Supporting the Supporters

This past weekend we brought some of our grief group facilitators together for a retreat at Adelynrood in Byfield, MA. It was a chance to focus on the people who show up month after month to hold space for others. Our facilitators sit with grief every time they lead a group. They listen, they hold silence, they carry stories of heartbreak and love. It’s powerful work but it’s also heavy. That’s why we take time to support them. To give them a place to to focus on their grief and their needs.

At the retreat, we shared time in many ways…quiet reflection, meditation, yoga, memorial activities, creative exercises, dining and playing games together and of course ice cream!

When you participate in one of our groups, know this, the person welcoming you is supported, encouraged and cared for by us and by each other. Because the heart of The Sun Will Rise is peer support and that support is only possible when we take care of the ones holding the circle.

Listen here to a gentle 10 minute meditation for grief & loss that you can do at home.

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.

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THE WEEK AHEAD

Always check the main calendar for the most up to date meetings list.

Kingston MA in-person not meeting at PCOO office this month.

NEW MEETING ALERT

The Auburn group has moved to Worcester! Kathryn Peirce & Katie Bradley are still facilitating. Please join them for this more easily accessible daytime meeting! If you know a griever in the Worcester area, please share this with them!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

ESSEX COUNTY REMEMBERS

WE NEED HELP MONDAY 9/8/25 TO REMOVE THE FLAGS!

Volunteers Needed in Braintree Monday, September 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA to remove the IOAD flags on the town hall fence. Bring wire cutters or something that will cut through a zip tie, if you have one. We will have some available for use.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA SOLD OUT! 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. WAITLIST AVAILABLE HERE

SADOD’s September PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: Memorializing Our Loved Ones Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET One of the best ways to move through our grief is to recognize and honor our loved ones. While we often hear phrases like “gone, but never forgotten,” it can sometimes feel daunting to memorialize our loved ones in a way that feels true to us and true to them. Join SADOD for their September workshop where we will discuss creative, yet practical ways to memorialize loved ones- from blogging to art, nothing is off the table. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/memorializing-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

Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage Sunday 9/28/25 1-4 pm. Barnstable MA. Clarity through Collage invites individuals to gather together and share thoughts, ideas, and wisdom while receiving personal guidance through collage. Each gathering is unique and features different tools of divination and options to collage a variety of objects. At the end of the gathering, we will circle together to share the projects, explore different Oracle and Tarot decks, and reflect on the experience. Guided facilitation by Melanie McMullin Questions? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 1-508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.org REGISTER HERE 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.

Help Set Up International Overdose Awareness Day Flags

Volunteers Needed to assist with Purple Flag installations to remember lives the people who died due to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. Last Installation: Sunday, September 21st at 9:00 am Brigham and Women’s Hospital 15 Francis St Boston MA Questions? Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

COLLEGE PARENTS’ PERSPECTIVES SURVEY

If you have a child attending college who has experienced the death of a loved one, please consider participating in Evermore's Parents' Perspectives Survey. Through this survey, Evermore is seeking to gather parents' perceptions on the experiences of bereaved college students. Ultimately, the goal is to better understand how students' college experiences are impacted by grief and bereavement. All responses are completely anonymous. The survey will take between 5-7 minutes.

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.