Recovery in Practice

Richmond, Virginia was officially named the first Inclusive Recovery City in the United States in October 2024. The Board, composed of people with lived experience and allies from multiple agencies and perspectives across the City. The RVA IRC aims to bridge the recovery and broader communities and highlight all of the fantastic work already being done by recovery community organizations.

Team Members: Marty Alexeenko, Laela Huddleston, and Abby Sucher. Facilitated by Ella Floyd

The Creative Coalition, a support group for artists and creatives hosted by Rams in Recovery at VCU, will unveil a new, community-created banner for the recovery community in Richmond. By showcasing our many talents and strengths through creative practice, the group aims for the banner to act as a tool for growth and self-discovery, allowing us to break down social stigmas and develop a greater understanding of ourselves and the support we may need. This banner will serve as a visual reminder of the power of unity, whether it’s within a recovery group or our shared City of Richmond.

John Freyer (Artist, VCU School of the Arts) & Margaret Stratton - 90 Minutes - This opening event will begin with a conversation between Margaret Stratton and John Freyer about how their experiences in recovery shape and inform their current creative practice. Audience members will then have their own 20-minute one-on-one “Free Ice Water” conversations about turning points in their lives. The event will end with a brief Q&A and the completion of the audience’s Free Ice Water jars for display during the conference.