Learn what’s being done to address addiction, recovery at July 14 storytelling event

A community storytelling event on July 14 will share information on what’s being done to address addiction and recovery in East Tennessee. National Public Radio, which has been covering Roane County Recovery Court, will serve as the master of ceremonies, a press release said.

The storytelling event is titled “Roane is Better Together!” It’s scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at the Princess Theatre in Harriman.

It’s sponsored by Russell Johnson, district attorney general of the Ninth Judicial District, and Roane County Public Defender Kim Nelson, a press release said.

The press release said the Roane County Recovery Court launched in January, and NPR has shared several video and audio clips with its listening audience.

The July 14 event will include a panel with Tennessee Senator Ken Yager and others “as we celebrate how we are building a stronger community,” an invitation said.

“Henry Ford was once quoted as saying ‘Coming together is a beginning…keeping together is progress…working together is success,” the invitation said. “Henry Ford understood that there is more to community building than getting organized. You have to bring everyone to the table and talk about change, but in order for change to be accomplished, we have to do something. Mobilizing a community to partner together behind a common cause does not happen easily. It takes work to mobilize and engage people and there is no cookie-cutter technique.

“In spite of facing an epidemic, you have continued to take tangible, positive steps and have created a network of healthcare awareness, law enforcement agencies, nonprofit agencies, social services, and those working on the front lines of our faith-based community.”

In an effort to gauge how many folks to expect, please RSVP to truckbeatrsvp@gmail.com, the invitation said. To register for booth space in the lobby of The Princess Theatre, contact Charlene Hipsher in Johnson’s office at (865) 376-2145, extension 108, or Mollie Swallows in Nelson’s office at (865) 719-8046.

“I am looking forward to this event as we take proactive steps to strengthen, inform, and unite the citizens and services of Roane County at this special event,” Johnson said.

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