The Sun Will Rise Weekly Update

Week of September 15, 2024

Hello Friends,

We have four in-person regular groups, one regular zoom and four specialty zoom groups this week. Login and location information follow at the bottom of this newsletter.

ART

Being invited to attend many different art shows over the years that have attempted to tackle addiction, grief, substance use, memories, etc… has placed me in unique situation. This unique situation has given me the opportunity to witness the many ways that artists or organizations attempt to capture the complex emotions tied to addiction, grief, and death. While I deeply appreciate the efforts and the creativity behind these projects, they often fall short, not intentionally, of truly conveying the lived experience of loving someone who has died due to substance use. As both a grieving parent and the founder of an organization dedicated to this cause, I feel like I carry the responsibility of balancing appreciation for artistic expression with a desire for authentic, unfiltered representation of this heartbreaking reality. It’s a delicate dance between honoring artistic intentions and holding space for the rawness of grief that can't always be captured on canvas. This weekend as I saw people look at their loved ones on canvas and come together to cry, hug each other, smile over memories or show others their person proudly, I knew this show had hit the mark. Read more about the INTO LIGHT project below.

We all benefit when the world can see who our people were. Do you have a way that you have memorialized your person through art, poem, photography, music or a story that you would like to share with others?We would love to learn more about them. Add your artistic expression to Visions & Voices.

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

INTO LIGHT

A small glimpse of the MA exhibit of the INTO LIGHT Project, a national non-profit, that creates public exhibitions of original portraits and individual stories of people who have died from the disease of drug addiction in locations around the country. Their mission is to change the conversation about drug addiction through the power of original art and story. The Massachusetts INTO LIGHT reception was held on Saturday September 14, 2024 at The Beard and Weil Galleries at Wheaton College, 26 E. Main Street, Norton, MA.

You may visit the exhibit during the gallery hours: 1–5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday + Saturday. 1–8 p.m. Thursday and 10–5 p.m. Sunday until November 8, 2024. The galleries are closed Monday and during college breaks. For anyone out of state, check their website for upcoming exhibits in your area.

We will be holding two very special grief groups at the gallery. 9/27/24 & 10/27/24. Please join us.

LAST CALL FOR CONFERENCE SWAG BAG DONATIONS

For the last three years, we have organized and packed the swag bags for the Finding Support In Grief Conference attendees. We are once again asking for help to fill the bags with goodies and help with packing the bags!

BIG THANKS to Rose Haran! In honor of her son Anthony’s birthday, she asked that family and friends purchase items off of our wish list! The Amazon truck has showed up with so many boxes in memory of Anthony!

We are looking for:

Promotional and non-promotional items: such as pens, notepads, magnets, coupons or keychains

Inspirational items: such as miniature books, cards, or journals with motivational messages or uplifting quotes

Self-care items: Practical and comforting items like lotions, lip balms, scented candles, soothing teas, and tissues.

Food items: Such as individual cookies, candy, snack bars

Please note that we are open to suggestions and welcome any items that align with the theme of our conference and the needs of grieving individuals. You can also shop our Amazon wish list here. Items can be mailed to The Sun Will Rise 541 Washington St Braintree, MA 02184 to reach us by 9/22/24. Questions? Email Robyn@thesunwilllrise.org

Volunteers Needed! Tuesday 10/1/24 6:00 pm 541 Washington St Braintree MA Please come help us pack up the swag bags for the grief conference. If you can help pack the bags, please email marci@thesunwillrise.org to let her know.

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

1. The Sun Will Rise Day at Fenway Park! Boston MA Sunday, September 22, 2024 1:35 - 5:35 pm Sold out! Questions? Please email judyannkelly@gmail.com

2. SADOD’s September Psychoeducational Workshop: Meaning Making in Grief Tuesday, September 24, 2024 6:30-8:00pm ET Meaning making is a grief support model that focuses on integrating the loss and ensuing grief into our present and future. Join us for this workshop to learn more about this grief model and ways to practice it. Learn more and register at bit.ly/grief-meaning-making. 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. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org

3. NONOTUCK PARK DAY! Easthampton MA Sunday September 29, 11:00 am-4:00 pm Join us for a free day of friendship, food, activities, crafts, trail walking or just relaxing!! Anyone bereaved due to substance related causes is welcome, including Direct Service Providers impacted by the overdose crisis. Reserve a spot here!

4. Volunteers Needed! Tuesday 10/1/24 6:00 pm 541 Washington St Braintree MA Please come help us pack up the swag bags for the grief conference. If you can help pack the bags, please email marci@thesunwillrise.org to let her know.

5. 11th Annual Memorial Walk~The Family Restored Mystic River Reservation DCR – 4253 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford MA Saturday 10/5/24 11:30 am Select our team "The Sun Will Rise" when you register and let's spend the day together! Register here and join our team!

6. New Event! Call Their Names Hike Sunday 10/13/24 2:30 pm 259 Massapoag Ave No.Easton MA We invite people bereaved due to substance use related causes to join together in an autumn walk at Borderland State Park. We will make stops along the way to “Call Their Name” at a few locations as a way to carry our person with us on this outing. Everyone is welcome…friends, family, kids, as well as dogs on leashes. More info here.

7. FINDING SUPPORT IN GRIEF Conference October 18-20, 2024 Framingham MA REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Discover hope, healing, support, and a sense of community at SADOD’s 3rd annual grief conference. Register now and learn more about this special event by clicking the link below: https://cvent.me/VVeBgB. Connect with others who have experienced the death of someone they care about to substance-use-related causes.

8. NEW WORKSHOP! KEYS 365 Virtual Suicide Prevention Workshop by Deb Casello Tuesday, November 5, 2024 6:30-8:00 pm ET This free KEYS 365 class is designed to empower participants with essential tools to recognize risk factors and warning signs of suicide, understand recommended suicide prevention verbiage, engage in open discussions, and foster hope and help-seeking behaviors. Self-care and resilience-building techniques for attendees to practice and share with others are included. This dynamic session focuses on early intervention and is interactive; participants will actively engage with each other as they are introduced to life-saving suicide prevention skills. Please pre-register here.

HEALING THROUGH WONDER

The next video for the Healing Through Wonder Project is available here. Olivia Wagner and Irina Veron, both members of The Sun Will Rise join co-hosts Robyn Houston-Bean, founder of the Sun Will Rise Foundation, and author/educator Val Walker. We explore moments of awe that have inspired our creative spirit as we move through grief and loss. Olivia, Robyn's daughter, shares stories about her deceased brother, Nick, and Irina tells her story of a circle of doves over her son, Victor's grave. Olivia, a graphic artist for the Sun Will Rise Foundation, has dedicated her work to Nick. Irina has found a sense of hope and purpose by painting portraits. In short, awe and wonder inspire healing art and restore our creative spirit.

Would you like to share a story of healing through awe and wonder? Please sign up here.

THIS WEEK’S MEETING INFORMATION

Monday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 9/16/24 12:00-1:00 pm ET.
Kerry Bickford facilitating.
For grandparents that have experienced the death or estrangement of a grandchild due to substance use (theirs or their parents.) The focus of this Monday group will be on the grandparent.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2334755647
Meeting ID: 233 475 5647 or
One tap mobile 16465588656
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Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 9/16/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
Darlene Mersereau facilitating.
Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Monday - YOUNG PERSON MEETING - ZOOM 9/16/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
Chloe Brosnan facilitating
For anyone 18-35 who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. (Being held on Monday for this month only)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82575673103?pwd=Xvzay1uQXyW00t8TBwwqTwElDbc7RV.1
Meeting ID: 825 7567 3103
Passcode: 847275 or
One tap mobile 13052241968

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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, HANSON, MA 9/17/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
Mary Peckham facilitating.
Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street, Hanson, MA
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, QUINCY, MA 9/17/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating.
New Way Recovery, 85 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Wednesday - IN-PERSON, CHARLESTOWN, MA 9/18/24 6:00-7:00 pm ET.
Shannon Lundin & Michael Cain facilitating.
St. John’s Church 27 Devens St 2nd Floor Charlestown MA
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Wednesday - ZOOM 9/18/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET.
Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating.
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join zoom meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81835674960

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Wednesday - SIBLING ZOOM 9/18/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET.
Miriah Corso facilitating.
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a sibling due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81887342500?pwd=WLxNYnDMm8Juvs8OK1pbkrUJPMm1to.1
Meeting ID: 818 8734 2500
Passcode: 234576 or
One tap mobile 13092053325

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Thursday - LGBTQ+ ZOOM 9/19/24 6:00-7:30 PM ET.
Jill Shanahan (she/her) facilitating.
For anyone 18 and over and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89951258443?pwd=MnJQVDEzWmIxaWdjWnBKN2Y4ZEh1dz09
Meeting ID: 899 5125 8443 Passcode: 841193 or
One tap mobile +16469313860