Speaking Up
We recently celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day, remembering a man who had the courage to speak up for much-needed change. He advocated nonviolent resistance to a system that obstructed justice and equality. His voice was powerful, his method was peaceful, and his determination was unflagging.
There are lots of places where our voices are needed, but not many voices are heard. There are so many times when we ought to speak up, but we don’t—whether out of fear, disillusionment, apathy or hopelessness—and the causes that should be championed are forgotten, and the people who are in need are left hurting.
Leadership is the most critical part of the Heroes in Recovery movement. Without leaders—without hand-raisers, helpers, and voices to support our efforts, our torch will fade. People who are struggling with addiction and mental health concerns may stay entrenched in their troubles, unaware that they can get help and recover. Society may maintain its arm’s-length stance toward the disease of addiction, and both people needing recovery and those who have recovered may feel alienated and passed over.
But like Dr. King, we don’t intend to give up on our mission. We don’t think adversity is a cause for admitting defeat. And we need leaders to stand up and speak up for our movement.
We have chosen six people to head up the Heroes movement in their communities. We’ve called them Advocates—and their job is to keep the Heroes torch burning bright so that it catches on in their area and spreads to others. They are meeting together this week to receive training for this crucial job. We are excited for them to begin their work, and you’ll even get to hear from them here on the Heroes blog!
We need “formal” leaders, but we also need “informal” ones. You can be a leader in the movement by sharing your story and telling others about what Heroes is doing. Participate in our events and keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter. We want your words, your comments, your questions, and your enthusiasm as we continue on this journey.
Your leadership is invaluable to us. How have you been encouraged to speak up? Is there someone in your life who inspires you? Please comment here or on Facebook and let us know!