Friday, August 18, 2023 marked the 3rd Annual Recovery Day held at Boeddeker Park in the Tenderloin, with over 500 people in attendance and participation from almost 30 community organizations. Hosted by Tenderloin Housing Clinic’s Director of Transitional Housing, Richard Beal, the event featured guests and dignitaries such as San Francisco Mayor London Breed, actor and recovery advocate Danny Trejo, Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Dean Preston, and SFPD Chief of Police Bill Scott, with entertainment by Dee Dee Simon and Charles “2 Buck Chuck” Boomer. Attendees enjoyed delicious BBQ food, raffle prizes, live music, and opportunities to learn about recovery resources and engage with the local community.
Event sponsors included: The Human Rights Commission, Tenderloin Housing Clinic, San Francisco Adult Probation Department, The Dream Keeper Initiative, San Francisco Parks & Recreation, Pacific Alliance for Prevention and Recovery, Salvation Army, and UCSF Cityside.
Participating community organizations included: New Community Leadership Foundation, Code Tenderloin, Positive Directions Equals Change, Phatt Chance, Health Right 360, Westside Clinic, Alcoholics Anonymous, Episcopal Community Services, Mental Health Association of San Francisco, Sister’s Circle, Solutions for Women, St. Anthony’s Foundation, San Francisco Public Library, and Pacific Alliance for Prevention and Recovery.
Recovery Day was established in the 1990’s by Men In Motion as a way to celebrate recovery and promote healing and community. This year’s event was held with the same intention while also addressing successes of the recovery movement over the years and acknowledging the continued work needed to broaden the impact of recovery to the San Francisco community.
The 2023 Recovery Day Committee awarded three change-makers for their significant contributions to the recovery community: St. Anthony’s Foundation, Sister’s Circle, and Solutions for Women. THC’s Richard Beal was awarded a Certificate of Honor by Mayor London Breed for his dedication to recovery personally, professionally, and as a community advocate for nearly three decades. Additionally, the recovery community celebrated the Saint Francis Foundation’s donation of a brand-new Mercedes Benz van to Code Tenderloin to support overdose response efforts. The event highlighted the vibrance and strength of the recovery community and reinvigorated continued community efforts to support those still struggling with substance use and to celebrate those in recovery.