Recovery San Diego table at the Resource Fair between 7:30 and 8. Everyone is welcome to join us for the 5K walk; registration is not required. It is free to join our SMART Recovery team, though your donations support NAMI’s important work.
The Resource Fair is well worth attending, whether or not you’re interested in walking. Many mental health and recovery organizations have representatives with information – and even swag! SMART Recovery San Diego will have a table at the Resource Fair to distribute information about SMART and answer questions. We need volunteers (in rotating shifts) at the table from 6:30 set-up until 10:30. Please help us represent SMART! If you’d like to be involved, contact Bill. You can register to walk on Team SMART here.
Meeting Changes
NEW: Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 5pm facilitated by Ben
NEW: In-person tool/discussion meeting at the Poway Recovery Center Friday from 7-8pm facilitated by Dave H.
CHANGE: Charlie is facilitating the Wednesday 8pm Zoom meeting
CANCELED: No Community Development Meeting in April.
LOCATION CHANGE: Jeffrey B’s Monday meetings normally held at the Harding Community Center will meet at the Calavera Community Center in Meeting Room 1 (2997 Glasgow Drive Carlsbad, CA 92010) on March 20th, May 15th, June 19th, and July 1
Get Involved
Call for Volunteers!
We need volunteers who want to become more involved in the SMART Recovery San Diego community. If you can give a few hours a month to help with social activities, fundraising, or community outreach, we can use your help! Contact community@smartrecoverysd.org to find out more.
Have You Ever Thought of Facilitating a Meeting?
We are looking for volunteers to start new meetings or serve as substitutes, particularly in-person meetings. New meetings allow us to reach a broader community who might benefit from SMART. Our training program will pair you with a mentor to offer guidance and support while you prepare to facilitate a meeting of your own. Contact the facilitator training committee.
Find Us on Social Media
Following SMART Recovery San Diego on social media is an easy way to stay in touch and stay informed. We are on Facebook and Instagram. We also have a Meetup group for our social activities, and a private Facebook group. Contact socialmedia@smartrecoverysd.org for more information.
Your Donation Counts
All donations go toward the costs of our Community Center in Kearny Mesa and our Zoom licenses; we have no paid positions. Please help with a monthly PayPal donation. Email fundraising@smartrecoverysd.org with any questions about supporting SMART Recovery San Diego.
Donate with PayPal or Venmo: @SMARTRecoverySD (business account)
Upcoming Activities
