Recover Alaska is an organization working towards a solutions-based approach to reduce excessive alcohol use and harms across the state. As part of National Recovery Month in September, Recover Alaska held a storytelling event where people in recovery shared their stories of overcoming addiction.
SPEAKERS:
- Taylor Stapley: is a lifelong indoor Alaskan. Once broken, now still broken butrecovering, an eternal optimist, and father to the best kid ever.
- Chris McNeese: was born in 1959 in Anchorage. She began her recoveryjourney in April of 2000. Her current sobriety date is 5/5/2011. She has beenmarried 37 years and has 2 children and 1 1/3 grandchildren. She alwayswants to see what’s around the next bend.
- Russ Osterhaus: is a lifelong Alaskan who loves going to church and AAmeetings and riding his 1993 Harley Sportster. He plays guitar and singsSouthern Gospel music, and he released a CD called Praise My Savior.
- Governor Bill Walker: stopped by the event to speak and show his support.
- RJ Johnson: is in a constant state of reinvention. From his former career as abartender, his hobbies of performance and theater, his time as a titleholder inthe ICOAA and as Mr Bear Alaska, he’s a familiar face for many inAnchorage. Since making the choice to get sober, recovery has been thebiggest reinvention of all. No longer content to be Imperial Crown Prince RJ, MrBear RJ, or RJ from Myrna’s, he is working to figure out who he is without thetitles.
- Arthur Stevens: is Ahtna and Han Gwitchn Athabascan from Mentasta Lake,Alaska. He is from the Tsigunnyguy Alstetnay (Tsi-gunny-guy Alts-set-nay) clan.His indigenous name is Cen'ayy (Ken-Eye) which means double-axe. He is alocal business owner and often performs traditional Ahtna song and dance tosupport his community. He is happily married to an amazing and strongAthabascan lady and is blessed with a 7-year-old son, Christian.
- Sarah Weber: is a proud lifelong Alaskan, and along with her husband of 16years has four children. Sarah is a very outspoken character—she is full ofstories and loves to share them. She is excited to share her experience of hopewith others and to be a strong example of what recovery looks like. Shebelieves in second chances and is living proof that all things are possible forthose who believe.
HOST:
- Wesley Brewington: became familiar with gang activity and incarceration at anearly age and struggled with substance abuse for 14 years. Wesley graduatedfrom a long-term treatment facility in the Mat-Su Valley, successfully completedState Probation in 2017, and he’s now employed at CITC Recovery ServicesDivision as the Peer Support Supervisor. He just celebrated 5 years in recovery.Wesley continues to be involved in the community, pursuing his passion forhelping others and providing evidence that we can and do recover.
LINKS:
BROADCAST: Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.RECORDED: Tuesday, September 20, 2018 at Anchorage Community Theater.
About
Addressing Alaskans features local lectures and forums recorded at public events taking place in Southcentral Alaska. A variety of local organizations host speakers addressing topics that matter to Alaskans. To let us know about an upcoming community event that you would like to hear on Addressing Alaskans, please Contact Us with details.SUBSCRIBE: Get Addressing Alaskans updates automatically via email, RSS orpodcasts. ADDRESSING ALASKANS ARCHIVE
