Recovery City Film Screening
By: Victoria Durgin
Allentown’s Civic Theater recently hosted various local nonprofits, government executives, and advocates at a documentary screening focused on addiction recovery.
The Center for Humanistic Change (CHC), in partnership with Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, hosted a special screening of “Recovery City,” a powerful documentary that follows four women in Worcester, Massachusetts, as they navigate addiction recovery while raising children.
Prior to the film beginning, attendees were welcomed to a resource fair in the theater lobby put on by several local nonprofits who address a variety of needs for those suffering from addiction and their loved ones.
Among the organizations in attendance were Valley Youth House, Change on Hamilton and its Journeys Program, Oasis Community Center, Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services (MARS) and others, including CHC.
Film gives raw look at the difficult journey to recovery
The screening, which took place on May 14, comes ahead of the launch of a new recovery housing initiative led by Lehigh County, Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley, and the Journeys Program, offering recovery housing and resources for pregnant women and mothers impacted by opioid use.
“In recovery, personal stories of individuals tend to bring a collective experience of the impact of addiction. The project highlighted the individual’s struggles, victories, and outcomes, which in recovery can be a vital part of your own life and journey,” said Michael Judkins, the clinical supervisor of MARS in Bethlehem.
Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol (LCDA) Assistant Administrator Molly Stanton said the event was an oportunity to addres the stigma that women and mothers in particular face as they seek treatment and recovery for various substance abuse disorders.
“Showing this film humanizes recovery and teaches us all about the difficult path women face as they seek help,” Stanton told The Valley Ledger.
Stanton herself has an extensive background as a clinical director and therapist. She said she knows firsthand how hard it can be for mothers with children to receive proper care without forfeiting their children or otherwise not receiving care.
LCDA works with various nonprofit groups and other county agencies to facilitate treatment options throughout the county. The new housing initiative through Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley provides support for women and their children as they work through treatment.
Ultimately, Stanton said she and the county’s goal is to see those suffering from addiction recover and rebuild their lives.
“Success to us is families staying together whenever possible, and offering the support in transition as women then launch themselves into stability,” Stanton said. “We want to see women come through our housing and then ultimately leave to their own apartments and homes once they have completed their treatment.”
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan was also in attendance at the Wednesday night event. His office works closely with LCDA and other partners to increase access to recovery and support services.
The new housing initiative is one example of that partnership. The program has been funded through opioid settlement monies and will not rely on taxpayer funds.
For Holihan, events like the screening are an important piece of his work in serving the interests of the community he represents.
“I represent, and my office represents, the entire community,” Holihan said. “I can’t represent the community if I don’t understand it and interact with it. How can I possibly represent it if I don’t understand its interests? I don’t have that knowledge built into me- I have to find it and learn it. Events like this give us all that opportunity.”
To Holihan, providing resources and services to those suffering, and proactively educating as many people as possible about addiction before it begins, are also effective in reducing crime generally.
“In my experience over 35 years now in the criminal justice system, there’s a lot of crime that can be prevented,” Holihan said. “There’s a lot of work that can be done on the front end. And if we can do that, while still punishing the crimes that do occur, then that’s a win.”
Filmmaker answered audience questions following screening
Director Lisa Olivieri fielded questions and provided insights into her filmmaking process following the conclusion of the film. She took the audience through her decision to tell the stories of the women in her film and how the nearly five year process shaped her understanding of recovery.
“It’s impressive to me that people get well and then keep reaching down [to help others] instead of running away,” Olivieri said, referencing the recovery volunteers and nonprofit leaders she met while creating the film. “I didn’t want to make an intervention-style show where you saw people at their worst and then… at the end they were all clean. I wanted to say, ‘and then what happened,’ and show what happens next. For me, that’s the beginning of the story, not the end.”
“Recovery City” is not currently available to stream or view online, but those interested in learning more about the film can visit the Recovery City Facebook page.
For more information on Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley, visit www.whlv.org or call 610-714-0130.
If you or a loved one need assistance, the following hotlines are available:
- Crisis Support in PA: dial 211
- Lehigh County Crisis Services: 610-782-3127
- Northampton County Crisis Services: 610-252-9060
- National Crisis Text Line: 741-741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or Text 988
