CACTC was recently awarded a grant through CNY Arts to continue its work with photographer Zack Bolton to capture portraits and stories tied to the overdose death crisis in Central NY. This is the continuation of a project that has now been underway for 2 years.

• Have you been impacted by this issue or have a story you want to share? We invite you to “Share Your Story” with us here. If you know you would like to be considered to participate in the portraits project, reach out to Sara at swatrous@cortlandareactc.org or fill out our interest form.
• Want to volunteer your time and/or expertise? We would like to form a small planning committee to help plan the exhibit(s) for the fall. We are looking for folks who can help with event planning, community outreach, promotions and other details. Let us know if you are interested and how you might like to help.

Over 60 people attended the Opening Reception of the “It Could Be Anyone” Exhibit on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 4-7pm at the Cortland Free Library.

Healing Cortland would like to thank the following agencies that tabled at the Opening Reception on April 1: Family & Children’s Counseling Services, Access to Independence, Healing Hearts Collaborative & 607/315 Healing Hearts, Southern Tier AIDS Program, TruthPharm, TC3 Collegiate Recovery Program and the Cortland County Area Office on Aging.

In Spring 2022, as part of the first exhibit, we invited community members to “Share Your Story.” Here are a few different ways to do this:

• Participate in our “It Was Me” activity. Share your story by using the link to submit it digitally.

The entire Cortland community was invited to participate in the Cortland Free Library’s Community Read of the book is Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction by Maia Szalavitz, released in July 2021. 

With over 100 free copies distributed and 2 successful book discussions hosted by the Cortland Free Library, we were excited to welcome the author for a virtual talk on April 27. Watch the recording here.

To borrow a copy of the book, please visit cortlandfreelibrary.org/about-borrowing or stop by the Cortland Free Library.

• Parent Grief Support Group: 607/315 Healing Hearts. For more information, call Dean O’Gorman at (607)283-6378.
• For Narcan trainings and kits and other harm reduction supplies/referrals throughout Cortland County and the CNY region –  Contact Healing Hearts Collaborative – Community OOPP via Dean O’Gorman at dogorman007@gmail.com or (607)283-6378. For a comprehensive list of Narcan resources, visit healingcortland.org/narcan.
• For other substance use and addiction support services and community resources visit healingcortland.org/resources.