BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The City of Beckley, W.Va., will soon become the first Inclusive Recovery City (IRC) in the United States.
On March 19, city, state, national and international leaders in recovery support will come together to sign a charter declaring Beckley as an IRC – the first in the nation, joining 26 other cities across Europe, the Balkans, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia as IRCs.
The community is invited to attend the public remarks and the signing of the IRC charter, although all guests must register to gain entrance at the West Virginia University of Technology auditorium, 410 Neville Street in Beckley. Refreshments will be available at 9 a.m. and lunch will be catered by the Fruits of Labor Pizzeria & Café across the street. The program will get under way at 9:30 a.m., and the charter signing will take place at approximately 10 a.m.
A recovery city is a community that promotes visible recovery, addresses stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes, and champions multiple pathways to addiction recovery. The underlying concept is that by embracing these principles, the entire city can experience growth and collective benefits through the generation of new networks, linkages and community resources.
Jay Phillips, Executive Director of Seed Sower, Inc., is leading this initiative with a number of local community and government entities. March 19 events will kick off with the Beckley IRC charter signing, including remarks from city, state and international leaders, followed by a luncheon and afternoon working groups.
Phillips became a part of the Seed Sower journey in 2019 and began bringing in advisors and building partnerships to make the recovery support services vision a reality. “The region has embraced our efforts and, thanks to six federal and state funding awards, we are offering safe, stable housing—which was our original number one priority—and expanded that far beyond to include transportation, workforce training and peer recovery support services focusing on southern West Virginia,” said Phillips.
In May 2023, The Well, which is a Seed Sower-affiliated organization, received funding support from the West Virginia Department Health and Human Resources as the only Recovery
Community Organization (RCO) in southern West Virginia. The Well is one of six RCOs statewide.
Dr. David Best, who will be the keynote speaker at the event, conceived the model that evolved into the IRC program. He is a professor of Addiction Recovery at Leeds Trinity University and President of the Recovery Research Institute based in Florida. His wife, Jessica, is director of operations and acting executive director of the Recovery Outcomes Institute.
Phillips’ continual quest for information and innovation in recovery services led him to cutting-edge research and the Inclusive Recovery City model developed by Dr. Best. “This model offered a strategic way to best help the people and employers of this region, leveraging the area’s considerable community strengths and organizational assets,” he said.
The fundamental aims of the IRC model are:
The primary mechanism for this is through hosting at least four public events each year that have inclusive goals and contribute to the overall well–being of the community.
Phillips said Beckley will also establish an Inclusive Recovery Cities board, involving grassroots recovery and community organizations, certain specialized addiction treatment services, and representatives from the city. City leaders will also engage in the Inclusive Recovery Cities movement, fostering the exchange of ideas and innovation at both national and international levels.
Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold said, “We are honored to be the first city in the country to be named an IRC. From the successful Communities of Healing initiative to The Well, and now withthis designation, our city leaders and our citizens have steadfastly stood with those in recovery seeking a path forward.”
Entities joining Seed Sower in supporting the Beckley IRC include:
Those wishing to register to attend can do so at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inclusive-recovery-city-beckley-kickoff-and-charter-signing-tickets-841485625157?aff=oddtdtcreator
