HOPE 2025: Energizing the ME to WE Connection
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 8:00-4:00, Augusta Civic Center
Register for HOPE 2025The HOPE Conference is a statewide recovery and wellness conference for persons in recovery from substance abuse use and mental health challenges and service providers. It was created to help participants gain a greater understanding of what recovery and wellness looks like from the many paths and different perspectives on the journey of life.
The workshops will be based on honoring a broader definition of wellness and restoring our sense of community. All workshops will allow for the opportunity to learn from each other, network, and gain greater understanding about recovery and wellness. This year’s theme is meant to focus on how we energize the me to we connections. How do I as an individual connect more closely with my communities of choice?
We want to look at how we honor and connect all our experiences as a broad peer recovery community. We honor building broader definitions of wellness, diversity and restoring our sense of community. Please join the conversation and explore how this is or can be reflected in systems/services, our individual choices, journeys, and continuing to create a supportive, accepting, and vibrant community.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS
Reflecting on the Me to We – Mark Jenkins
Reflecting on decades as a person in recovery and a leader in the harm reduction services field, Mark reflects on some of his many lessons learned in the spaces of the “Me to We” connection. As a founder and Executive Director of several non-profits serving our most marginalized neighbors, Mark’s experience spans 1) the delivery of services, 2) building programs to engage, build trust and support folks to make any positive change in their unique pathways to wellness, and 3) advocating for our work in public spaces at the local, State, and Federal level. We all bring our lived experience to the work. Mark will share how this has driven him to help systems enable, rather than constrain the connections needed to rebuild a positive, supportive, culturally responsive, and affirming community.
From ME to WE: Igniting the Power of Community – Paula Buege
We will dive into the transformative journey from individual empowerment to collective action. By nurturing self-care, fostering connections, and standing united against systemic oppression, we unlock the true potential of community. With inspiring stories and actionable insights, attendees will leave energized and equipped to create meaningful change in their lives and beyond.
ABOUT THE KEYNOTES
Mark Jenkins has been advancing harm reduction in Connecticut and beyond for three decades. He founded the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition to deliver services and supports for people who were not being served by traditional program structures and funds. GHHRC evolved to become the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance (CT-HRA), with services now covering roughly 50% of Connecticut. He is also the founder of Reduce Harm, Inc. (RHI) the natural third phase of this work, expanding efforts to support harm reduction programming across the country, with special emphasis on Black-led and rural programs. Mark is presently the board chair of the National Black Harm Reduction Network and sits on the boards of other national organizations.In recognition of Mark’s exceptional service leadership, he was recently honored with the Dan Bigg Memorial Award by the National Harm Reduction Coalition.
Paula Buege is a dedicated professional with a profound commitment to empowering and supporting lived experience experts in driving transformative change. Drawing from her own lived expertise in multiple systems, Paula’s career objective is to meet the needs of constituents served by fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. She aims to ensure that the insights and perspectives of lived experience experts are integral to shaping policies and practices that promote recovery and well-being. Paula has been training those with lived experience to become Wisconsin Certified Peer and Parent Peer Specialists. She continues to consult and train agencies, organizations, and individuals related to mental health, substance use, serving families, child welfare, juvenile justice, and criminal justice. Paula infuses her lived experience and wellness journey into her work, sharing over 25 years of experience in multiple roles and systems to support others on their wellness journey.
Additional information
Contact Hours –You may collect your certificate of attendance as you depart.
Lodging for one night is available to peers/consumers who travel more than 130 miles one way within the state of Maine to attend. Please contact Simonne Maline – [email protected] for information.
Mileage – Peers/consumers traveling 150+ miles round trip are eligible for mileage reimbursement (must be traveling in your own vehicle, within the state of Maine and not receiving reimbursement from another organization). Mileage reimbursement forms will be available at the conference. Peers/consumers who travel less than 150 miles round trip and are not being reimbursed by another agency are eligible to participate in a raffle for one of five $25 gas cards. Participants receiving mileage reimbursement are not eligible for the gas card raffle.
Carpooling is recommended for organizations. Participants who are traveling less than 150 miles round trip to the conference will be eligible to enter a raffle for one of five $25 gas cards.
Food – A menu that is shellfish-free, peanut and tree nut-free, and gluten-free and vegetarian options will be provided.
Special Accommodations – We will do our best to respond to reasonable requests. Please contact Simonne Maline [email protected] or by phone 207-430-8300 by April 20, 2025 with any accommodation requests. For language interpretation services, please contact Simonne as soon as possible and let us know which workshops you plan to attend.
To register by fax and pay at the door, please print and complete the Registration form and fax to 207-878-6172. If registering by fax, you will be responsible for paying the registration fee at the door. There is no registration by mail for this event. For registration questions, contact [email protected] | 207-878-6170
Cancellation Policy – There will be no refunds provided for cancelled registrations. If you need to cancel your registration, please contact [email protected] | 207-878-6170
This conference is presented by the Consumer Council System of Maine.
Register for HOPE 2025Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be lunch options for those with allergies or dietary restrictions?
All meal options will be shellfish-free, peanut-free, and tree nut-free. There will be gluten-free and vegetarian options provided.
Is there another way I can register?
There is no option to register by mail this year. Registration can be completed here online or by fax to 207-878-6172. If registering by fax, you will be responsible for paying the registration fee at the door. For registration questions, contact [email protected] | 207-878-6170.
What is the cancellation policy?
There will be no refunds for cancellations. If you need to cancel your registration, contact [email protected] | 207-878-6170
Can I get mileage reimbursed?
Mileage is reimbursed for peers/consumers using their own vehicle to travel 150+ miles round trip within the state of Maine and who are not receiving reimbursement from another organization. Mileage reimbursement forms will be available at the conference.
Who can enter the gas card raffle?
Anyone traveling less than 150 miles to the conference can enter the raffle for one of five $25 gas cards. Those receiving mileage reimbursement (from HOPE or other organization) are not eligible to enter to the gas card raffle.
Can I have hotel or lodging reimbursed?
Lodging for one night is available to peers/consumers who travel more than 130 miles one way within the state of Maine to attend. Please contact Simonne Maline – [email protected] for information.
Where do I find descriptions for each workshop?
The HOPE 2025 Workshop Descriptions can be found at the link in the description above. Please select one workshop for each session to attend.
