YOU Made an Impact – Let’s Keep It Going!
Welcome to the latest edition of Recovery & YOU!—your go-to source for updates, advocacy efforts, upcoming events, and community highlights. YOU made an impact at RAD 2025—now, let’s keep it going! This month, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of Recovery Advocacy Day 2025 and looking ahead to exciting events, including Recovery Day at the Mariners! Read on to stay connected with the recovery movement.
RAD 2025: YOU Showed Up & Spoke Out!
Despite the snow, at least 208 attendees joined us in Olympia for 86 meetings with lawmakers and staff at RAD 2025—24 more attendees than last year! The momentum for recovery advocacy is stronger than ever. 💜
📢 Legislative Wins in Progress:
HB 1427 (a key RAD priority) has passed out of the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness. The bill was sent to the House Rules Committee for Review (Rules 2 Review).
A bill to generate revenue for behavioral health services is expected to be released soon—these bills are typically heard later in the session.
HB 1574 (a WRA-supported priority) is moving forward! It passed out of the House Committee on Community Safety and is now in the House Rules Committee.
Our recovery housing capital budget request has been submitted to budget writers!
YOU showed up, YOU advocated, and together, we made a difference!
Check out the event photos and tag us when you share!
Recovery Day at the Mariners is Coming Up!
YOU won’t want to miss this! Stay tuned for details about Recovery Day at the Mariners—a special event celebrating recovery in the community with America’s favorite pastime.
oin the WRA and KCRC for a powerful day of community, connection, and celebration at our annual Recovery Day at the Mariners! Sunday, September 14, 2025. Join us on the Sky Level before the Concourse before the game!
Event Highlights:
Recovery Rally at 10:30am, features guest speakers, giveaways, and services fair
(Occidental Square, 117 S. Washington Street, Seattle, 98104)
March to T Mobile Park at 11:10 am
Gates Open at T-Mobile Park: 11:40 am
A pre-game event featuring:
Community Resource Fair, raffle prizes, a photo booth, and interactive activities
Special Recovery Day First Pitch
Game Time 1:10 pm
An exclusive Mariners Recovery Day T-shirt is included with the ticket purchase. Tickets are available at mariners.com/recovery.
Virtual Cultural Humility Training
Thu, Mar 20 | 2:00 PM (Virtual)
This session will enhance your ability to communicate effectively across diverse cultural backgrounds while fostering inclusive and respectful relationships.
Overdose Prevention & Response Training Series
The Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA) is hosting a free training series for our behavioral health recovery community. Learn how to identify and respond to an overdose, discuss local overdose trends, harm reduction + recovery resources, and receive free naloxone.
Sun, Mar 30 | 2:00-4:00 PM
Seattle Public Library – Lake City Branch
Wed, Apr 30 | 5:30-7:30 PM
Renton Library
Mon, May 5 | 1:00-3:00 PM
Renton Library
For questions, contact Tristan at tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org.
What's Next?
Recovery Coach Academy:
March 11-14
The Recovery Coach Academy is a four-day training designed to equip individuals with the skills to become certified recovery coaches.
This program is offered in partnership with KCRC and WRA, with generous support from The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.
Details: March 11-14, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Recovery Cafe South Lake Union, 2022 Boren Ave, Seattle, WA
To Register: Email Will at hospitality.coordinator@recoverycafe.org to be added to the list. Commitment: Participants must commit to the full 40 hours.
Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to act fast!
Recovery Coach Panel
Hosted by Everett Recovery Cafe
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Everett Community College
2000 Tower St, Everett, WA 98201
WAQRR Webinar: Trauma and Substance Use Disorder
Thu, Mar 27 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Webinar
Participants will gain a better understanding of how trauma affects the way one views the world, how the thinking process is changed, and how it impacts the potential for addiction to various substances.
OBHA is Hiring!
Washington Recovery Alliance is spreading the word about an incredible opportunity with the Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy (OBHA)!
Position: Behavioral Health Advocate
Full-Time | Hourly | Non-Exempt
Pay: $31.94 - $34.65 per hour DOE
Lived experience in recovery is required
OBHA is looking for a passionate advocate to uphold the rights of individuals navigating Washington’s behavioral health system. If you have personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, and you're ready to make a difference, we strongly encourage you to apply!
To apply, send your cover letter and resume to:
Tisha Robbins (tisha@obhadvocacy.org).
Michelle Tinkler (michelle@obhadvocacy.org).
Would you like to receive updates from the Office of Community Voice and Empowerment?
The OCVE is getting a new distribution list. The new list will make it easy to receive information specific to individuals with lived and living experience. Contact Dakota to add yourself to OCVE’s new distribution list, dakota.steel@hca.wa.gov
Recovery Podcasts
King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.
Listen Now
On the latest King County Recovery Conversations episode, host Heather Venegas talks with Thomas Jackson, a passionate advocate for personal growth and mental well-being. As the Program Director for Washington Peer Network, Thomas brings a wealth of lived experience to his work, transforming adversity into a powerful force for change.
You can also watch the King County Recovery Conversations on YouTube. Heather invites Brett Lovins, an advocate for recovery-friendly workplaces, to share his insights. Brett recounts his personal journey to sobriety and his experiences at Cisco Systems, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive environments for employees in recovery.
WRA Out in the World
YOU can stay connected!
Stay engaged, see what we’re up to, and join the recovery movement.
Art has long been a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and connection. In celebration of this, we’re launching Recovery Through Art, a monthly feature showcasing creative works that explore themes of recovery, resilience, and personal growth.
Cougs for Recovery Art Exhibition: By Light & By Darkness This series is inspired by By Light & By Darkness: Cougs for Recovery Art Exhibition, a collection of visual and written works curated by Washington State University’s Cougs for Recovery program.
This Month’s Featured Art: All You Can't Control: Int. Ext. by El Nazarov
This striking artwork by El Nazarov invites us to reflect on the balance between internal and external forces in our lives. It serves as a reminder that while some aspects of life remain beyond our control, we always have the power to shape our personal recovery journey.Accompanying Poem: Healthy by Brenda Hulett
Support Recovery—Make a Difference Today!
Your donation helps us expand recovery advocacy, provide vital resources, and strengthen communities across Washington. Every contribution—big or small—fuels our mission to ensure that recovery is visible, accessible, and supported statewide.
Donate today and be a part of the movement!