I hope this post finds everyone well and striving to live your best life.
“Advocacy is the act of speaking on the behalf of or in support of another person, place or thing.” (Merrian-Webster Dictionary)
Many times organizations work on behalf of certain populations without giving them a voice at the table. The slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us” has its origins in Central European political traditions that go back to the 1500’s. It communicates the idea that the developing and implementing of policies should not be decided by any representative or representative organization without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) effected by said policies.
Part of the threefold mission of Recovery People is to be an advocate in shaping recovery policy. As part of our organizational core values, this action should not be done without the voice of our constituency. To that end, Recovery People will be co-sponsoring a series of focus groups and forums called the Community Focus Groups and Forums Initiative (CFGFI).
The purpose of the CFGFI is twofold. First, to hear the voices of individuals with lived experience from different segments of the recovery community. Second, to inform and educate this same population.
Recovery People is currently partnering with Communities For Recovery in Austin and the Club House in San Antonio to host separate events in those cities. In the future, we will also be partnering with organizations in Dallas and Houston to host similar events.
For more information on how you or your organization can get involved on the planning level or participate as a “peer participant” in either the Austin or the San Antonio sessions. Please contact me by email: carl.hunter@recoverypeople.org