Sydney Durand, Regional Director from an organization called the Phoenix presented at the May SUD Collaborative. The Phoenix is a nonprofit organization with the mission to fuel a sober active movement. They leverage physical activity and social connection as well as use sober and social activities to help build community. They do this so folks can go beyond just maintaining their sobriety but to start thriving in their recovery. They believe that when you’re in recovery, your life should get bigger, not smaller. The Phoenix aims to help those in recovery grow and continue to build their sober network.
The Phoenix recently expanded to New Hampshire. They have a small team in place but also looking to hire. They also hope to leverage volunteers and existing community resources to offer free sober activities that are open to anyone with a minimum 48 hours of continuous sobriety. This can look like hiking or walks in the park or surfing or all kinds of similar sorts of activities. Anything that can be done socially in a safe supportive setting is what the Phoenix believes helps those in recovery.
Since 2006, the Phoenix has helped more than 42,000 people across America rise above addiction and harness the power of self-transformation. It was founded by Scott Strode and a core group of team members to be a safe, sober active community of peers who support each other every day on the journey to recovery. Scott found hope in his own recovery while discovering how ice climbing helped all his problems, fears, and shame of addiction melt away. The Phoenix continues their mission of building a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we rise, recover, and live.
Several years ago the Phoenix decided to deploy and expand their model in order to meet the rapidly growing needs of the community. They did this through mobilizing existing resources and volunteers in the community. An example of this is when a place such as a climbing gym donates one hour or more hours a week to the Phoenix who then provides trained volunteers to implement their model for a free activity for the sober community. The goal is that it that a meaningful activity is done together in a safe supportive environment.
The Phoenix in New Hampshire will offer free in person programs leveraging donated gym space, outdoor sites, and volunteers to provide critical support and connection to individuals in recovery from substance use. Programs will initially be available in the Seacoast, Manchester, Concord, and Nashua areas with further expansion planned throughout the state. Locals interested in signing up for classes, volunteering or attending virtual programs can visit www.thephoenix.org/find-a-class. All classes are free, and the only requirement to participate is 48 hours of continuous sobriety.
