Flagler OARS Welcome Grammy Nominee to Talk Recovery at 2024 Music Festival
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – From taboo to talked about, the recovery landscape has grown in support as society has become more willing to talk about addiction solutions as a result of the drug epidemic of the early 2000's. Recovery is no longer a word that brings shame and isolation for those who share their story, but support, encouragement and understanding.
Hosting the 4th Annual Recovery Music Festival at the Florida Agricultural Learning Center (Florida Agricultural Museum), the Flagler Open Arms Recovery Service and the Discover & Recover St. Johns County teams welcomed the community for the free festival on Saturday.
In a day filled with recovery services and connections, food trucks and activities, it was the closing song by Grammy nominated folk performer Mary Gauthier, "Mercy Now" that drew listeners to their feet.
"Mercy Now is a song about forgiveness. It's a prayer that we can let go of some of the anger, hate and rage, and just find each other again. I pray for it. I can't say I see, but I pray for it," she explained.
Gauthier acknowledges her own recovery journey through the beautifully crafted lyrics of her songs. Some heartbreaking, others hopeful, she paints a visual picture and her voice takes your hand as you follow her through her life's stories.
"We are in recovery, we believe in recovery and we think people should talk about recovery, and model recovery for people that might be needing to get clean and sober," shared Gauthier.
Each person that takes a step toward recovery Gauthier counts as a miracle.
"It's a miracle every time. Addiction is a deadly disease that kills so many Americans. It's a scourge. Every time somebody gets sober and stays sober for even a few weeks, it's a miracle. We just want to be able to talk about the life after drugs and alcohol. That's our thing. We like talking about the beauty of recovery," she said.
Continued discussion and action is needed when it comes to the next steps in strengthening recovery support options.
"We got to get I think the conversation on a national level about the scourge of fentanyl, the horror of people my age losing their children, their grandchildren. Such young, beautiful people dying with this drug. I think talking about it without shame and blame and just being open around it is still a big deal."
Education of Different Kinds
The Florida Agricultural Learning Center is known for serving up education related to history and agriculture, and can now add the Flagler OARS Recovery Music Festival to the list.
Traditionally held in Veterans Park, Flagler Beach, hosting the event at a new location was a gamble for the recovery organizations, and it turned out to be the perfect spot, midway between the two counties served by Flagler OARS and Discover & Recover St. Johns.
"I think it was our best festival yet," said Flagler OARS Executive Director Pam Birtolo.
"I think it was awesome. I like it and more importantly the attendees liked it."
Created to assist members of the community, Flagler OARS has impacted countless lives with their distribution of NARCAN, peer-to-peer support programs and education outreach within the Flagler County community. Expanding in 2024 to include St. Johns County with the Discover & Recover St. Johns County, longtime member Louie Somoza travels from south Florida to help support the organization's technology and communications. He is hopeful about the future.
"This year was more inclusive. I hope they take away unity and that this county can actually develop into something. I do see a lot of potential here as far as growth and building recovery communities."
