On October 14, 2025, more than 80 recovery-community leaders, treatment professionals, advocates, and elected officials gathered at the Library of Virginia in Richmond for the inaugural Virginia Recovery Community Conversation. Co-hosted by the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP) and SAARA of Virginia, the event created a dynamic space for open dialogue on behavioral-health and recovery policy in the Commonwealth.
The event was co-mc’d by VAAP Board member Monique Runge and SAARA of Virginia’s Advocacy Manager, Michael Sizemore. Speakers included Delegate Carrie Coyner, Delegate Rodney Willett, and Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, each offering insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping addiction treatment and recovery services in Virginia.“This gathering was proof that our voice matters,” said Chuck Wilcox, VAAP Advocacy Committee Chair. “When we convene as a community, we build the power to drive meaningful change.”
(Above photo: Rodney Willet – Virginia State Delegate, Monique Runge – VAAP Board Member, Michael Sizemore – Advocacy Manager, SAARA of Virginia, Schuyler VanValkenburg – Virginia State Senator.)
(Above photo: Michael Sizemore – Advocacy Manager, SAARA of Virginia, Monique Runge, VAAP Board Member, Carrie Coyner – Virginia State Delegate, Anika Richburg – Executive Director, SAARA of Virginia.)
The event also featured breakout discussions led by Michael Sizemore, encouraging participants to identify the most pressing issues in their regions and explore opportunities for shared advocacy. “Collaboration is key,” Sizemore noted. “On every level, it’s the foundation of progress in recovery.”
The event’s mix of lived-experience voices, policymakers, and service leaders underscored a powerful message: recovery isn’t just an individual journey—it’s a collective effort that requires coordination, shared purpose, and a commitment to equity and access.
“Over the next few months, VAAP and SAARA will be working closely with the recovery community and Virginia leaders to advocate for meaningful legislative reforms in the upcoming General Assembly,” said Monique Runge. “Our goal is to expand recovery opportunities and strengthen the overall health and wellbeing of people across the Commonwealth.”
The discussions sparked during the Virginia Recovery Community Conversation are only the beginning. The event generated ideas, relationships, and renewed energy that will continue to drive our collective advocacy forward in the months ahead.
