The Right Door to Host January Gatherings

Free educational talks about the issues affecting our community.

Ionia, MI: The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness presents their first ever January Gatherings 2019, ten (10) educational talks in January and February where you can learn about and discuss substance use and recovery, opioids and addiction, bullying, screen time and its effects on our youth, suicide, domestic violence, supported employment and insurance benefits, and trauma. These free talks include employees from The Right Door that are subject experts, as well as celebrity speakers.

“We are excited to offer the first annual January Gatherings to the community! The Right Door Board of Directors and I have wanted to offer educational sessions to the community for quite some time. This year’s January Gathering offers high-caliber speakers and a multitude of current topics to provide education and the opportunity for discussion to all of our community. We hope to have a great turnout to experience the fabulous speakers!” said Kerry Possehn, CEO of The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness.

Katie Donovan will share her story of the addiction journey her daughter Brittany has been on and how she had to focus on family recovery. Katie has dedicated her life to helping others find quality treatment for substance use. She is the Vice President of the nonprofit Families Against Narcotics, on the Executive Committee for the Michigan Opiate task force Operation Rx and is a national speaker on addiction. Katie is a professionally trained and certified family recovery coach and addictions recovery coach. You can read more about her family’s journey at www.amothersaddictionjourney.com. Katie will be speaking on Thursday, January 2, in partnership with the Ionia/Montcalm Families Against Narcotics meeting from 6:30 – 8:30PM.

Anthony Ianni, of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the first known athlete with autism to play Big 10 basketball at Michigan State University, is on a mission to eradicate bullying. Anthony speaks Thursday January 17, from 6-7:30 PM.

Riley Juntti, a sophomore at Grand Valley State University, helped create “13 Reasons Why NOT”, centered on Netflix’s show “13 Reason’s Why”, in which the lead character leaves behind tapes blaming 13 people for her suicide. Riley was one of thirteen students from Oxford High School to boldly announce to 1,800 fellow students during morning announcements the emotionally vulnerable places they had been through and thanking someone who had helped them out of it. Riley will share her story and provide tools for addressing youth depression and suicidal ideation. Due to the violence in Riley’s story and the intensity of the story of others she will tell, this talk requires attendees to be 14 years of age or older. Riley speaks January 24, 6-7:30 PM.

These FREE talks take place on the following dates, January 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 22, 24, 28, 31 and February 4. The published calendar is available on our website at www.rightdoor.org or our Facebook page. All talks are hosted at the Ionia office location of The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness: 375 Apple Tree Drive, Ionia, MI 48846. Light appetizers and drinks will be provided. For questions or accommodation requests, please contact Susan at 616.527-1790 or email us atcustomerservice@rightdoor.org

About The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness: The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness is the premier behavioral health provider in Ionia County. We provide comprehensive mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use services in our three office locations, as well as in the community for adults, children and families in a recovery focused, trauma-informed and person served focused manner. You can request services by calling us at 616-527-1790 or by coming to one of our three locations (Belding, Ionia, Portland). For more information: www.rightdoor.org