RLS and AHR

Nominations and Recipient

Leaders of the addiction recovery advocacy movement from across the nation will be honored at the America Honors Recovery (AHR) Gala Dinner and at the Recovery Leadership Summit (RLS). AHR and RLS salutes the legacies of dynamic recovery trailblazers who dedicated their lives to removing barriers for individuals and families affected by addiction and honors the future of their legacies.

About

Our Awards

Appointed Award:

Excellence in Recovery Journalism

The Excellence in Recovery Journalism Award aligns closely with the mission of Faces & Voices of Recovery to illuminate the journey from addiction and substance use, once hidden in the shadows of anonymity. By recognizing journalists whose work makes a positive impact on communities at local, national, or global levels, this award promotes advocacy efforts to reduce stigma surrounding recovery. Through factual and educational reporting, the awardee's published work(s) directly contribute to changing public perceptions of recovery, encouraging open dialogue and understanding. By amplifying recovery stories, this award aims to accelerate support initiatives and policy reforms, addressing critical issues like the opioid epidemic and overdose deaths. As Dr. Melissa Anderson aptly put it, "When we recover loudly, we keep others from dying quietly," underscoring the transformative power of journalism in advancing recovery narratives and societal change.

Congressional Champion Award

The Congressional Champion Award recognizes lawmakers who have had a significant role in advancing legislation that has a positive impact on families experiencing substance use and mental health challenges.

Federal Champion Award

Many agencies across the Federal government have an incredibly important role in leading public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. Addiction crosses to many agencies to mention. The Federal Champion Award recognizes individuals within the Federal government who have demonstrated outstanding, transformational leadership.

Accepting Nominations:

Advocate of the Year Award

The Advocate of the Year Awards recognize outstanding advocacy leadership demonstrated by individuals, family members and youth/young adults. These awards are presented in honor of the legacies of Lisa Mojer-Torres and Joel Hernandez, who stood up for the dignity and rights of all people impacted by substance use disorders.

Lisa Mojer-Torres was instrumental in the founding of Faces & Voices of Recovery as the first board chair. Her inquiring and challenging mind offered new insights, and, by example, she encouraged us to stand up and speak out on behalf of all pathways to recovery, including the use of medications. Her leadership contributed to a significant shift in understanding addiction recovery and the need to end discriminatory policies and practices.

Joel Hernandez was a champion whose protest in the face of discrimination in the Hernandez v Raytheon legal case inspired us all. This historic case has had a profound impact on employment laws for people with substance use disorder histories.

3 Awards:

Individual
Family Member
Youth/Young Adult

Recovery Organization of the Year Award

The Recovery Organization of the Year Award recognizes the exemplary achievements of one local, state, regional, or national nonprofit grassroots recovery organization for its advocacy and mobilizing of the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from substance use disorder.

The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award

The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, in honor of William L. White, renowned recovery historian and author, recognizes significant contributions made to the recovery movement through outstanding advocacy, research, or policy reform. William L. White’s sustained contributions to the field since 1969 have inspired countless individuals to learn from our history while mobilizing advocates and advancing the New Recovery Advocacy Movement (NRAM) with integrity, authenticity, and servant leadership.

The Excellence in Equity and Justice Award

The Excellence in Equity and Justice Award, in honor of Dr. Calvin Trent Jr., recognizes transformational leadership in creating authentic, diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive recovery communities. Dr. Calvin Trent of Detroit, Michigan, was a nationally recognized expert widely lauded for his fierce advocacy for the recovery community and a strong proponent of Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) transformation. Dr. Trent’s work helped to modernize how black, indigenous, people of color suffering from the disease of addiction are viewed and treated by health care providers.

The Innovations in Recovery Award

The Innovations in Recovery Award honors achievements in the recovery community that promote excellence through extraordinary innovation. Contributions can take many forms and may include a significant role in the implementation and effective delivery of a highly innovative idea, program, or product. The extraordinary innovation must directly or indirectly impact the advancement of the recovery community and/or recovery support services.

Criteria:

Leadership: Did this individual’s accomplishment demonstrate innovative leadership? Did this individual’s leadership set the stage for further innovative work?
Out-of-the-box-thinking: Does this innovation represent out-of-the-box or cutting-edge thinking?
Enthusiasm: Has this innovation led to a new product, service or approach to amplify the benefits of recovery?
Impact: Will the innovation bring fundamental change and/or move the recovery community forward in fighting stigma?

February 15

Nominee Submissions Open
April 1

Nomination Submissions Closes

February 15

Nominee Submissions Opens
April 1

Nomination Submissions Closes

Congratulate past