We invite you to join us

A SINGLE-DAY GATHERING FOR ALL VERMONTERS WORKING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD IN VERMONT’S ADDICTION EPIDEMIC. 

One of Vermont’s most significant recovery events of the year, this conference will feature internationally renowned leaders in the field of recovery, speaking live at Vermont’s newest model for recovery: the Recovery Village at Jenna’s House in Johnson, VT.

Speakers include: three-time New York Times best-selling author, Johann Hari; journalist and author of the National Book Critics Circle award winning book, “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, Sam Quinones; and Vermont State Senator and equity and inclusion advocate, Kesha Ram. All speakers will appear in person.

Details for the Leadership Conference

Recovery Vermont is all about CONNECTION, and so to gather IN-PERSON is something we are excited about. We understand the importance of continuing to stay safe and in providing accessibility, which is why we’re also excited to offer a virtual experience. 

Recovery Vermont’s Leadership Conference will be held on MONDAY, APRIL 4TH from 9AM – 4PM, and will take place at Jenna’s House in Johnson, Vermont. Registration, networking, photo opportunities, and exhibitors will occur from 9am – 10am. Book signing and meet & greet with the speakers will follow the event. Lunch will be served,  gluten free and vegan options will be available.

 The full event will also be held virtually on Zoom starting at 10AM. 

Update: As of 3/2/22, in-person tickets have SOLD OUT. We recommend that you register for virtual tickets.

Ticket FAQ

  • A single registration for an in-person ticket is $35. A single registration for a virtual ticket (Zoom) is $10. The in-person event has a limited capacity and is sure to sell out quickly, so purchase your ticket today.
  • Please note that access and inclusivity are paramount to us. Complimentary online access will be granted to everyone who requests it.  Email us to receive a free tuition voucher to attend virtually. 
  •  100% of the ticket proceeds will go to the Vermont Recovery Coach Academy’s scholarship fund.  
  • In-person health and safety protools: At this time, and in alignment with the guidance from the CDC and Vermont Department of Health, all in-person attendees must show proof of being fully vaccinated (with or without boosters), with a photo and/or physical vaccine card as they enter the conference. Negative tests will not be accepted in lieu of vaccination. Indoor masking will be required except for when eating. We will update our recommendations as needed to ensure utmost safety and comfort for all participants. Please check our website frequently for any changes or updates to these requirements. If you are feeling unwell, currently have COVID-19 or have recently been exposed, please stay home. 

  • Continuing Education: Certified Recovery Coaches are eligible to receive 4 CEUs for attending this event in its entirety (for both in-person and online). Certified Recovery Coaches must request these CEUs and their certificate by contacting us.
  • Refunds and Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be granted, except in the event of extreme weather. The event will be held indoors rain or shine. In the event of an extreme weather situation that might prevent our speakers from arriving in person, the event will be cancelled and refunds provided. In the unlikely event of such a weather emergency we will email all participants the night before and will post the event’s cancellation on all of our social media and websites.

Featured Speakers

“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection” – Johann Hari

Johann Hari

Johann Hari is a British writer who has authored three New York Times best-selling books that have been translated into 38 languages. His latest book, ‘Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention’ was published in January 2022 and quickly became a bestseller. His first book, ‘Chasing the Scream: the First and Last Days of the War on Drugs’, was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film ‘The United States Vs Billie Holiday,’ for which Johann was also an Executive Producer. Chasing the Scream has also been adapted into a separate eight-part documentary series presented by Samuel L. Jackson to be released in 2022. His second book, ‘Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions’ was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association. Johann’s TED talks have been viewed more than 80 million times. The first is named ‘Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong’. The second is entitled ‘This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious’. He has written over the past decade for some of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, the Spectator, Le Monde Diplomatique, the Sydney Morning Herald, and Politico. Johann was twice named ‘National Newspaper Journalist of the Year’ by Amnesty International. He has also been named ‘Cultural Commentator of the Year’ and ‘Environmental Commentator of the Year’ at the Comment Awards. He has appeared on NPR’s All Thing Considered, the BBC’s Question Time, and many other popular shows.

Senator Kesha Ram

Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Burlington, Vermont was born in Los Angeles and attended public schools in Santa Monica, California. She received a BS in Natural Resource Planning and a BA in Political Science from the University of Vermont in 2008, where she was Student Government Association President and graduated magna cum laude. Kesha earned her Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2018. Her career in Vermont has spanned preschool education, legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence, and municipal civic engagement. She currently works to build social equity and inclusion in non-profit organizations, businesses, school districts, and municipalities. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives on behalf of Burlington, Chittenden District 6-4 from 2008 to 2016, where she sat on the House General, Housing & Military Affairs and Ways & Means Committees, and as Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Vermont Attorney General’s Immigration Task Force, and as a member of the boards of Emerge Vermont, the Main Street Alliance of Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Regenerative Food Network, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Kesha lives with her husband, Jacob Hinsdale, who grew up on Country Cedars Farm in Charlotte, and their dog, Miso. Senator Ram is now running to serve as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Sam Quinones

Sam Quinones is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist and has been a reporter for 35 years including ten years at the L.A. Times and ten years as a freelance writer residing in Mexico. Sam has written on many topics including immigration, gangs, drug trafficking, and the border. He is also the author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction, including: True Tales From Another Mexico: The Lynch Mob, the Popsicle Kings, Chalino and the Bronx; Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream: True Tales of Mexican Migration; Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic; and most recently, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth. Dreamland won a National Book Critics Circle award for the Best Nonfiction Book of 2015. It was also selected as one of the Best Books of 2015 by Amazon.com, the Daily Beast, Buzzfeed, Seattle Times, Boston Globe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Entertainment Weekly, Audible, and in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Business. In 2019, Dreamland was selected as one the Best 10 True-Crime Books of all time based on lists, surveys, and ratings of more than 90 million Goodread.com readers. Also in 2019, Slate.com selected Dreamland as one of the 50 best nonfiction books of the last 25 years. In 2021, GQ Magazine selected Dreamland as one of the “50 Best Books of Literary Journalism of the 21st Century.” The Least of Us, published in October 2021, is following in Dreamland’s footsteps and garnering widespread acclaim.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you to our sponsors! 

If you are interested in sponsoring Recovery Vermont’s Leadership Conference event,  please download our sponsorship details.

CONTACT US

Recovery Vermont
A program of VAMHAR
100 State Street, Suite 352

Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 223-6263

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