Gov. Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum will host the third Recovery Reinvented event next week at the Bismarck Event Center, a day focused on advocacy, building recovery support in communities, creating recovery-friendly workplaces and eliminating the shame and stigma surrounding addiction.
“This year we are focusing on giving individuals, communities and businesses the tools to create supportive cultures for recovery,” First Lady Burgum said. “The incredible speakers and resources will inspire people to take that next step to either find recovery or start grassroots efforts in their communities to end stigma and empower recovery.”
The daylong event from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature both national and state experts focusing on addiction and recovery. The governor and first lady will announce new initiatives to support employers and businesses to create recovery-friendly workplaces, as well as programs for family members.
Featured speakers include:
- Gary Mendell, the founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit focused on reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America. After losing his son Brian to addiction in 2011, Mendell founded Shatterproof to spare other families the tragedy his had suffered. Since founding Shatterproof in 2012, Mendell has been a national leader in the addiction space, creating solutions that will create more access to treatment for opioid and substance use disorders, including the creation of the Shatterproof National Principles of Care to guide providers, payers and patients to quality treatment. He advocates for state and federal policy changes and soon will be launching a national strategy and call to action to address stigma related to opioid and substance use disorders.
- Riley Salmon is a three-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic Gold medalist for USA Men’s Volleyball team. He played professional indoor volleyball for 17 seasons as well as three professional seasons for the AVP Beach Tour. Salmon struggled with addiction for the better part of 10 years and has been in recovery for 22 months. He currently serves as the head coach for the men’s volleyball team at the University of Jamestown.
- Carol McDaid, co-founder of McShin Foundation, is a person in long-term recovery with over 25 years of federal legislative experience in Washington, D.C. Having established one of Virginia’s leading peer-to-peer recovery community organizations with her husband, her experience will translate how to effectively engage communities to support recovery. McDaid also played a strong role in the passing of landmark legislation requiring insurers to treat addiction, mental and physical health problems equally.
- Dr. Leander “Russ” McDonald is the current president of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. McDonald is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Nation and a proud descendant of the Sahnish, Hidatsa, and Hunkpapa Nations. Prior to beginning his role as president of UTTC in 2014, McDonald served as chairman for the Spirit Lake Nation and was an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health. His published research focused on Native American elders’ health risks and disparities, American Indian veterans’ access to health care, and American Indians’ behavior risk factors. An example of the power of recovery, McDonald is a person in long-term recovery for 25 years after going through treatment 16 times.
As with the previous two events, those attending will have the opportunity to receive training in how to administer naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse the symptoms associated with opioid overdose in emergency situations. Doses of the medication will be available for participants to take with them after the event.
The event also will include a Recovery Resources Expo with booths of providers, resources and programs that are transforming recovery in North Dakota communities.
Recovery Reinvented is free and open to the public and registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.recoveryreinvented.com. The event will be livestreamed on the website and viewing parties will be held in several cities, with location details to be made available on the website. Continuing education units are available for those attending the event or one of the viewing parties.
A media availability with the governor and first lady will take place at 12:15 p.m. in the lobby registration area.