Center for Continued Learning Presents Screening & Panel Discussion for Continuing Education Hours

Center for Continued Learning Presents Screening & Panel Discussion for Continuing Education Hours

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Wilkes University's Center for Continued Learning will present a free screening of the documentary Recovery City, followed by a panel discussion with the film's Producer and Director, Lisa Olivieri, as part of their ongoing Healthcare Seminars.

Designed for working healthcare professionals, the screening and panel discussion is part of a series of workshops for professional development and continuing education courses offered by Wilkes. Pharmacists, nurses, social workers and counselors who participate in the course will receive 2.5 hours of continuing education. The deadline for registering is Monday, Sep. 8 at 5 p.m.

The goal of this screening and panel discussion is to raise awareness and promote understanding and de-stigmatization surrounding addiction and recovery, using storytelling and the lived experience of the film participants to engage diverse audiences.

The film Recovery City is a raw exploration of what it means to be in recovery as seen through the eyes of four women whose lives share a common thread: addiction. In the working-class city of Worcester, Massachusetts, Christine fights to regain custody of her young children while grappling with a traumatic past, and battling stigma from the very systems that are designed to help her. Bridget, who found recovery while in prison, now facilitates peer-led support meetings for women. On the frontlines, recovery coaches Janis and Rebecca navigate the city's toughest corners offering support and trying to save lives. In this portrait of resilience, grit and camaraderie, the women use their lived experience to lift up those still struggling while refusing to give up hope.

Lisa Olivieri is an award-winning filmmaker from the Boston area. Her first documentary, Blindsided, is an intimate portrait of a female artist slowly losing her sight and hearing while surviving her abusive girlfriend. The film has won numerous awards, including the Artistic Achievement Award in Directing from the qFLIX Film Festival / Worcester and the Jury Award for Best Documentary from The Women's Film Festival / Philadelphia.

The screening will begin at 6 p.m. in the Jean and Paul Adams Commons located on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. Those who wish to attend can register for the event here.