On May 5th, three Makin’ It Happen staff members entered the Pennsylvania Convention Center for NatCon 2025. Little did they know, they were walking into a morning keynote session that held what appeared to be hundreds of rows of chairs – every single one of them taken.
This first keynote session launched them into a three-day event of nonstop learning, networking and entertainment. Representing the Resiliency Essentials and Recovery Ready Communities focus areas, Kayt Gagneux, Janelle Havens, and Jordan Havens were caught in the whirlwind of NatCon 2025. Described as “more than just an event” by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, I think our team would agree!
With workshop sessions on addictive gambling, positive youth social media use, nicotine-free recovery, and anti-stigma strategies in rural communities, to name a few – our staff returned to New Hampshire inspired and ready to jump back into work. The daily keynote sessions helped to keep them motivated, with guests including Patrick J. Kennedy and Stephen Fried. In between these enlightening workshops and keynote sessions, they were able to debrief with rescue puppies and arcade games and learn more about the people behind national initiatives like Zero Overdose.
Our traveling team was so grateful to be able to attend NatCon 2025, and most definitely look forward to implementing their new ideas in the Greater Manchester Region moving forward!
Written by Janelle Havens | Recovery Ready Communities Director | 5/14/2025
