The Power of Dignity
A Community Conversation on Substance Use
Please join Community Substance Use Response (CSUR) in a public conversation about substance use at the Brooks Memorial Library from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24.
As the number of opioid-related deaths rises in Vermont, it seems substance use has touched almost everyone in our community. While no person or organization has all the answers, community conversations grounded in mutual respect can help identify dignified solutions to the challenges created by substance use.
Potential topics for group exploration:
Substance use
Substance use disorders
Addiction
Prevention
Treatment
Harm reduction
Youth, seniors, and everyone else
Experiencing crime
Experiencing homelessness
Accountability with compassion and without judgment
CSUR does not have answers to the many problems—including overdose deaths related to substance use—but we believe that solutions can emerge when our community shares its stories and insights.
It's common for conversations around issues that challenge our community, such as substance use, to be accompanied by pain, loss, and negative judgments. We recognize this, yet anticipate a conversation where everyone gives and receives dignity, where everyone is listened to, and where participants can share without judgment, scapegoating, or blame.
This community conversation builds on previous community events, including conversations organized by COR (Community Opioid Response) and other collaborations, such as the short video The Power of Dignity (https://ourpowerofdignity.org/ed_resources/), which features people in recovery describing the importance of dignity. Additional information at https://ourpowerofdignity.org/.
A panel of CSUR members will participate in the May 24th conversation, but their principal interest is to hear the diverse experiences of community members.
Community Substance Use Response (CSUR) represents several local organizations including: Voices of Hope in Wilmington; Turning Point in Brattleboro; The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont in Brattleboro; Grace Cottage Hospital; Building a Positive Community (BAPC) in Brattleboro; and Meetinghouse Solutions in Brattleboro.
Funding for CSUR is provided by the Vermont Department of Health Division of Substance Use.
For more information, contact Geoff Kane, gpkane108@gmail.com
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