The Woosh Kinaadeiyí nonprofit will tackle substance abuse issues during its next open mic poetry slam as part of National Recovery Month.
The pay-as-you-can event will take place Sept. 16 at GonZo AK in Auke Bay. Performers of all ages are welcome to attend. Sign-ups begin at 6:30 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m. The Woosh Kinaadeiyí group’s work is committed to diversity, a more inclusive community and empowering voices. The event will be hosted by Katie MacDonald and Erika Bergren, with Jacob Pickard as the musical accompaniment.
Other partners for the September poetry slam are Haven House; Juneau Reentry Coalition; Gastineau Human Services; Alaska Division of Public Health; Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium; Rainforest Recovery Center; University of Alaska Southeast; Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line; Juneau Youth Services: and the National Council On Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Juneau (NCADD-Juneau).
A partnership between NCADD-Juneau and Sitka documentary production company Mission Man Media will also bring a series of seven 30-second videos sharing Juneauites’ stories about their road to recovery to the web.
Every Wednesday, a different video will be released on the NCADD-Juneau Facebook page (facebook.com/ncaddjuneau), sharing a different facet of recovery. The first video was released Sept. 7.
NCADD-Juneau Executive Director Kathryn Chapman said the goal of sharing these videos is to educate the public about the facts of substance use disorders and to share with those looking for help that there are options — no matter what stage of recovery someone might be facing.
“So many of us in Juneau are impacted in some way by substance use disorders,” Chapman said. “You may be a family member, employer, or friend of someone who struggles with addiction. You may be struggling with addiction. We want people to know that this problem is not yours to solve alone. You simply cannot deal with addiction alone. People with substance use disorders and their families need support, education and hope. People with substance use disorders can recover and/or manage their conditions successfully. At NCADD Juneau we can help you get started on your pathway to recovery.”
For more information about the poetry slam, contact Katie MacDonald at 523-6535, or juneaupoetryslam@gmail.com. For information about the NCADD-Juneau web series, email info@ncadjuneau.org.
