Stand Up and Stop the Stigma

04/14/2021

For those who have asked me to repost our show from last night I have attached the link. Just click into the link and you can see the entire show.

If you are inspired to donate to Anchor Recovery Community Center I have also attached their donation page. Just remember to select Anchor in the drop down.
Enjoy the show!!!!

https://give.providencecenter.org/?hsCtaTracking=a2d0580b-7615-4ac3-af9b-aa77e32972e0%7C24157ef9-26bb-48eb-bf83-da41db5a2688

https://www.facebook.com/1233960048/videos/10225680652703126/

04/14/2021

Thank you to our beautiful guests who came out last night to support our event as we came together to raise awareness and funding for Anchor Recovery Community Center. Thank you Michelle for sharing your heartfelt story as well as the work that you do each day!

Thank you to our amazing team for the many hours spent on the project Stand Up and Stop the Stigma to see the vision and to bring an amazing night of laughter come together flawlessly! Gary! You were the magic behind the tech last night. Brilliant!

We thank CVS Pharmacy, Visiting Angels, Plant City Providence, Dunkin', and the Colonel Blackinton Inn for their contributions and charitable support!

Most importantly, a huge thank you to to Dan Jordan and all of our incredibly talented entertainers for giving us a night of laughter to remember!

04/13/2021

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-virtual-comedy-show-stand-up-and-stop-the-stigma-tickets-148408787679

An evening of entertainment to raise awareness to Stop the Stigma! surrounding addiction, recovery, and substance use disorder.

04/13/2021

One of the first lessons we are taught in our Leadership Development Program at Providence College School of Continuing Education is to find your why and to seek out your purpose. What is your passion in life?

When our team came together to decide on an organization to raise funding and awareness surrounding addiction and substance use disorder our why and motivation was clear. Jim Gillen.

Jim Gillen founded Anchor Recovery Community Center in the living room of a temporary housing facility in Pawtucket, RI. Today, the Anchor family of programs includes the main location in Providence, a center on the campus of the Kent County YMCA in Warwick, and two outreach programs: Anchor ED and AnchorMORE. Anchor also provides recovery support services in collaboration with the Health Equity Zone led by Thundermist Health Center in West Warwick and in all units of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

Jim Gillen left behind a legacy. ”Jim built a robust legacy over the course of two decades in Rhode Island. He changed the language of alcohol and drug addiction, shifting to a more positive, holistic image of a life in recovery — something he proved was possible with the right community supports. He made connections. He rallied hard. He built people up so they would thrive, against the odds, in a world that could forget all about them. He wanted members of his community to say, “ ‘I’m a person in recovery and, goddamn it, I count!’ Well, maybe they wouldn’t say goddamn it,” he told me. He saved lives.” (RI Monthly 2015)

As a team, we found our path through a life-changing project and we owe it to Jim. Tonight at 7:00pm we will kick off Rhode Island’s largest virtual variety show to raise awareness and funding to stop the stigma and embrace the communities struggling to navigate through addiction.

Our team found our purpose as Jim has been shining down on us, applauding our efforts in keeping the faces and voices of addiction front and center so that they are not forgotten.

We want to thank all of you who have been involved in this project, especially the employees and the supporters of Anchor Recovery Community Center for the work that they do every day, twenty four hours a day, to assist those who need your support.

Thank you to all of our entertainers and comedians who are giving their valuable time to our cause, and thank you to our teachers and professors at Providence College for giving us this opportunity to assist us in finding our purpose and our own personal legacies.

Rest in Peace Jim Gillin. We got this! Thank you for your purpose and thank you for your legacy!

Stand Up and Stop the Stigma! Virtual Variety Show
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86566659947?pwd=cTJVcTNGL2o5UWRCeWZLZkZQaWlqQT09

Meeting ID: 865 6665 9947
Passcode: Anchor

04/12/2021

Getting to know a bit about Anchor Recovery and their mission.

04/12/2021

Pure magic happened the moment our team met Mr. Dan Jordan, the creative genius behind our event Stand Up and Stop the Stigma!

What started out as a class project to raise funding and awareness for a very important cause among our team quickly took on a life of its own, and we owe it to Dan.

Out of the gates our team was passionate about one thing which was to bring to light the truly devastating effects of addiction and substance use disorder in our towns, communities, states, and throughout our country. We have all been impacted in one way or another by addiction.

Through this project we would like to raise awareness specifically for Anchor Recovery Community Center, an outstanding organization in Rhode Island who offers peer to peer recovery and counseling for families and children impacted by substance use disorder. In addition, they offer education as they embrace the communities struggling with addiction.

Thank you, Dan and a huge thank you to your sister Kim for hearing my message when we were looking for experienced talent to assist us with our cause. We are indebted to you and your family for all of the time and energy that has been put into this event. You have taught us so much. This team building experience has been nothing short of magical which I have said time and time again. We will miss working with you! Thank you for coming into our lives and we are all looking forward to an evening of laughter as we Stand Up and Stop the Stigma!!

We welcome to our virtual stage on Tuesday, April 13th at 7:00pm the funniest guy from Wrentham, Massachusetts! Mr. Dan Jordan!

Dan is arguably the best stand-up comic from Wrentham, MA. Quick, name another comedian from Wrentham. An advertising writer by day, Comedian by Zoom, he cut his teeth at Second City in Chicago where he wrote sketch comedy, did improv and performed stand-up. He’s performed at top stages such as the Comedy Cellar in NY, Gotham, and the Stand. He’s also choosing to keep this bio short, to help lower expectations. He can be found on IG as

04/11/2021

When Adriana said "Yes!" to joining our team and assisting us in planning our event Stand Up and Stop the Stigma! I knew at that moment that there was no stopping the success of our event. Adriana brings years of community engagement knowledge and quality networking experience to our team. She lends us her insight into what our communities need and desire to create quality of life for children and families living in Rhode Island.
Our team first met Adriana last year when she was invited by Professor Kirtley Fisher to speak with our Leadership and Diversity class. The minute I heard Adriana's message I knew at that moment that aligning and learning from her experience was crucial to my success as a leader. Thank you Adriana for being part of our team! It has been great getting to know you and embracing your success and knowledge.
"Hi, I am Adriana (hablo español) and I am in the business of people. The call to serve the community came early. My 20+ year professional career has introduced me to multiple industries including healthcare, government, small business, higher education and now telecom; the constant continues to be my unapologetic commitment to help lift individuals and communities.
I architect and lead strategies that build community networks, cultivate sustained partner engagements and amplify brand presence in new/emerging markets. My ability to braid business and community development has driven revenue and led to national best practice models."
➡️Nationally recognized leader for developing innovative capacity and skill building best practice models for flavorful communities, small businesses, and Spanish speaking entrepreneurs.
➡️High performing intrapreneur with demonstrated success driving social impact and amplifying CSR initiatives, community-based philanthropy, employee engagement, and cause marketing efforts.
Providence College School of Continuing Education

04/11/2021

Leah!!!! Thank you for making this show so incredible real for us! When our creative director Mr. Dan Jordan told us that you were going to the headliner for our event I was truly blown away!! Thank you for giving us your time, your talent, and creating a space where we can all laugh! Thank you for making this event so incredibly real for us!! Our audience is in for an amazing treat... (and you are a Queens girl!!!) Give it up for Leah Bonnema!!

Leah is a NYC-based comic most recently appearing on The Late Show w/Colbert. She’s also been featured on Chris Gethard Presents, AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live, IFC’s Comedy Crib, TruTV’s Comedy Knockout and she has performed for our troops overseas. The New York Times deemed her, “One of New York’s most consistently excellent young comics.”
Look for more of her comedic stylings on IG
Providence College School of Continuing Education

04/10/2021

04/09/2021

The moment that our team met Gary, we knew immediately that our mission to raise funding and awareness to Stop the Stigma! surrounding addiction and recovery through Anchor Recovery Community Center was going to turn into something magical!

Gary takes so much pride and care with the work that he does to assist those navigating through addiction. You have been such a positive and kind team member and we are so happy that we were introduced to you. Keep doing that amazing work! Lifelong friendships are being made within our team!

Gary is an experienced manager of Volunteers and Special Events with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. He has worked with organizations such as WaterFire Providence, New England Aquarium, Amos House Special Events, and PechaKucha Nights Providence. In 2013 he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Sports, Event, and Entertainment Management. from Johnson & Wales University.

04/08/2021

Juggler - One who influences, especially in order to achieve a desired end. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) Stop the Stigma!

Please meet our incredibly talented juggler Mr. Danny Drake.

Danny started out his circus path in high school juggling with friends and since then his passion for entertaining has grown exponentially. He’s expanded from juggling to acro and eventually all things aerial focusing on trapeze and lyra. He’s performed all around the US and Canada and is also a circus instructor. He began his coaching career at Boston University as an instructor in their aerial dance program and works with Vegetable Circus, and various studios in the Boston area. He can most often be found performing all around the New England area. IG: .danny.drake





















Recovery Centers of America

04/08/2021

Please take a few moments to hear Tony Hoffman's story. His is not the only story of stigma surrounding addiction.










Anchor Recovery Community Center
Providence College School of Continuing Education

There is a stigma which many assign to drug addicts, even long after they have overcome their addiction. Tony discusses how his first time smoking ma*****na ...