PRCC Newsletter August 2021

Portland Recovery Community Center Newsletter: August 2021

We are loving our new location at 102 Bishop Street! It feels great to be back together again in-person. Construction has begun as we work towards a full renovation of the building, but we are still open! Keep reading to learn about the exciting happenings at PRCC.

Bishop Street Updates

PRCC's current guidelines for center guests and staff:

All guests, members and staff may gather outside without wearing a mask.

Inside the building, masks are not required for vaccinated individuals; those who are unvaccinated are still required to wear a mask.

We continue to respect the choice of individuals who choose to wear a mask.

If you are not feeling well (even if you don't think it's Covid), please stay home!

Let's work together to keep our environment clean. We'll continue to regularly clean surfaces, and we're asking visitors to regularly wash hands.

PRCC is currently open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 11am-7pm, and Sunday 8am-12pm. You do not need to call ahead to attend a meeting.

Old and new groups are on the schedule - and it's changing rapidly as our meeting space allows for more people and more meetings! If you are interested in starting a new group, reviving an old group, or hosting a recovery event, contact Nancy by email or call 207-553-2575.

Meetings are also continuing virtually across the state:

Check out the schedule for Portland Recovery Community Center. All are welcome!
Find contact information for your local recovery community center at the Maine Recovery Hub.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with latest happenings at PRCC.

PRCC is getting a makeover.

102 Bishop Street has begun construction as we work towards a full renovation. We're super excited. Our new space will have double the capacity to host meetings and recovery coach sessions, plus more windows (meaning more natural light!) and an improved lobby area.

We will remain open during the renovation. Supporting our members is our highest priority, and we will continue to welcome all who come to the Center. Please be aware that some areas will be blocked off; however, restrooms will remain open throughout construction. We will do our best to keep everyone informed as we transform our space--stay up to date by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Say hello to our Recovery Link Kiosk.

PRCC has gone digital! Recovery Link Kiosk is a new online system that will speed up our check ins, eliminate paper forms, and keep your information better protected.

Effective Monday August 2, all visitors must check in at the kiosk. Please select "First time visitor" to set up a profile.

We'll\ have instructions and more details available at the Center, but in the meantime feel free to give us a call with any questions at 207-553-2575.

Upcoming Events

Comedy Night

Comedy night is back! Join us at 102 Bishop Street for an hour of much-needed laughter. The evening will be headlined by Johnny "Friggen" A, featuring Al G and host Mike B. It will be mostly clean material, but please do not bring children. Tickets by donation!

Join us: August 14, 8:30pm

AA Retreat

Sponsored by Stroudwater 11th Step, this retreat will help us to become aware of our higher power's presence in our lives and how it can be found in people we meet while living out our journey of recovery. Call PRCC at 207-553-2575 for more information.

Join us: August 21-22, 9am-5pm

8th Annual Rally4Recovery

This year's National Recovery Month theme is "Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community."

We are looking forward to celebrating recovery at our beloved annual Rally4Recovery.

Save the date: Sept. 18, 2021.

Recovery Coaching at PRCC

Two of PRCC's Recovery Coaches recently completed their coaching, and we are so grateful for their commitment to the recovery community!

THANK YOU to Recovery Coaches Jason Currier and Graham Botto! We hope you both take the lessons learned with you during your recovery coaching experience and continue to help guide others through their journeys of recovery!

PRCC is actively looking for new Volunteer Recovery Coaches to join us this summer! If you have your CCAR Recovery Coaching training, and want to support others in recovery, reach out to kim@portlandrecovery.org. You can view our position description and qualifications for Volunteer Recovery Coaches HERE.

Registration is the first step in Maine toward becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. Learn more here.

Wellness Spotlight: Getting Active for Recovery

Meet Drew Morrow. Drew is a person in recovery who has been involved at PRCC as a Recovery Coach, as well as Volunteer Coordinator for The Phoenix, a nationwide sober active community available for anyone in recovery.

Drew uses Phoenix's programs as one of his pathways to recovery. "People in recovery need an outlet, and for a lot of people, exercise can be that outlet," says Drew. “The Phoenix Community provided me with a healing culture that accepted me for who I am."

In partnership with PRCC, Phoenix is offering two exciting events in August: Volleyball at Deering Park (August 8), and Bucket Drumming at PRCC (August 21). The cost to attend all Phoenix events is 48 hours of sobriety. Learn more and register here.

Interested in volunteering? Meet our new volunteer coordinator.

Tesla Bartone has recently joined PRCC as the new Volunteer Coordinator. In her role, she onboards, manages, and supports all of the Center's lovely volunteers. Tesla is specifically excited to be working with volunteers because volunteering has been and continues to be an important part of her recovery journey and healing process.

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, volunteering at PRCC is a great way to plug in while giving back. Volunteering provides an opportunity to help people from your community who are on a lifelong journey of recovery, and to spread the message of hope to others. Our volunteers gain valuable professional skills and references. PRCC depends on volunteers--we could not exist without them!

Interested in volunteering? There are tons of ways to get involved. Volunteers can:

Offer front desk visitor service
Help with cleaning and grounds maintenance
Offer Telephone Recovery Support (training provided)
Offer Recovery Coaching (training provided)
Start a new group
Speak at events
Help with fundraising projects
And much more!

For more information, call 207-553-2575 or email tesla@portlandrecovery.org.

Volunteer of the Month

Meet Luis: Luis Gonzalez moved to Portland from Boston this summer. After feeling welcomed with open arms at PRCC, he has volunteered wherever he is needed--including front desk, cleaning, and data entry.

"The PRCC is my safe space, my sanctuary," says Luis. "It's where I go not only to do the service work, but to interact and connect with others. As a proud gay, Latinx, cancer survivor and HIV-Positive man, I am blessed to have the platform of the PRCC to share my story and embrace the perspectives of a diverse recovery community."

Join us in thanking Luis for his dedication and commitment to the recovery community.

You are our family

This newsletter allows us to share our progress and connect with you - our recovery family. Published on a regular basis and sent via email, it provides news and updates for the greater Portland area. It gives you an opportunity to help support recovery and spread the message of hope throughout the state of Maine! Please send any feedback or information you'd like us to include to newsletter@portlandrecovery.org.