The Sun Will Rise Weekly Update

Week of August 3, 2025

SAYING YES TO TRYING THINGS: I didn’t know what I was walking into back in 2016 when my daughter Olivia and I took part in the The Opioid Project, Changing Perceptions through Art & Storytelling. It was only a short time after Nick died, and everything still felt so raw. But whenever I came across something that might help us in our grief in some kind of way, I chose to say, “yes.” I remember sitting with paints, paper and some things that reminded me of him for inspiration. In another room I was being asked gently to talk about him. I did. Through tears, through deep breaths. I painted something simple. And somehow, when it was all put together, my art, my voice, it became a piece of Nick’s story that still lives on. We offered this same workshop to teens a few years ago because I thought it was just so amazing. Now, we’re bringing that same experience to our community in MA. The Opioid Project gives people a chance to create something about their person, no art skills needed and talk about them in a space that truly listens. The end result is a multimedia piece that becomes part of an exhibit that helps the world better understand the impact of substance use and the love behind the death. Whether you're feeling ready to join or just want to see how others have told their stories, I hope you’ll take a moment to explore it. Maybe this a way to say, “yes” to something.

If you’re interested, here’s more about the project:
Listen and view samples from the projects over the years.
My own piece: Remembering Nick

Sign up to take part in-person here.

What have you said yes to? What have you said no to? Share them with us by responding to this email or by posting them on facebook, they may be helpful to other grievers!

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

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

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note, a number of groups are not meeting due to IOAD activities, this month. Always check the main calendar for up to date meetings list.

FALMOUTH MA in-person group CANCELLED for 8/6/25. Nathan’s Circle in WEST BARNSTABLE MA (8/12/25) will have an IOAD butterfly release ceremony in lieu of a regular meeting. People who attend either group are invited.

SITE VISIT SPOTLIGHTS

Our Director of Engagement, David Swindell, visited key community partners to talk about our peer grief support work. First stop: Taunton Peer Recovery Support Center, where he connected with Nicholas Teixeira, Assistant Program Director, about grief support for men. Next stop at A New Way Recovery where he met with Paul Smith, Program Director, to talk about the unique needs of young adults navigating recovery, grief and healing.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Storytelling Through Grief: Finding Healing and Hope. Four-session virtual workshop led by award-winning Storyteller Meghann Perry. 8/7/25, 8/14/25 8/21/25, & 9/4/25 SOLD OUT! Wait list available here. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Tall Ship Cruise Saturday 8/16/25 12:00 pm. Seaport Boston MA. Set sail with us aboard The Liberty Star, a 67-foot wooden schooner designed as a replica of an 1890s coastal sailing vessel. Reserve Your Spot HERE Three tickets remain.

Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. Questions? Contact Natalie at 774-955-7752 jeepgirl474@gmail.com We’d love to have you with us for this peaceful and meaningful afternoon on the water.

Butterfly Release & International Overdose Awareness Day Ceremony. Saturday 8/23/25 10:00 am. Braintree MA. In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, we invite you to take part in our annual Butterfly Release Ceremony. Each guest will receive a live butterfly to release and/or a packet of wildflower seeds to plant in memory of a loved one. This day is a global observance that raises awareness about overdose, honors the people who have died and supports those who live with grief. We gather to remember without shame. We gather to say you are not alone. This year’s theme: One Big Family, Driven by Hope. Cost: Free- but Please RSVP by reserving a ticket for each person wanting to release a butterfly. This helps us plan how many butterflies we need. All are welcome. Let’s spread awareness. Let’s hold space. Let’s release hope. Please note, new location Sunset Lake!

Hosted by: The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Braintree Community Partnership

Town of Braintree

NEW EVENT! THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA The Opioid Project consists of a 4-hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.

The storytelling portion is led by physician Dr. Annie Brewster founder of Health Story Collaborative and the art portion, by visual artist Nancy Marks.

The Opioid Project provides a safe place for those affected by the opioid epidemic to explore and process their personal experiences. Through art making and storytelling and in collaboration with community partners, they strive to decrease stigma and promote positive social change through dialogue, education and advocacy.

Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. REGISTER HERE!

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 Robyn at 781-789-4604 robyn@thesunwillrise.org

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Braintree Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

There are so many remembrance events happening this month. 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.

Help Us Prepare for International Overdose Awareness Day

Volunteers Needed in Braintree Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA. We’re looking for volunteers to help install 1,525 purple remembrance flags along the fence outside Braintree Town Hall. Each flag represents a Massachusetts resident who died due to overdose in 2024. We'll be zip-tying the flags to the fence… all materials are provided. Removal: Monday, September 8 at 5:00 PM: Help is also needed to respectfully take down the display. These flags reflect the most recent overdose data from the federal government and may be updated. Final state numbers have not yet been released. Bring a friend and be part of this meaningful tribute. Every hand helps. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Volunteers Needed in Natick MA to assist with three upcoming Purple Flag installations to remember lives lost to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. First Installation: Saturday, August 23rd at 9:00 AM
First Congregational Church 2 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760. Newton 9/7/25 & Boston 9/21. (times to follow) Plenty of free parking available! Questions?Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TABLING

We are looking for volunteers to staff our grief support resource tables for the many International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) events that are coming up. Please let us know if you can help out at any of these IOAD events by completing this sign up form. More to come!

Aug 26th 4:00pm - Whitinsville MA

Aug 27th 4:00pm - Taunton MA

Aug 28th 1:30pm - Cambridge MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Great Barrington MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Pittsfield MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Malden MA

Aug 31st 7:00pm - Revere MA

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.