In Awe, For Nick
This Friday, May 23rd, marks ten years without my son Nick. Exhale. Cue my anxiety. Ten years of missing him, loving him, grieving him, learning to live without his physical presence and doing whatever I can to honor the light he left behind. The Sun Will Rise wouldn’t exist without Nick. His life and his death are at the heart of everything I do. And even though most of you never knew Nick, you experience this community we have all built together after the deaths of the people we’ve known and loved. You are all part of his story, my story, our story. And my story is not unique, so many of our facilitators, team and group members were inspired to do something to help others because of the death of their person.
To mark this 10 year anniversary of his death, I’m inviting you to pause for a moment of awe or wonder sometime on Friday. Wherever you are whether inside or outside, notice something. Something beautiful, strange, calming, vibrant, eye catching or anything that makes you pause. A burst of color, a bird flying overhead, a reflection in a puddle, a glimpse of light through the clouds. If something stops you in your tracks, take a photo and send it my way by replying to this email. I’ll be gathering them as a small tribute to Nick and those we hold in our heart. And to the community, healing, supportiveness and connection The Sun Will Rise continues to inspire in all of us.
Thank you for holding space with me on this upcoming difficult Friday and every day.
~ With care
Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
WEEKLY CALENDAR~ZOOM LINKS BELOW
DEER ISLAND
Although there were only a few people who made it to our Deer Island walk, we were able to have a great conversation about our struggles and healing process. Our best moments were calling our loved ones names to the world while we tossed a stone into the waves! “Geoffrey, Jeffrey and Nelson ” We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect moment together. ~ Judy
GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN CONFERENCE
What a great showing at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference! Do you know an event we should attend to let people know about our peer grief support? Let us know! PIctured at The Sun Will Rise Resource Table: Cheryl Juaire, David Swindell & Kerry Bickford.
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
SADOD’s psychoeducational workshop, Holistic Healing for Grief, Tuesday, May 27th, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM ZOOM. In this workshop, Jean Bradley, reiki master, energy medicine practitioner and bereaved person, will discuss her experiences incorporating reiki, reflexology, and the use of essential oils in her grief journey and how these have helped her. This workshop will provide an overview on what these practices are and how one might get started. Please note that none of these practices will be formally conducted in this educational workshop. Register at bit.ly/holistic-healing-workshop. 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
Gilly’s House is hosting it’s second annual Men’s BBQ, Sunday June 8th 1:00 pm ET Wrentham MA. This is for any man, bereaved due to substance use related causes or suicide. Sign up here. Scroll for an available spot. Any questions, please reach out to Maureen Cappuccino maureen@gillyshouse.com or Dave Swindell at david@thesunwillrise.org Please share with any men who you think may benefit being around other men who understand.
NEW EVENT! The Sun Will Rise Night at the New England Revolution Soccer Game! June 14, 2025 7:30 PM Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA. We have 50 tickets available for our group! 5 tickets per family. All ages are welcome! We are excited to invite you to a special evening at Gillette Stadium to watch the New England Revolution take on their opponents FC Cincinnati! This is a fantastic opportunity to come together, connect with others and enjoy a thrilling soccer game. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the sport, this event promises to be a fun and exciting outing for all ages.A huge thanks to the generocity of the Highland Street Foundation for this wonderful opportunity! The event is free to you, but to secure your spot, please RESERVE YOUR TICKETS HERE. As with previous events, we are requiring a $20 deposit to hold your tickets. You will receive the full amount back in cash at the event. Please note that if you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days' notice, the ticket is non-refundable and you will not receive your deposit back. This policy helps us continue to offer events like this at no cost to you. Thank you for your understanding. Questions? Please email robyn@thesunwillrise.org
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.
MEETINGS UPDATES
LATE EVENING ZOOM MEETING THE 4TH MONDAY THIS MONTH
NATALIE PATRICIO FILLING IN FOR MIRIAH AT THE SIBLING MEETING
LGBTQ MEETING ON PAUSE UNTIL JULY
NEW CALENDAR FORMAT COMING FOR JUNE!
THIS WEEK’S MEETING INFORMATION
Monday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 5/19/25 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 - JOURNEY TO HOPE-PEER GRIEF SUPPORT FOR PARENTS - ZOOM 5/19/25 6:00-7:00 pm ET.
Gail Langley & Robyn Stokowski facilitating.
For parents who have experienced the death of a child due to substance use.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94114510999?pwd=XPycxdOzIsNYzFy58Jk3VW7a4lG4Wd.1
Meeting ID: 941 1451 0999
Passcode: 953667
One tap mobile 16469313860
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Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 5/19/25 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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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, WINTHROP, MA 5/20/25 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
JoAnn Rivieccio facilitating.
Odd Fellows Hall 196 Winthrop Street, Winthrop, MA
(side entrance facing parking lot )
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, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, HANSON, MA 5/20/25 6:30-8:00 pm ET.
Mary Peckham facilitating.
Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street, Hanson, MA.
For anyone 18+ over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, QUINCY, MA 5/20/25 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 -PEOPLE IN RECOVERY - IN-PERSON & ZOOM (HYBRID), WEYMOUTH, MA 5/21/25 12:00-1:30 pm ET.
Leslie Lagos facilitating.
Wey of Life Peer Recovery Center, 383 Bridge Street, Weymouth, MA.
For anyone 18 and over who identifies as being in recovery from any substance including alcohol who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94390650873?pwd=QCnk9cqJwOQvs2u2jkUPRgXUpFT5D7.1
Meeting ID: 943 9065 0873
Passcode: 578972 or
One tap mobile 13126266799
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Wednesday - IN-PERSON, CHARLESTOWN, MA 5/21/25 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 5/21/25 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.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86470429283
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Wednesday - SIBLING ZOOM 5/21/25 6:00-7:30 pm ET.
Natalie Patricio (filling in for Miriah Corso) facilitating.
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a sibling due to substance use.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91057287038?pwd=qKbgbuozZFcFa71pTABInGWltLu5Eb.1
Meeting ID: 910 5728 7038
Passcode: 380399 or
One tap mobile 16465588656
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Thursday- NEW BEGINNINGS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - ZOOM 5/22/25 7:00-8:30 pm ET.
Janice Kaplan facilitating.
For anyone 18 and over newly bereaved due to substance use related causes and/or new to The Sun Will Rise Foundation.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93853426722?pwd=zhxz5RYig8tunxUyGp6K8Uk19XKxgw.1
Meeting ID: 938 5342 6722
Passcode: 756069 or
One tap mobile 13017158592
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Thursday - IN-PERSON, BRIGHTON, MA 5/22/25 7:00-8:30 pm ET.
Liz Driscoll facilitating.
PSF Community Center, 640 Washington Street, New Balance Room, Lower Level, Brighton, MA.
For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
CLICK HERE FOR FUTURE MEETING DATES
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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean