Award winners at the second DREAM Dinner to Celebrate the Possibility, Diversity, and Joy of Recovery pose with their awards on Oct. 4. The goal of the event was to share that recovery is possible, has many paths, and can be the source of a joyful life.
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According to the National Survey on Drug Use & Health, 16% of the United States population met the criteria for a substance use disorder
Seven in ten individuals who have ever had a substance use problem identify as being in recovery.
Johnson County, and the country, overall have a lot of work to do to support individuals seeking treatment, but just as much work to ensure they’re welcomed into a community that supports their recovery path, according to local officials.
Upstream Prevention hosted the second DREAM Dinner to Celebrate the Possibility, Diversity, and Joy of Recovery on Oct. 4 at Garment Factory Events. The goal of the event was to share that recovery is possible, has many paths, and can be the source of a joyful life.
Upstream distributed over 150 free tickets to individuals in recovery, their friends and family, key stakeholders, elected officials, and the media to be a part of the magical evening.
“It was enlightening to attend the DREAM dinner and inspiring to be a part of; every moment was a reminder of resilience and growth,” said Jaycie Miller, a 2023 attendee and a part of the event’s planning committee.
Hosted in part with sponsorships from local partners, the night was filled with networking, keynote talks by Judge Brandi Kirkendall and Pastor Ross Stackhouse. The evening ended with Upstream announcing the five DREAM Award winners, plus a surprise DREAMer award.
Winners were:
Person of the Year (an individual in recovery): Barry D. Ostrom II, certified peer recovery coach
Humble Servant (an individual in recovery or an ally): Brandon Todd, certified peer specialist
Health Advocates of the Year: Tara Treatment Center, accepted by Jessica Daugherty
Legal Advocate of the Year: Crystine Cox, peer recovery specialist
Community Partner of the Year: Grace United Methodist Church, accepted by Pastor Joe Sanford
2024 DREAMer: Jaycie Miller
While not a fundraising dinner, donations to Upstream for their recovery initiatives were offered throughout the evening, including an opportunity for individuals to donate directly to support the Recovery Café JoCo in their fundraising match challenge.
Upstream Prevention, Inc. seeks to support systems-level changes to promote public health, specifically related to the prevention and reduction of youth substance use, improved mental health of the community, and creating an environment conducive to healthy behaviors for all citizens.
