In March, Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction hosted the first Together for Hope: Boston Addiction Conference. With inspiring panels of experts, thought-provoking presentations, and a supportive community of SUD focused organizations in attendance, a few team members of ATR were proud to have been included.
Read more below about our presence throughout the conference.
ATR Team members, from left to right, Brita Loftus, Michaella Jones, and Erin Allain host a resource table at the Together for Hope Conference.
At this year’s Together for Hope: Boston Addiction Conference, ATR Project Director, Brita Loftus, was asked to join a panel hosted by one of ATR’s longstanding partners in Boston, titled “Increasing Access to Employment for People with Substance Use Disorder”, where she was able to discuss how the ATR program supports employment goals for people in early recovery. The best part, as usual, was hearing from program participants themselves, who remarked on how ATR helped them in their recovery and employment journeys. “I always find it so energizing attending these types of conferences with so many like-minded people in one space,” Brita said, “I love the learning and networking opportunities, but I also get really excited seeing the innovation and progress that’s happening in the state.” She shared that the state agencies promoted harm reduction techniques, such as providing Fentanyl testing strips to attendees and hosting a Safe Consumption Site demonstration in the exhibit hall.
In order of appearance: Erin Allain, James Harrison, and Michaella Jones share ATR poster presentation.
The following day, additional ATR team members Erin Allain, James Harrison, and Michaella Jones provided a poster presentation focusing on the collaborative efforts that ATR has developed over the years, creating a network of partners and organizations to create systems-level change and expand support for individuals in recovery. Erin said, “The conference was a great opportunity to connect with people from across Massachusetts who are striving to promote harm reduction and recovery. It was inspiring to be in a room with others striving for the same goals and willing to challenge each other’s assumptions about how we can reach our shared goals.”
James also shared this perspective, as he enjoyed the opportunity to learn, network, and listen to different viewpoints on recovery initiatives. He said the poster presentations were especially inspiring due to the various programs and technologies that were shared with the audience, and the ATR poster presentation was a great opportunity, “…to answer questions and connect with colleagues that are on the ground and in the community doing the work.”
We are proud to have such esteemed colleagues representing the work of ATR in the recovery community of Massachusetts!