August 9, 2026

Week of 8/10/26

August 9, 2026

When a parent dies due to alcohol or other substances, the relationship doesn’t suddenly become simple. Maybe you are furious with them. Maybe you spent years waiting for them to choose you, keep a promise or become the parent you needed. Maybe you had to grow up too soon, cover for them or keep your distance just to protect yourself. Or maybe your parent was your person. You knew they were struggling, but you also knew the funny, loving and generous person underneath it. Now you are angry at the substance use, angry at what it took from both of you and angry that love wasn’t enough to keep them here. Maybe you miss them one day and feel relieved that the chaos is over the next. Then you feel guilty for even thinking that. Death doesn’t erase what happened. It doesn’t fix the relationship. This week, our Death of a Parent grief support meeting, on Wednesday 8/12/26, is a place to say the things you may not feel comfortable saying anywhere else. You can love your parent and still be angry with them. You can miss them and still be hurt by them. You can grieve who they were, who they could have been and what you never got to have. Bring the whole messy truth. We can talk about it.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Make sure to click view entire message at the bottom of the email.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP CALENDAR ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app! The teamup calendar automatically updates to your timezone.

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

NATHAN’S CIRCLE WEST BARNSTABLE regular meeting cancelled this week. Having a closed IOAD event.

PEOPLE IN RECOVERY MEETING cancelled this week.

VOLUNTEER!

New Volunteer info session Monday 8/10/26 7:00 pm ET. ZOOM LINK. There are so many ways to get involved! Sign up to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and find the one that feels right for you. Sign up here!

10 YEAR CELEBRATION! OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER IN YEARS! Please help keep our peer grief support free!

Buy your tickets now! On October 3, 2026 we'll gather for a very special evening as we celebrate 10 years of The Sun Will Rise Foundation, recognize Cheryl Juaire's incredible contributions as she retires and look ahead to this new chapter together as Team Sharing & The Sun Will Rise merge. We hope you'll join us.

Sponsor, Donate or Add a Tribute in Memory of Your Person. There are many meaningful ways to be part of this special evening. Become a sponsor, make a donation or place a tribute in our program in memory of someone you love. Your support helps ensure that people bereaved due to substance use-related causes never have to grieve alone.

ANNOUNCING LOW DIGIT PLATE AUCTION! Bid on a Low-Number Overdose Awareness Plate Our online auction for Massachusetts Overdose Awareness plates 1–99 is now open! These plates have not been available to the public until now! Bid on a meaningful number while supporting TSWR’s free peer grief support for people bereaved due to substance use-related causes. And yes, if you already have a higher digit plate and want to bid on one of these you are eligible! Most plates start at a $500 bid. Certain single digit numbers are higher. Auction closes 10/3/26!

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

We held our 4th lantern-making event at Thayer Public Library, people together to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind lanterns in memory of those we carry with us. Each lantern will shine during our International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk on August 27. The Quincy MA in-person workshop still has a few openings and the newly added Braintree MA workshop does as well. If you can’t make those, join us at our virtual workshop, details below.

We kicked off our International Overdose Awareness Day tabling events this week at Stairway to Recovery in Brockton. Helping people know that there is grief support available is such an important task!

It was a hot one today, but such a beautiful afternoon picking our own flowers at the Cross St Flower Farm! Hummingbirds and butterflies joined us flying around the gorgeous blooms, making the day feel even more special. Join us at one of our next events where we build community!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

NEW IN-PERSON WORKSHOP ADDED! Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. Each lantern created during these workshops can be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing. Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

New workshop added!

8/10/26 1:00 pm A New Way Recovery Quincy MA REGISTER HERE.

NEW 8/19/26 6:30 pm Braintree Town Hall Braintree MA REGISTER HERE

8/20/26 6:30 pm ET Virtual. Zoom Link. List of materials that you will need.

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026. All spots filled. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

August 25th 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET Peer Support Community Partners’ August psychoeducational workshop Finding Supportive Community While Grieving. Explore the many ways support can look while grieving, including peer support groups, one-on-one connection, professional counseling, community spaces, online support, and everyday relationship-building. REGISTER HERE Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free. Contact Laura@@peersupportcommunitypartners.com

International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Remembrance Thursday August 27th, 2026 6:00 pm ET Braintree MA Join The Sun Will Rise Foundation, the Town of Braintree, The Braintree Community Partnership, the Town of Weymouth and the Weymouth Prevention Alliance as we come together to honor International Overdose Awareness Day. This evening is an opportunity to remember those who have died due to substance use-related causes while standing alongside others who understand the lasting impact of these deaths. We will gather at Pond Meadow Park for a remembrance ceremony where participants will be invited to take part in our glow stick ceremony. This is a meaningful ceremony that honors the lives of those we carry in our hearts and reminds us that their light continues to shine. Stay for just the ceremony or walk with us, carrying our own handmade illuminated memorial lanterns, around Pond Meadow. Together we remember. Register here. Make a lantern to carry at one of our workshops! There will not be a separate Braintree butterfly release this year or a Weymouth vigil. Questions? Contact robyn@thesunwillrise.org

WOOSOX IOAD EVENT/GAME Saturday, August 29th, from 2:00-4:00 pm Polar Park Worcester MA. Resource tables from SADOD, The Sun Will Rise, Learn to Cope, Everyday Miracles, End Overdose Boston, City of Worcester Health and Human Services, the YMCA, and more will be available outside at 2:00 pm, then move to the inside concourse during the game. Speakers will share personal stories between 2-3:15, followed by a butterfly release. The on-field ceremony, where loved ones will be honored, will take place around 3:30 - 3:45 pm. Doors open at 2:30 pm. Come together with the community to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remember that they lived. $5 from each ticket purchased through this LINK will be donated to The Sun Will Rise Foundation. Order your tickets today!!

MEET THE NEW CO-FACILITATORS FOR THE MEN’S GROUPS

Meet Michael Simon: “I’m a retired prosthodontist with 35 years of clinical experience, a Certified Peer Grief Educator, and an advocate for addiction awareness and grief support. I found The Sun Will Rise Foundation just two months after the loss of my 26-year-old son, and the support I received, especially through the men's group, became an important part of my healing. I’m honored to co-facilitate a new men's support group so I can help others find the same sense of connection and hope. I’m also the author of the upcoming memoir A Private Storm, which explores my son’s life, addiction, and the science behind why people struggling with addiction often don't ask for help. Through my writing and public speaking, I hope to educate, reduce stigma, and help prevent other families from experiencing this kind of loss.”

Meet Paul Cooperstein: I joined the TSWR men’s group shortly after my 31 year old son Adam passed on from fentanyl poisoning in 2022. The men’s group has provided comfort and compassion in a way that I have not found anywhere else along this journey. I have found peace and acceptance listening to the journeys, trials and tribulations of the other men and sharing my emotions and process with them. After 3 years in the group I answered Dave Swindell’s call to become a peer group facilitator. I retired from a career in law several years ago and have done group facilitation in corporate settings for years and currently facilitates a social group. My partner and I live in Milton, MA and enjoy travelling the world, cooking and gardening.

HELP US PREPARE FOR IOAD & A SAMPLE OF UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

Volunteers Needed in Braintree Wednesday August 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA. We’re looking for volunteers to help install 978 purple remembrance flags along the fence outside Braintree Town Hall. Each flag represents a Massachusetts resident who died due to overdose in 2025. We'll be zip-tying the flags to the fence… all materials are provided. Removal: Wednesday, September 2 at 5:00 PM: Help is also needed to respectfully take down the display. These flags reflect the most recent overdose from the state. Bring a friend and be part of this meaningful tribute. Every hand helps. No sign up, just arrive at requested time. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

BOSTON Sign up to volunteer to plant memorial flags on the Boston Common.

There are so many remembrance events happening this month. Like this Quincy MA one. If you have a flyer you would like to share for your event, email it to robyn@thesunwillrise.org.

SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA. If you are hosting an event and would like to add it to the locator, complete this form.

For other states and international events search here.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

August 9, 2026

Week of 8/3/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

August 9, 2026

We know there are some men carrying grief who may never think of joining a support group. Some may not know what they would say. Our Men’s Group is for any man 18+ grieving someone who died from a substance use-related cause. A son or daughter, a brother, a partner, a parent, a relative or a friend. If the death has affected your life, there is a place for you here. Men are also welcome at any of our other groups that fit their relationship or experience. The Men’s Group is simply another option. It’s a space where some men may feel more comfortable connecting with others who understand. There is no pressure to share before you are ready. You can come and listen. You can talk about the hard days or about the person you are there to remember. The men who attend have found that being with others who understand can make grief feel a little less isolating. We are expanding the Men’s Group by adding a Monday night option starting 8/17/26. And we are welcoming Paul Cooperstein and Michael Simon as new co-facilitators each to one of the meetings. They know what it feels like to walk through that virtual door needing support. Now they are ready to help hold that door open for other men. We will introduce them both next week’s email.

Know someone that may want to join? Please share this email with them or encourage them to pre-register.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

The Weymouth MA regular daytime group at Wey of Life will meet only via zoom this month.

VOLUNTEER!

There are so many ways to get involved! Sign up to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and find the one that feels right for you. Sign up here!

OUR 10 YEAR CELEBRATION!

The INTO LIGHT Project

Attention residents of Missouri, Illinois & South Dakota! Beginning August 1, families and friends in those states will be able to submit a person for consideration in the INTO LIGHT Project's Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibition. To learn more about the project please visit intolightproject.org. View the flyers for these states here.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

We held our third lantern-making event at Hope Beyond Hope, bringing people together to create lanterns in memory of those we carry with us. So unique and beautiful! Each lantern will shine during our International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk on August 27. The Quincy MA in-person workshop still has openings. If you can’t make that, join us at our virtual workshop, details below.

Some members of our Book Club gathered face-to-face for their first annual dinner. It was a wonderful evening of good food, conversation and friendship! Can’t wait to get the new list of books for year two!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. Each lantern created during these workshops can be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing. Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA FILLED-REGISTRATION CLOSED

8/10/26 1:00 pm A New Way Recovery Quincy MA REGISTER HERE.

8/20/26 6:30 pm ET Virtual. Zoom Link. List of materials that you will need.

LAST CALL! Pick Your Own Flowers Sunday August 9, 2026 2:00-4:00 pm. Cross St Farm Norwell MA Our group will have the farm fields to ourselves as we gather together to admire the blooms spread throughout the seven acre flower farm. Walk the rows at your own pace, choose your stems, and bring home a hand-cut bouquet straight from the field. We will have the opportunity to cut 20 stems of beautiful summer blooms to bring home. Zinnias, lisianthus, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, sunflowers, pincushion, globe amaranth, grasses are among the possible varieties that may be bursting! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. The ground is uneven so may not be easy to navigate for those with mobility difficulties. Questions about the event? Please email judy kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026. All spots filled. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

BOSTON IOAD INFO

On Monday 8/31/26 over 20,000 purple flags will be planted on the lawn at Liberty Mall on Boston Common in remembrance of those who have died due to overdose in Massachusetts between 2013-2025. Sign up to volunteer to plant the flags. Please report at 7:30am to be assigned a task. T-shirts will be provided to volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you volunteered in the past, please wear the shirt you were given and everyone is invited to wear a purple shirt in case t-shirts run out. They kindly ask that volunteers commit to at least two hours, though you are welcome to stay longer.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

Week of 7/27/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

Where do you go when you do not want to hold it together anymore? A safe space to grieve does not have to be a certain location. It may be a person who lets you speak honestly without trying to change the subject or make things better. It may be a support group where you do not have to explain the complicated parts of a substance use-related death. It could also be your car, the shower, a walking trail, your bedroom or anywhere you can let your guard down for a while. In that space, you should be able to say their name. You should be able to cry or not cry, talk or sit quietly. You should not have to make your grief easier for someone else to hear. You should not have to defend the person who died, explain what happened or pretend that you are doing better than you are. Sometimes the people we expected to be our safe space cannot be. That surprised me. Some may be uncomfortable with grief, afraid of saying the wrong thing or ready for us to “move forward” before we are. Realizing this can bring another layer of hurt and loneliness. I know it shook up some of my friendships. Take a moment this week to ask yourself: Where can I be completely honest about my grief? Who allows me to show up exactly as I am? Where do I feel understood rather than judged? Know that we can help you find a safe space to grieve here.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

OUR 10 YEAR CELEBRATION!

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

Erica, the winner of our Ariana Grande ticket raffle, was thrilled to be able to take her best friend to the show! They had an amazing time. Thanks for supporting TSWR!

MEET THE FACILITATORS

With the departure of long time Weymouth MA facilitator Darlene Mersereau, Judy Kelly steps into the facilitator role and Kathy Ernest will serve as backup facilitator. Many of you know Judy from her event/activity planning role. Thanks to both of them for helping to continue this long standing support group.

Meet Judy: A connection with TSWR was made six years ago when Judy first became bereaved after the death of her 28 year old son Geoffrey. Devastated and heartbroken, with the support of a caring community of facilitators and grievers, she found a safe place to share her experiences, thoughts and feelings. Judy states “acknowledging the similarities as well as appreciating the different perspectives of collective grief is one way to find balance in a life that no longer feels normal.” Regular attendance at the Weymouth meetings have brought many unexpected laughs as well as shared tears. “The kindest people have come into my life through meetingsand events and have shown great compassion and resilience. I appreciate being a witness to their journey” Judy acknowledged.

From Kathy: I am a retired nurse with a 40 year career at Brigham and Women's hospital working on a thoracic surgical floor. I am also a mom who raised two children in Weymouth. I thought I had a normal existence until one day my 18 yr old daughter, told me she was a heroin addict. I was totally caught off guard, and in shock as I thought being a nurse, I would be aware of all the signs. My daughter, Ashley, was great at concealing her truths and struggles. She fought hard to live against the reality of her desire to use. She loved everything about life but drugs were always there. January of 2017, someone wrote a facebook post stating RIP Ashley. This post got back to me. I could not allow myself to believe this. Unfortunately, she was found locked in her bathroom with her 1 yr old baby in his crib and a young daughter waiting outside for her mom to come out, and finally called someone for help. Ashley had picked up drugs after being in recovery for over a year. She was going through a difficult breakup, and thought she could dull the pain. About 7 + yrs ago, I sought out the support of other moms who have lost children. I walked into Crossroads church, Darlene Mesereau, and one other person were there. It felt cleansing and a great relief to know I was with people that wanted to hear about Ashley, and let me express my pain. I left there feeling relieved and supported. I also said to myself, if Darlene can make it every other Monday, so can I. We have a group of regular moms that know they can just show up, and they will see a familiar face and know we will listen. Many tears, sometimes a good laugh, but always hugs and an understanding that we know your pain. I look forward to being a backup facilitator to Judy Kelly, and the Weymouth group!"

SURVEY: MASS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE SURVEY

MBHP launched the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) in January 2023. They are asking people to take a few moments to tell them about your experience referencing, referring to, or interacting with the BHHL. COMPLETE SURVEY

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s July Psychoeducational Workshop: A Brief Introduction to Neuroscience as it Pertains to Substance Use and to Grief Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET Many people feel that they are forever changed after the death a loved one, yet not many know how their brain has been impacted. This workshop will provide a brief introduction to neuroscience and how substance use and grief each affect the brain. This is not a clinical training, nor is it a training that will diagnose or provide any medical information. REGISTER HERE. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. Each lantern created during these workshops can be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing. Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

We are offering a virtual workshop and a 5th in-person workshop because the two remaining in-person workshops are filled.

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA FILLED-REGISTRATION CLOSED

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA FILLED-REGISTRATION CLOSED

8/10/26 1:00 pm A New Way Recovery Quincy MA REGISTER HERE.

8/20/26 6:30 pm ET Virtual. Zoom Link. Material list that you will need.

Pick Your Own Flowers Sunday August 9, 2026 2:00-4:00 pm. Cross St Farm Norwell MA Our group will have the farm fields to ourselves as we gather together to admire the blooms spread throughout the seven acre flower farm. Walk the rows at your own pace, choose your stems, and bring home a hand-cut bouquet straight from the field. We will have the opportunity to cut 20 stems of beautiful summer blooms to bring home. Zinnias, lisianthus, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, sunflowers, pincushion, globe amaranth, grasses are among the possible varieties that may be bursting! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. The ground is uneven so may not be easy to navigate for those with mobility difficulties. Questions about the event? Please email judy kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026. All spots filled. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here for waitlist.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

Week of 7/20/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

For the past 10 years, The Sun Will Rise Foundation has worked to make sure people bereaved due to substance use-related causes know they do not have to grieve alone. Along the way, we have met so many people who turned their own heartbreak into a way of helping others. On October 3, we will gather for Together in the Light, a very special evening celebrating 10 years of The Sun Will Rise Foundation, honoring the extraordinary legacy of Team Sharing founder Cheryl Juaire as she retires and looking ahead as Team Sharing and The Sun Will Rise Foundation merge. The evening will honor every person who found the courage to walk into a group for the first time, every volunteer and facilitator who made space for someone else’s grief, every community partner who stood beside us and every donor who helped make this support possible.

Tickets are now available, and we would love for you to join us. Space is limited.

We’ll share a wonderful meal, recognize some of the people who helped shape this journey, enjoy raffles and auction off low-number Overdose Awareness License Plates including numbers 1 through 99! (Auction will be available online for bidding soon!)

Whether you have been with us from the beginning or found us only recently, you are part of this story. We hope you will come celebrate with us.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Interested in sponsoring the evening?
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses, organizations and individuals who would like to help make this celebration possible.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

Starting this week and going forward, the Medford MA group is now open to anyone 18+. It is no longer a Young Adult specialty group.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

More photos from last week’s Cape Cod Canal cruise! Such a beautiful night. Join us at one of our next events!

Grateful to The town of Norton for believing in peer grief support! TSWR was a recipient of one of their opioid fund mini grants! Other awardees included Grit & Grace Sober Living and St. Vincent de Paul. Do you know what your town is doing with the opioid funds in your city or town? Please let them know if you think grief support should be funded!

Our second Lantern Making Workshop was held at Wey of Life in Weymouth MA in the lead up to the Braintree/Weymouth International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony. So much love and care was put into these! Our next two workshops are filled, but we will be adding another in-person workshop that will be held in August and a virtual one that is schedule for 8/20/26.

Men’s Resilience Retreat: Open to all men impacted by a suicide death

Facilitator Don Lipstein who facilitates one of general groups and our substance use related suicide group asked that we share this with you: For many men, grief can be incredibly isolating. It’s carried quietly, without knowing where to put it, how to talk about it, or who could truly understand. You don’t have to carry it alone. This Men’s Resilience Retreat at The Kita Center is a chance to spend a weekend with other men who understand. No pressure to “have it all together.” Just honest conversation, practical support, and connection. Led by Don & Dr. Steven Karaiskos October 9–12, 2026 | Acton, Maine. Space is intentionally limited, and financial assistance is available. There is a cost to attend. Learn more. Questions? Contact don.lipstein@gmail.com

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. Each lantern created during these workshops can be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing. Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

We are offering a virtual workshop and a 5th in-person workshop because the two remaining in-person workshops are filled. The date, time & location of the in-person are TBD.

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA FILLED-REGISTRATION CLOSED

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA FILLED-REGISTRATION CLOSED

Additional in-person workshop being added in August. Info to follow.

8/20/26 6:30 pm ET Virtual. Zoom Link. Material list that you will need.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

Week of 7/13/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 26, 2026

"How are you?" In early grief, this question can make you want to scream. How do you think I am? You might be thinking, I'm horrible. I'm barely getting by. I want to crawl into bed and never come out. Instead, you just say, "I'm okay." Most people aren't asking because they expect you to be okay. They're asking because they care. They just don't know what else to say. As time passes, the question doesn't always get easier. Some days you still don't know how to answer. I've learned that you don't owe everyone the same answer. Some people have earned the real one. Others may hear...I'm hanging in there…I'm doing the best I can…Today's been a tough day. Or simply...I'm okay. None of those answers are dishonest. You don't have to explain yourself to everyone. You get to decide how much of your heart you share and who you share it with.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

Starting this week and going forward, Judy Kelly will facilitate the Weymouth MA group.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

The Cape Cod Canal Cruise! What perfect weather! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our cruise.

It was so great to be on the water with people who understand. Some of us spent the evening talking, some sat quietly taking in the view and some did a little of both.That's what makes these gatherings so special. There isn't a right way to show up. More photos to come!

The Men’s Group Fly Fishing Trip! An amazing few days spent standing in a river, casting a fly fishing line and sharing the quiet with people who simply understand. Thank you to the members of our mens group who attended. Sometimes getting outside and spending time together is exactly what's needed.

LIVING IN THE COLOR EXHIBIT

A grieving sister who created this project asked that we share this with you. Living in the Color is a community-based art exhibit, illustrating the multilayered reality of substance use disorder. Through the art of photography and personal narratives, Living in the Color illuminates the faces impacted; shining a light of hope to help break the stigma and reduce the shame around addiction while affirming that recovery, and a life lived in the color, is possible. Submissions are open to individuals with lived or living experience, people in recovery, grievers, first responders, educators, medical professionals, and more. The submission deadline is mid-July. Exhibit runs Aug 7–Sept 6 at Zumi's (Topsfield & Ipswich) Share your story.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. There are four dates & locations. Each lantern created during these workshops will be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing.Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org A virtual workshop will also be held. Date TBD.

Choose Between Three Remaining Workshops:

7/16/26 Wey of Life Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA REGISTER

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA REGISTER

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026. We have received your registrations and will notify you shortly if you have a spot or are on the waitlist. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here for waitlist.

Mark your calendar! On October 3, 2026 we'll gather for a very special evening as we celebrate 10 years of The Sun Will Rise Foundation, recognize Cheryl Juaire's incredible contributions, and look ahead to this new chapter together. We hope you'll join us. More details are coming soon!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 5, 2026

Week of 7/6/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

July 5, 2026

People see you all the time doing regular things. They see you grocery shopping, going to the fireworks, at the bbq, showing up for your family. They don't see the conversation you had with yourself before you got out of the car. They don't see you standing still in the cereal aisle because the tears came out of nowhere. They don't see the energy it took to answer a simple text. They don't see how many times a day you think about the person who died. Grief asks a lot of us behind the scenes. No one acknowledges it because most people never know it's happening. If today feels heavier than it looks from the outside, you're not failing. You're carrying something incredibly heavy while still trying to live your life. If this describes you, know that we don't need to see your grief to know it's there. You don't have to explain why you're tired. You don't have to apologize for crying or for not crying. Being happy or sad. You can just be you in whatever way that looks like.

~Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

YOUNG ADULT ZOOM group time changing to 7:00-8:00 pm starting this week and going forward.

FALMOUTH MA group meeting this week on 7/8/26. This month only.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS Change of date to 7/23/26

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/23/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Ticket sales close 7/10/26. With no more than 1000 raffle tickets sold, your odds are great with this one! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

We shared the news that Team Sharing and The Sun Will Rise Foundation will be merging later this year and that Cheryl will be retiring. Thank you to everyone who reached out with kind words and support. Your messages meant so much to both Cheryl Juaire and me. If you missed the announcement, you can read it here. Welcome Team Sharing members!

We gathered for the first of four Lantern Making Workshops in the lead up to the Braintree/Weymouth International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony. They all came out wonderfully! Abstract, realistic, some with names and other with favorite colors. A nice way to remember your person or just make something beautiful. Join us at one of the next workshops!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Cape Cod Canal Cruise Sunday July 12, 2026 6:30-8:30 pm Onset MA Join us on a two-hour trip cruising two-thirds of the length of the Cape Cod Canal to the Herring Run and back. This Hy-Line Cruise features live commentary about the fascinating history and points of interest along the canal. All ages welcome. Bring your friends & family! We chartered the whole boat! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly. judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. There are four dates & locations. Each lantern created during these workshops will be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing.Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Choose Between Three Remaining Workshops:

7/16/26 Wey of Life Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA REGISTER

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA REGISTER

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 28, 2026

Week of 6/29/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 28, 2026

The Sun Will Rise Foundation and SADOD work closely together to provide and expand access to peer grief support for people bereaved due to substance use related causes across Massachusetts. Recently, our grief support community experienced a heartbreaking death. Many of you know Tanya and Glen as two of the three owners of Peer Support Community Partners, the organization that operates SADOD. Sadly, their son, Vladik, has died due to an overdose. This week, instead of my usual reflection, I wanted to share the words Tanya wrote after Vlad's death. They are powerful and honest and a reminder that grief touches every family, even those who spend their lives supporting others through it. Please keep Vladik, Tanya, Glen, and all who loved him in your hearts.

Shared with permission by Tanya Lord

“I have started writing this post several times, and each time I stop because I am not entirely sure what I want to say. I have spent much of my professional life sitting with people through grief, trauma, illness, uncertainty, and loss. Part of me wants to share something profound about grief, loss, resilience, or the meaning of life, but the truth is that I am not feeling particularly profound right now. I am feeling like a mother whose son died. Twenty-seven years ago, my son Noah died. On June 6, Vladik died from an overdose. Noah's death shaped the course of my life in ways I never could have imagined. It influenced my work, the communities I found myself in, and the way I move through the world. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I believed that everything I had learned since Noah died might somehow prepare me if I ever faced another devastating loss. It turns out there is no preparation for losing a child, and certainly no preparation for losing two. Over the last few weeks, I have found myself thinking a lot about stories and how incomplete most of them are. We often know a small piece of someone's life and then fill in the rest with our own assumptions. We see someone's struggles, accomplishments, mistakes, strengths, or labels and convince ourselves that we understand who they are. The reality is that human beings are so much more complicated than that. Vlad was complicated. So was Noah. So am I. So are all of us. I am choosing to be open about the fact that Vlad died from an overdose, after many years of chaotic drug use, because I do not believe silence helps anyone. When someone uses drugs, there is often judgment, assumptions, stigma, and sometimes even hate. The person is reduced to that one thing, as though the rest of their humanity disappears. Over the years, I watched stigma and poor behavior from both people and systems fail Vlad and fail our family over and over again, all while each of us was blamed in one way or another. I don't know how to fix any of that. I don't even think that I know what is right or wrong. What I do know is that human beings have always found ways to escape, cope, numb, connect, celebrate, survive, or enhance their lives. That isn't a judgment. It is simply part of being human. Maybe we could all have a little more understanding and compassion toward each other. I love someone who used drugs. Maybe it is as simple as that. For those who would like to know more about Vlad, I am sharing his obituary. It tells a small part of his story, though no obituary could ever fully capture a person's life. For now, I find myself thinking about my two boys who once filled my house with noise, laughter, chaos, arguments, messes, and love. I find myself wondering what they would be saying to each other if they were both sitting here today. And I find myself missing them both more than I can put into words. Vladik was deeply loved. He is deeply missed. And he always will be. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the The Sun Will Rise Foundation. They step forward when so many step back. I have had the privilege to work with them and now to be supported by them.” ~Tanya Lord

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

BROCKTON MA group time changing to 11:15 am-12:15 pm starting this week and going forward.

FALMOUTH MA group meeting next week on 7/8/26. This month only.

GOOD LUCK DARLENE!

Our dear friend & facilitator, Darlene Mersereau is moving to Florida. We're so excited for this next chapter in her life, but we're going to miss her so much. Many of you have sat with Darlene in our Weymouth MA group over the years. After the death of her beloved son, Chris, Darlene once said to me, "Thank you so much for supporting me. Now I want to do that for others." And that's exactly what she did. She became our very first volunteer facilitator and together we began building what The Sun Will Rise has become today. For years, she has shown up month after month, offering compassion and hope to people walking one of life's hardest roads. This week she facilitates her last in-person meeting for us. The good news is that our Weymouth group isn't going anywhere. Judy Kelly will be taking over as facilitator, with Kathy Ernest providing support when needed. I know they'll continue the welcoming space that Darlene helped create. Darlene, thank you. Thank you for saying yes. Thank you for turning your pain into compassion. Thank you for walking beside so many people who needed someone to understand. You've made this community better simply by being part of it. Florida is lucky to have you. You'll always be part of The Sun Will Rise family and you'll always have a home with us.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Ticket sales close 7/10/26. With no more than 1000 raffle tickets sold, your odds are great with this one! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!

This weekend, we gathered for the first of two Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreats for parents, hosted by Team Sharing and The Sun Will Rise Foundation at Rolling Ridge. What an incredible weekend! It’s powerful spending time with people who already understand. You have the chance to be exactly where you are in your grief and not feel like you have to explain it and not have anyone try to fix it.

To everyone who joined us, thank you for trusting us with your stories and your hearts. I hope you left feeling a little less alone, knowing this community is here for you long after the retreat ends.

The August retreat for parents has a few spots still available, see below to register.

One of our Mom’s grief group facilitators, Karen Swindell was was inducted into the Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2026! Through her work with Chris’ Corner, Karen has dedicated herself to helping families impacted by substance use and supporting people in recovery. At The Sun Will Rise, she brings that same heart to our Moms' peer grief support group, where she helps mothers feel seen and less alone after the death of a child. We are so grateful for the difference you make, Karen!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. There are four dates & locations. Each lantern created during these workshops will be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing.Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Choose Between Four Workshops:

7/1/26 3:00 pm Tufts Library Rm 232 Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/16/26 Wey of Life Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA REGISTER

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA REGISTER

SADOD’s July Psychoeducational Workshop: A Brief Introduction to Neuroscience as it Pertains to Substance Use and to Grief Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET Many people have accepted that addiction is a disease, but not many understand the inner workings of it. Likewise, many people feel that they are forever changed after the death a loved one, yet not many know how their brain has been impacted. This workshop will provide a brief introduction to neuroscience and how substance use and grief each affect the brain. This is not a clinical training, nor is it a training that will diagnose or provide any medical information. REGISTER HERE. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026 Registration form reopened! We have gone through the waitlist. Space now available. If you would like to room with another bereaved parent, please complete the form. We can match you with another person. No single roooms available. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 21, 2026

Week of 6/22/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 21, 2026

Today was Father's Day. For some of you, it was a good day. For many, it wasn't. Maybe you spent the day missing your dad. Maybe you spent it wishing your child was here celebrating. Maybe you avoided the holiday altogether. Or maybe you smiled through a barbecue or a day at the beach while carrying grief quietly inside. Today is also the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. There isn't a finish line after the longest day, it’s just another day. The next day, the light shifts almost without notice. I think grief can be like that. There isn't a point where we are "fixed." There isn't a day when we wake up and are done grieving. We don't move steadily toward some final destination called healing. We adapt and we learn what hurts and what helps. We find ways to carry both our grief and our love at the same time. Some days feel heavier than others. Certain dates still knock the wind out of us. And then there are days when we laugh or breathe a little easier. None of those days erase the others.They are all part of loving someone who is no longer here. The longest day is ending now. Tomorrow, there will be another sunrise and another chance to keep going

Read more: From One Grieving Dad to Another.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

*** SOME SPOTS HAVE OPENED FOR PARENTS AUGUST GRIEF RETREAT-SEE BELOW****

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

Due to a zoom glitch last week, MULTIPLE LOSS GROUP is meeting this week on 6/24/26.

Judy Kelly facilitating for Janice Kaplan for the Newly Bereaved & New to TSWR GROUP this week.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Ticket sales close 7/10/26. Your odds are great with this raffle! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HEALING THROUGH WONDER

Catch up with the Healing Through Wonder Project by listening to our guests Les Schaffer & Martha Kartaoui.

Les Schaffer is a solo and tandem storyteller, teacher/trainer, retired counselor, veteran and cowboy- at-heart. His resume stretches from being a founding member of both the Tell Tale Hearts Storytellers Theater Company and TwoTellersTelling. These days, Les performs and teaches storytelling in a wide variety of settings. Watch here.

Martha Kartaoui is a speaker, author, trauma-informed coach, and cult survivor. In our conversation, Martha shares her experiences of her transformative moments of awe and wonder during her 26 years in a cult as well as her profound encounters after she escaped. A common thread through her stories is how her sense of awe helped her remember her authentic self and find meaning in her life despite the destructive influences of the cult. Watch here.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s June Psychoeducational Virtual Workshop: Grief Theories and Grief Misconceptions June 23, 2026 6:30-8:00 pm ET This workshop will provide a brief overview of some helpful grief theories while dispelling some common misconceptions, with the goal of providing a safe space for individuals to ask questions and learn more about this process. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.

Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. There are four dates & locations. Each lantern created during these workshops will be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing.Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Choose Between Four Workshops:

7/1/26 3:00 pm Tufts Library Rm 232 Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/16/26 Wey of Life Weymouth MA REGISTER

7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA REGISTER

8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA REGISTER

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026 Registration form reopened! We have gone through the waitlist. Space now available. If you would like to room with another bereaved parent, please complete the form. We can match you with another person. No single roooms available. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 14, 2026

Week of 6/15/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 14, 2026

When people come to a grief support group or one of our events for the first time, they're often carrying more pain than hope. Some are struggling to get through the day. Some are asking questions that have no answers. Some cannot imagine ever feeling anything other than the heartbreak they are carrying right now. I remember those days. What I've learned over the years is that hope doesn't always start from within. Sometimes we borrow it from someone who has survived what we are living through. Someone who understands the sleepless nights, the guilt, the anger, the loneliness and the longing. Someone who can honestly say, "I didn't think I would make it either." There have been times in my own grief journey when I couldn't see beyond the pain. During those times, I borrowed hope from others who had walked this road before me. I listened to their stories. I watched them laugh. I watched them remember their people without falling apart. I watched them build meaningful lives while continuing to carry their grief. They helped me believe something I couldn't yet believe for myself.

One of the gifts of peer support is that hope quietly passes from one person to another. Sometimes we receive it. Sometimes we offer it. Often without even realizing it. If you're struggling to find hope right now, maybe you don't need to find your own today. Maybe it's enough to borrow a little from someone else.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

*** SOME SPOTS HAVE OPENED FOR PARENTS AUGUST GRIEF RETREAT-SEE BELOW****

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

MULTIPLE LOSS GROUP meeting this week (6/17/26) this month only.

Judy Kelly faciliting for Darlene Mersereau at the WEYMOUTH GROUP this week.

PARENT GROUP on Sunday 6/21/26 meeting for one hour only this week.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Ticket sales close 7/10/26. Your odds are great with this raffle! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

From Natalie: It was a lovely morning to hike and call out our peoples’ names. Amazing how grief unites us like nothing else does. Rest assured it was not all sadness and mourning. Lighthearted moments and even laughter together prevailed. Calling out our persons' names is always a beautiful release. Up high, amidst the Great Blue HIll and under the boundless sky the names echoed wistfully..."Jon (Jonathan)!" and "Jay!" and "Avant (George)!" and "Tony!" and "Nelson Nelson (2 times for the twin)!"

This month the South Shore Recovery Alliance hosted Jill Shanahan to talk about SADOD’s Direct Service Provider Program! Some of you know Jill from facilitating our LGBTQ + grief group or our closed grief group for the residents at Two Rivers Recovery Center for Women in Greenfield MA.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Special Father’s Day Zoom Sunday June 21, 2026 7:00-8:00 pm ET For anyone who would like some extra support for this holiday. Read: Thoughts on Father’s Day by bereaved dad David Swindell. Read: The Bereaved’s Guide to Surviving Mother’s/Father’s Day (and Other Terrible Occasions)

New event! Pick Your Own Flowers Sunday August 9, 2026 2:00-4:00 pm. Cross St Farm Norwell MA Our group will have the farm fields to ourselves as we gather together to admire the blooms spread throughout the seven acre flower farm. Walk the rows at your own pace, choose your stems, and bring home a hand-cut bouquet straight from the field. We will have the opportunity to cut 20 stems of beautiful summer blooms to bring home. Zinnias, lisianthus, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, sunflowers, pincushion, globe amaranth, grasses are among the possible varieties that may be bursting! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. The ground is uneven so may not be easy to navigate for those with mobility difficulties. Questions about the event? Please email judy kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026 Registration form reopened! We have gone through the waitlist. Space now available. If you would like to room with another bereaved parent, please complete the form. We can match you with another person. No single roooms available. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here.

June 26-28, 2026 SOLD OUT. June attendees watch for an email coming soon with details about the retreat.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 7, 2026

Week of 6/8/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

June 7, 2026

One of the hardest parts of grief is living with questions that may never be answered. What happened that day? What were they thinking? Did they know how much they were loved? Did they suffer? Could I have done something differently and changed the outcome? After a death due to a substance use related causes, it's common to replay conversations or events leading up to the death, look for clues and search for answers. We want to understand what happened. We want things to make sense. But sometimes they never do. As difficult as it is, healing doesn't always come from finding the answers. Sometimes it comes from learning to live with the uncertainty. Many of us carry questions we'll never be able to resolve. As you go about your week, consider this…if your person one could answer one question for you today, what would it be? Sometimes the questions we carry tell us as much about our grief as the answers we're seeking.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

MULTIPLE LOSS GROUP moved to next week (6/17/26) this month only.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Your odds are great with this raffle! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

Sometimes grief leaves cracks we never expected. In our Kintsugi workshop, we explored the beauty of honoring those breaks and finding strength in the pieces that remain. These handmade clay pieces came out amazing! Join us at one of our next events!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Gloucester MA Community Meal for an evening of conversation, support, and community! Special thanks to our host location Core Recovery! Gordon and Colleen Bullard created this recovery center in memory of their son Cory. Two of our grief groups are hosted here, a general group open to anyone 18+ facilitated by Gordon & Colleen and one for people in recovery facilitated by Melissa Lezynski & Rebecca Murray. Look for our next community meal in the fall!

It was our great pleasure to award the 10th Annual Nicholas Bean Scholarship from The Sun Will Rise to Braintree MA high school senior, Sophia Giroux. Sophia is heading to Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in Psychology. Good luck Sophia!

We were proud to be a sponsor for the men’s BBQ hosted by Gilly’s House! It was the best one yet with 25 men in attendance! Always welcoming new members, be sure to check out our twice a month men’s meeting!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Call Their Name Hike Saturday June 13, 2026 10:30 am-12:00 pm Milton MA Annual Spring Hike at Blue Hills Reservation. Come spend the day with us in nature as we hike the beautiful trails of Blue Hills Reservation together. The pace will be relaxed and welcoming, with plenty of space to walk beside others, chat, reflect or simply take in the woods quietly at your own pace.Along the way to the top of the hill, we’ll pause at three special spots for our Calling Their Names ritual, a meaningful time to speak the names of the people we carry with us and honor their presence together. Many people find this day grounding and healing. Being outdoors, moving our bodies and sharing space with others who understand can offer relief, connection and comfort. Whether this is your first hike with us or a tradition you return to each year, you are welcome. Dogs family & friends welcome! DETAILS Rain date will be on Sunday June 14, 2026. Questions? Text Cindy at 508-269-8428 or email cinkap56@gmail.com REGISTER HERE

SADOD’s June Psychoeducational Virtual Workshop: Grief Theories and Grief Misconceptions June 23, 2026 6:30-8:00 pm ET Grief is something that most people will experience, yet not many understand it. Grief theories create a framework for understanding the experiences that many of us will face, but finding easy-to-understand information on these theories can be difficult. Likewise, it is easy to stumble upon information that may actually be incorrect. This workshop will provide a brief overview of some helpful grief theories while dispelling some common misconceptions, with the goal of providing a safe space for individuals to ask questions and learn more about this process. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 SOLD OUT. Response was well beyond capacity. Waitlist notifications have gone out. Payments due by 6/10/26. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 31, 2026

Week of 6/1/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 31, 2026

When we think about grief, we often think about emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, longing, or loneliness. But grief is not just emotional. It can live in the body, too. Grief can feel like exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix. A heaviness in the chest. Tightness in the throat. Brain fog. Headaches. Trouble sleeping. An upset stomach. A clenched jaw. Aching shoulders. Restlessness. Numbness. Sometimes it feels like your body is carrying something your words cannot fully explain. Many people are surprised by the physical ways grief shows up. This side of grief can feel unexpected, and sometimes isolating. But it is very common. What physical symptoms have you been experiencing?

Watch Megan Devine talk about this topic: It’s not just in your head, Grief is in our body too.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

BROCKTON MA regular group open to anyone 18+ is now meeting the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm going forward.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Your odds are great with this raffle! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

A fantastic morning learning a new skill and practicing self-care together. Our cardinal wool felting class at The Felted Bee gave everyone space to create, connect and bring home their own cardinal. I think I have a new hobby! A virtual workshop will definitely be on the books soon so no matter where you are, you can give it a try!

The Sun Will Rise’s Director Leslie Lagos attended MOAR’s ( Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery) Southeast Policy Forum at Taunton Public Library. Take a look at some of the initiatives that they are supporting here!

The Taunton MA Community Meal was a wonderful success! Spreading the word about the free support services in the Community! Big thanks to Gary & Tracy Carter & the Elks Drug Awareness Program for donating the pair of children’s bike’s for the raffle! And Marci McDonough for knitting up another blanket! Next up The Gloucester MA Community Meal this Thursday! Stop bye and say hi, meet the resources in this area and grab a bite to eat!

Some of the Quincy MA group members got together for an evening supporting Kevin & Elaine Moore in remembrance of their son Kevin.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Community Hub Info Session Tuesday 6/2/26 6:00-7:00 pm ET Zoom LInk Learn more about Mosaic’s Community Hub. This platform was born from a desire for a dynamic, online, knowledge-sharing platform to help people in the field find and post opportunities for funding, jobs, upcoming events, publications, and information about current and promising interventions, services, and programs. Membership in Mosaic’s Community Hub is free and available to individuals, organizations, municipalities, and state agencies across Massachusetts.

Community Meal Thursday, June, 4 2026 4:30-6:00  PM CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center Gloucester MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Gloucester MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Dinner - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome. Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

If you are a local community organization offering free services for those in or seeking recovery and/or grieving the death of someone they care about to a substance use related death, please join and bring your literature to share.

New event! Call Their Name Hike Saturday June 13, 2026 10:30 am-12:00 pm Milton MA Annual Spring Hike at Blue Hills Reservation. Come spend the day with us in nature as we hike the beautiful trails of Blue Hills Reservation together. The pace will be relaxed and welcoming, with plenty of space to walk beside others, chat, reflect or simply take in the woods quietly at your own pace.Along the way to the top of the hill, we’ll pause at three special spots for our Calling Their Names ritual, a meaningful time to speak the names of the people we carry with us and honor their presence together. Many people find this day grounding and healing. Being outdoors, moving our bodies and sharing space with others who understand can offer relief, connection and comfort. Whether this is your first hike with us or a tradition you return to each year, you are welcome. Dogs family & friends welcome! DETAILS Rain date will be on Sunday June 14, 2026. Questions? Text Cindy at 508-269-8428 or email cinkap56@gmail.com REGISTER HERE

New event! Cape Cod Canal Cruise Sunday July 12, 2026 6:30-8:30 pm Onset MA Join us on a two-hour trip cruising two-thirds of the length of the Cape Cod Canal to the Herring Run and back. This Hy-Line Cruise features live commentary about the fascinating history and points of interest along the canal. All ages welcome. Bring your friends & family! We chartered the whole boat! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly. judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 SOLD OUT. Response was well beyond capacity. Deposits for those who have a spot are due 06/01/26. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 25, 2026

Week of 5/25/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 25, 2026

Grief can make us keepers of the details.

A date.
A time.
The weather that day.
What they were wearing.
The last text.
The last voicemail.
What was said.
What wasn’t said.

It can be the smallest details that stay with us the longest. The song playing in the car. A sweatshirt still hanging where they left it. The sound of their laugh in your memory that you replay, hoping it stays clear. Over time, some memories sharpen while others blur. That can feel unsettling. You might remember the exact moment the phone rang but struggle to remember the sound of their voice. You may forget a story and but remember the way they walked through the kitchen or how they knocked on the door. We collect these pieces and carry them and revisit them. A thousand small things no one else may remember, but we won’t forget.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

The GLOUCESTER MA HYBRID group will meet via zoom only this month. This group is open to anyone 18+ with any relationship to the person who died.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY TICKETS HERE

DETAILS & RULES

Your odds are great with this raffle! Thank you so much for your support that helps keep all our offerings at no cost to you!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

I joined facilitator Don Lipstein and his co-host Greg Jacobs on their Turning Grief Into Growth podcast for a conversation about grief, healing and the power of peer support. If you have some time, I’d love for you to give it a watch. I think many in our community may find something to connect with in their different episodes.
Watch on YouTube

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s May Psychoeducational Virtual Workshop How to Become and Advocate Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 6:30–8:00 pm ET. For some people, grief brings not only pain, but questions about how to create change. This workshop features three bereaved mothers, Robyn Houston-Bean, Barbara Allen & Joyal Mulhern, who have all transformed their loss into advocacy at local, regional, and national levels. Through their stories, participants will explore how advocacy can take many forms, and how getting involved can be approached in ways that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with personal values. This virtual workshop will be held and will be recorded. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. Free for MA residents (use code MASS). $10 for those outside MA. Email Laura@sadod.org if cost is a concern.

Community Meal Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:00 - 2:30  PM Taunton Peer Recovery Center Taunton MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Taunton MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Lunch - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome. Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

Last call! Three Dimensional Wool Felting Workshop at The Felted Bee May 30, 2026 10:00 am- 12:00 pm Rockland MA LEARN WHAT WOOL FELTING IS In this beginner friendly class you will learn the basics of needle felting. The class will go through safety, tips and tricks and you will go home with the beginner knowledge of felting in three dimensions. Participants will transform carded wool fibers into beautiful cardinal. Registration required. Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557

Third Annual Men’s BBQ Sunday 5/31/26 1:00 pm Wrentham MA We are proud to sponsor this annual event hosted by Gilly’s House. Free for men bereaved due to substance use related causes or suicide. Come stand Shoulder to Shoulder with other men and experience a day of food, cornhole and community! Register here. Questions? David@thesunwillrise.org

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 SOLD OUT. Response was well beyond capacity. Emails were sent out this week regarding the August retreat to let people know that they had a spot or were put on the waitlist. Deposits for those who have a spot are due 5/30/26. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 23, 2026

Week of 5/18/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 23, 2026

Here's what I know about anniversary dates, they bring up everything. Some of us want to be surrounded by people who get it. Some of us go quiet. Some of us feel angry, or numb, sad or guilty. Some of us, even in the middle of the grief, feel moments of peace. All of it is okay. All of it belongs. I let these emotions come however they need to and I know after all these years, that I will get through this year, this month, this week and the day itself, May 23rd. But the anxiety of it’s approach is always unnerving to me. The smells of this time of year, make me profoundly sad. The warmth and welcomed blossoms seem like a betrayal. It’s so hard. But the message I read, on a warm May day back in 2015 still calls me forward. It continues to guide me toward love, connection and support for all of you.

Our senior facilitator and former Voices editor, Kerry Bickford, wrote a beautiful article in the Voices newsletter about that message. Reading it moved me deeply and I am grateful to be able to share it with all of you.

If anniversary dates are difficult for you too, this video on coping with death anniversaries may also resonate with you

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Reminder, this email may be clipped due to length, so click “view entire message” to see the full newsletter.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

THE LGBTQ+ group is on pause. If you would like one on one support while it is paused, please set us know.

Leslie Lagos will be facilitating the SIBLING group going forward. We are grateful to Miriah Corso for the care & support she has the provided the siblings in our community.

HELP SUPPORT THE SUN WILL RISE!

ENTER TO WIN TWO ARIANA GRANDE TICKETS

One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!

BUY TICKETS HERE

Raffle entries are $20 per ticket or $100 for six tickets. Each ticket equals one entry.
Multiple tickets may be purchased to increase chances of winning.
One winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries.
The winner will receive two Ariana Grande concert tickets at TD Garden.
Raffle ticket sales close on 07/10/26.
Winner will be drawn and notified on 07/11/26.
Winner will be contacted directly using the information provided at checkout.
You do not need to be present to win.
Must be 18 years or older to enter.
Raffle ticket purchases are not tax-deductible.
This raffle is conducted by The Sun Will Rise Foundation, a registered Massachusetts nonprofit organization.
Void where prohibited by law.
Buying a Raffle Ticket is not considered a donation for tax purposes.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

Rasheeda Faulk of Joy Culture Movement Workshop gave us an afternoon of movement, connection, reflection and community at The Phoenix in Boston.

Grief lives in the body as much as the mind and heart. Creating space to move, to breathe, to release and to simply be together can be a powerful part of healing.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the partners ( Madmoms, The Phoenix & NewForm) who collaborated with us on this offering. Join us at one of our next events!

Facilitator Deb Dowd-Foley tabled at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren conference and shared about all our supports! Do you know we offer two virtual grief support groups a month for grandparents and kinship caregivers who have experienced the death of a child or grandchild? Visit our calendar for dates & times.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s May Psychoeducational Virtual Workshop How to Become and Advocate Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 6:30–8:00 pm ET. For some people, grief brings not only pain, but questions about how to create change. This workshop features three bereaved mothers, Robyn Houston-Bean, Barbara Allen & Joyal Mulhern, who have all transformed their loss into advocacy at local, regional, and national levels. Through their stories, participants will explore how advocacy can take many forms, and how getting involved can be approached in ways that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with personal values. This virtual workshop will be held and will be recorded. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. Free for MA residents (use code MASS). $10 for those outside MA. Email Laura@sadod.org if cost is a concern.

Three Dimensional Wool Felting Workshop at The Felted Bee May 30, 2026 10:00 am- 12:00 pm Rockland MA LEARN WHAT WOOL FELTING IS In this beginner friendly class you will learn the basics of needle felting. The class will go through safety, tips and tricks and you will go home with the beginner knowledge of felting in three dimensions. Participants will transform carded wool fibers into beautiful cardinal. Registration required. Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 SOLD OUT. Response was well beyond capacity. Emails were sent out this week regarding the June retreat to let people know that they had a spot or were put on the waitlist. August notifications were delayed and will go out this week. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 11, 2026

Week of 5/11/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 11, 2026

Recently, someone kindly reached out and asked if we could avoid using the word “died” and instead say “passed away.” It was a thoughtful reminder that grief language is deeply personal. Many people prefer softer words because death feels painful and overwhelming to talk about directly. Euphemisms like “passed away” can feel gentler and more comforting to some grieving people.

At The Sun Will Rise Foundation, we often choose to use direct language like “died due to” or “death.” Not to be harsh. Not to take away tenderness. But because many people bereaved due to substance use related causes have spent years feeling like the reality of what happened was hidden, stigmatized or left unspoken. Personally I don’t care for the words '“lost or loss” Nick is not lost, I know where he is, so we steer away from that language as well. There can be something powerful about naming death honestly and still being met with compassion, support and understanding.

At the same time, we deeply respect that every grieving person relates to language differently. There is no universally right way to speak about grief. We tried to make the Mother’s Day graphic with that in mind. What feels comforting to one person may feel painful to another. Maybe the most important thing is not choosing perfect words, but staying willing to sit beside each other in the truth of grief itself.

Week of 5/4/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

May 3, 2026

Deep breath. Here we are.

Today is Bereaved Mother's Day and next Sunday is Mother's Day. Two weeks in a row. For some of you that might feel like too much. Motherhood and grief get tangled up in ways that are hard to explain to people who haven't lived it. Whether you're a mom whose child has died, or you are a child whose mom has died or any of the other “mother” relationships in between, these days can be very hard.

To highlight some of the special supports this month in addition to all our regular groups, check out the flyers below. We have specialty groups for mom’s whose children have died and a group for adults 18 and over, who have experienced the death of a parent or a parent figure. And for anyone who could use some extra support on Mother’s Day, we have a special holiday zoom for you. Zoom links are in the calendar.

Our community can hold this grief with you.

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Meets next on 5/11/26 6:30 pm ET & 5/19/26 7:00 pm ET

Meets next on 5/13/26 at 7:00 pm ET

Meeting once on 5/10/26 11:00 am ET

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app! The teamup calendar automatically updates to your timezone.

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT TSWR

The Together for Hope Conference is a major event for connecting with experts in the field & substance use related organizations to let them know that peer grief support is available. This year we offered space for people to remember those who have died by adding a purple ribbon to the board.

The Intimacy of Memory: An Art Making Workshop in collaboration with Simmons University School of Social Work, was a meaningful day for young adults! Artist Nancy Marks led this beautiful activity.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Kintsugi Heart Workshop Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00-4:00 pm West Barnstable MA Sold out. Wait list available. Questions about the event? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.com

Mother’s Day Zoom Sunday 5/10/26 11:00 am- 12:00 pm ET. For anyone 18+ bereaved due to a substance use related cause seeking extra support on this Mother's Day. Zoom Link.

Try something new! Joy Culture Movement Workshop Saturday May 16, 2026 1:00-3:00 pm Boston MA A movement based workshop led by Rasheeda Faulk, creates spaces where movement feels approachable. You do not need to know how to dance. You do not need to be “good” at anything.
The hardest part is just showing up. Rasheeda’s approach is simple: just have fun and move your body in a way that feels right to you. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. This workshop, held in collaboration with Mad Moms, The Phoenix & Newform is designed to be a safe, supportive space where people bereaved due to substance use related causes can:

release tension
reconnect with their body
experience moments of joy without pressure

Questions? Contact Leslie@thesunwillrise.org or david@thesunwillrise.org

Community Meal Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:00 - 2:30  PM Taunton Peer Recovery Center Taunton MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Taunton MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Lunch - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

Three Dimensional Wool Felting Workshop May 30, 2026 10:00 am- 12:00 pm Rockland MA In this beginner friendly class you will learn the basics of needle felting. The class will go through safety, tips and tricks and you will go home with the beginner knowledge of felting in three dimensions. Participants will transform carded wool fibers into beautiful cardinal. Registration required. Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557

Community Meal Thursday, June, 4 2026 4:30-6:00  PM CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center Gloucester MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Gloucester MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Dinner - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center 660 Great Pond Rd North Andover MA SOLD OUT. Response was well beyond capacity. Wait list available. Emails will be going out shortly to let you know if you have a spot. Questions? Contact Cheryl Juarie Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 26, 2026

Week of 4/27/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 26, 2026

Nobody warns you about the numbness.

We talk about the waves. The gut punch moments. The grief that stops you in your tracks. And that's all real. But there's another kind nobody mentions. The flat days. The ones where nothing is acute but nothing feels okay either. You're not crying. You're not falling apart. You're just kind of numb or dull. Going through the motions. Doing the things you're supposed to do but not feeling anything. And somehow that feels worse. At least the waves feel like something. The flat days feel like nothing. Like you're moving through life behind glass. I've had those days. A lot of them. Where I wasn't sad exactly. Just empty. Just going. That's grief too. The undramatic, unglamorous, just getting through the day kind. Nobody gives you credit for surviving the flat days. But you should.

Week of 4/20/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 19, 2026

It’s Complicated

We don’t talk about this one enough. Sometimes the relationship you had with the person who died was difficult. Maybe it was not what you needed. And then they die and nothing is resolved and it still hurts. It can feel confusing. There can be sadness mixed with anger. Or relief that brings guilt with it. This is because you’re not just grieving the person who died. You’re also grieving what the relationship was or what it never got to be. If that’s where you are, nothing about it is wrong. It’s just real.

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

Smash Room success! Some of the young adult members got to release frustrations and emotions out with others who get it!

HALO & The Sun Will Rise brainstorming on how to better support people bereaved due to substance use related causes together!

Director Leslie Lagos visited Hope Beyond Hope Women’s Recovery Home during their Spring Renewal 2026

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

LAST CALL! Intimacy of Memory: An Art-Making Event to Remember Those Who Have Died Saturday, April 25, 2026 12:00 - 3:00  pm Simmons University Boston MA. Participants of this relaxed & mutually supportive workshop will be guided in the creation of a personal work of art related to the death of a loved one. They will explore how art can play a pivotal role in healing & communicating about the experience of grief. No art experience needed. Geared toward university students and young adults (18-35) and is being held on the Simmons' campus. Registration required.

Kintsugi Heart Workshop May 9, 2026 1:00-4:00 pm West Barnstable MA Participants will make and glaze clay hearts and then etch with the name or a word of your choice onto it. The potter will take the hearts home to fire them, and when the heart is returned to you, you will use a gold metallic pen to perform the Kintsugi - symbolizing our broken hearts. Registration required. Over 18 event. Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions about the event? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.com

Community Meal Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:00 - 2:30  PM Taunton Peer Recovery Center Taunton MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Taunton MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Lunch - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

Community Meal Thursday, June, 4 2026 4:30-6:00  PM CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center Gloucester MA Join us for a Community Meal to meet the people behind the free services and support available in Gloucester MA & the surrounding communities. Give-aways - Literature - Dinner - Community - Care - Free Services - Support - Raffles All ages welcome Registration appreciated but not required (we’d like to prepare for the meal.)

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center 660 Great Pond Rd North Andover MA Team Sharing (TS) & The Sun Will Rise Foundation (TSWR) are excited to announce two weekend retreats for parents bereaved due to substance use related causes! These retreats are designed as an opportunity to renew, refresh, reset and build community. Includes: Lodging, meals and activities for the weekend. Cost: The actual cost of this retreat is $388 per person. Thanks to dedicated grant funding, there is NO cost to attendees. There is however a $50 per person refundable deposit to hold the spot. We will send a payment link, once your spot is confirmed. Travel: Attendees will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs to and from the retreat center. Agenda: Tentative schedule. Subject to change. Space is limited. Completing THIS FORM lets us know you’re interested, but it does not confirm a spot. We will follow up once registrations have been reviewed and placements are finalized. If we have more interest than space available, we will add a waitlist. Questions? Contact Cheryl Juarie Cherju4339@aol.com

WHERE YOU’LL FIND US!

We will have a resource table at The Weymouth MA Health & Wellness Fair 4/26/26 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Stop by and meet us!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 12, 2026

Week of 4/13/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 12, 2026

We get asked this a lot…why so many events?

Not everyone wants to sit in a circle and talk. Some people aren’t ready for that. Some never will be. And that’s okay. Grief doesn’t move in one direction, and it doesn’t respond to one format. That’s why we offer more than groups. The virtual workshops, the walks, the community meals, the sports outings, the creative gatherings, the retreats, they all give people another way in. A way to be around others who understand without having to explain everything. A different way to meet people who get it. Real connections can form in these spaces. More grief friends! These are the kind of people you don’t have to filter yourself around. Sometimes it’s easier to connect side by side than face to face.

You’ll see a lot of offerings added tonight. We’re trying to meet people where they actually are, not where we think they should be. Try one out and look for even more next week!

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK

Carol Bowers facilitating for Kar-Kate at the Partner/Spouse group

Nathan’s Circle in West Barnstable group back in person starting this week.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

Weymouth facilitator, Darlene Mersereau tabled at Gregory’s Run for Hope 5K, and brought the photos of some of our loved ones along with her. Thanks Darlene for the beautiful table set up!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

LAST CALL! JUST SMASH IT! For Young Adults ages 18-35 Saturday 4/18/26 6:00-7:00 pm Avon MA Ever feel like smashing things to get your anger, sadness, frustration out? Here is your chance! Bring a friend! Registration Here! Join us at Just Smash It and let go for a little bit. Come on down and smash away your frustrations in a safe and controlled environment. As with our previous events, we are requiring a $20 deposit to hold your spot. You will receive the deposit back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Questions? Contact Michelle Rueda 781-635-3537 michellerueda820@mail.com PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT WITH THE YOUNG ADULT GRIEVERS IN YOUR LIFE!

Intimacy of Memory: An Art-Making Event to Remember Those Who Have Died Saturday, April 25, 2026 12:00 - 3:00  pm Simmons University Boston MA. Participants of this relaxed & mutually supportive workshop will be guided in the creation of a personal work of art related to the death of a loved one. They will explore how art can play a pivotal role in healing & communicating about the experience of grief. No art experience needed. Geared toward university students and young adults (18-35) and is being held on the Simmons' campus. Registration required.

Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: June 26-28 2026 or August 14-16 2026 Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center 660 Great Pond Rd North Andover MA Team Sharing (TS) & The Sun Will Rise Foundation (TSWR) are excited to announce two weekend retreats for parents bereaved due to substance use related causes! These retreats are designed as an opportunity to renew, refresh, reset and build community. Includes: Lodging, meals and activities for the weekend. Cost: The actual cost of this retreat is $388 per person. Thanks to dedicated grant funding, there is NO cost to attendees. There is however a $50 per person refundable deposit to hold the spot. We will send a payment link, once your spot is confirmed. Travel: Attendees will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs to and from the retreat center. Agenda: Tentative schedule. Subject to change. Space is limited. Completing THIS FORM lets us know you’re interested, but it does not confirm a spot. We will follow up once registrations have been reviewed and placements are finalized. If we have more interest than space available, we will add a waitlist. Questions? Contact Cheryl Juarie Cherju4339@aol.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 5, 2026

Week of 4/6/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

April 5, 2026

Grief & Joy

This weekend held two things at once. My 5 month old grandson’s first Easter and the immense joy it brought. And the memory of our last Easter with Nick, with the sadness and grief of what was missing. Easter was our last family holiday we spent together. I don’t think people talk enough about how those moments sit side by side without replacing each other. They just exist together. Watching something begin while remembering something that ended. It’s a strange kind of balance. One that grief quietly asks us to learn, whether we’re ready or not.

Have you attended one of our grief support groups at any of the MA Recovery Centers? Or have you utilized the centers in another way? This survey data is being collected by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) for the purpose of understanding center utilization and community need.

The Wey of Life is offering an incentive to complete the survey if you have used their recovery center services. Details on how to enter are on the flyer.

Complete the survey here!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Robyn Houston-Bean

March 29, 2026

Week of 3/30/26

Robyn Houston-Bean

March 29, 2026

Stages of Grief ????

Sit in one of our groups and you’ll hear it right away. Someone who is newly bereaved. Someone who is years in. And somehow they’re saying similar things. Their grief doesn’t follow a timeline and it doesn’t move in order. It shows up when it wants to, in ways we don’t expect. What we see, over and over, is that it doesn’t go away. But people do find a way to live with it. They find words for it. They find each other. They have moments where it feels a little less heavy. And it’s not because they’ve moved through these neatly packaged stages. It’s because they’ve learned or are learning how to carry it.

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

MEETING CHANGES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Gloucester MA meeting only as a regular Zoom this month, not in-person. Natalie Patricio facilitating for Gordon & Colleen Bullard.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

Session 2 of the first Silver Linings Workshop took place at Spoon & Hammer. Each person chose a piece and carefully stamped the names and words that matter most, turning simple materials into something deeply personal and lasting. Join us at one of our next events!

MEDFORD MA AREA! PLEASE RESPOND!

We want to gauge interest for an in-person 18+ group in Medford MA. If you are local to that area please complete this very short survey. Survey open for one more week.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

JUST SMASH IT! For Young Adults ages 18-35 Saturday 4/18/26 6:00-7:00 pm ET Avon MA Ever feel like smashing things to get your anger, sadness, frustration out? Here is your chance! Registration Here! Join us at Just Smash It and let go for a little bit. Come on down and smash away your frustrations in a safe and controlled environment. As with our previous events, we are requiring a $20 deposit to hold your spot. You will receive the deposit back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Questions? Contact Michelle Rueda 781-635-3537 michellerueda820@mail.com