- Blair Gaston
- Mar 31
- 5 min read
Updated: May 18
We’re Not Done Yet!
Welcome to the latest edition of Recovery & YOU!—your go-to source for updates, advocacy efforts, upcoming events, and community highlights.
Your Voices Matter—And They’re Being Heard
From coalition leaders to peers and family members, here’s what we’ve heard: “The Recovery Navigator Program helped someone I love get into housing, into treatment, and back on their feet.”– Recovery advocate, King County
“This is one of the only programs that truly meets people where they are—with compassion.”– Peer support worker
We’re feeling incredibly grateful for this community. Your stories and emails are making a difference—but we still have work to do.
The Recovery Community is Showing Up!
Over the past week, we’ve been deeply moved by your response to the threat facing the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP). Dozens of you have shared stories, contacted legislators, and spread the word that recovery matters—and needs to be funded.
From law enforcement to peer advocates, across King County and beyond, the message is clear: the RNP works. And yet, proposed cuts in the state budget put this vital program at risk.
Now more than ever, we need to stay loud. We’re in the final stretch—the state budget will be finalized by April 27.
Here’s What You Can Do: Email Your Lawmakers
Take 5 minutes today to ask your State Senator to protect full funding for the Recovery Navigator Program.
We especially need outreach to these key budget leaders:
Sen. June Robinson (LD 38) – June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Derek Stanford (LD 1) – Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (LD 43) – Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Not sure who your Senator is? Find them here
Need Help? Join Our Drop-In Advocacy Sessions
Drop in this week:
Tuesday & Thursday5:30–6:30 PM
We’ll walk you through the process and help you make your voice heard. If you can’t make it but need support, email our Advocacy Director, Tristan Seikel: tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org
Welcome our new WRA Team members!
We’re so excited to officially announce WRA’s new Community Engagement Director, Carly Campbell (she/her), and our new Communications Director, Blair Gaston (she/her) WRA!
Meet Carly:
Carly brings a rich background in peer support, social justice, and community-centered service—grounded in a deep belief in healing, connection, and equity. As a proud peer with an abundance of lived experience, Carly has worked alongside grassroots movements and service organizations across Washington, advocating for systems change and creating space for lived experience to lead.
Originally from southern Arizona, she earned her BA in History from the University of Montana and completed two full AmeriCorps terms before moving to Bellingham in 2019. Since then, she has been deeply involved in local organizing and mutual aid efforts, including volunteering with the Washington Recovery Alliance prior to officially joining the team.
In 2023, Carly expanded her skillset by earning a GIS certification from Michigan State University, which she uses to elevate data storytelling and community-informed decision-making through digital mapping.
Outside of work, Carly enjoys gardening, printmaking, and building functional maps. She’s passionate about the many ways recovery can show up in community—and we’re so glad to have her on board!
Meet Blair:
Blair brings a strong background in nonprofit communications, digital strategy, and authentic storytelling—plus a deep passion for building power within the recovery community across Washington State.
A Washington native and Seattle University graduate, Blair is a single mom to a lively preschooler, a digital designer, and a creative at heart. In her spare time, she spins music as a DJ and cheers on her favorite NASCAR drivers.
Blair’s commitment to this work is deeply personal. Growing up in a small town with limited access to support services, she witnessed the importance of connection, dignity, and care—and she’s passionate about helping others find it.
She also supports the Washington Alliance for Quality Recovery Residences (WAQRR) as Marketing & Engagement Coordinator, helping tell the story of recovery lived out in safe, supportive recovery homes.
Please join us in giving Blair a warm welcome!
Save the date for Spring into Recovery 2!
Snohomish County Recovery Coalition is hosting its annual Spring Into Recovery Event! It will be held on Friday, June 13th, 2025, from 11 to 4:00.
The link for tabling is https://forms.gle/PvGzM3i6UWKS7D3T6
The link for tickets and donations is classy.org/event/spring-into-recovery-2/e649942
Cougs for Recovery Overdose Prevention Training
Cougs for Recovery’s next Overdose Prevention Training will be held in person on April 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in CUE 202.
Training is designed to allow students to ask questions freely without stigma.
There are many reasons why someone may want to attend a training, and we welcome you.
Please join us in welcoming Cassie as the new Regional Advisor for Ferry County!
We are thrilled to introduce Cassie Lembcke as the new Regional Advisor for Ferry County! Cassie is a Certified Peer Counselor, Recovery Coach, and Case Manager for the Recovery Navigator Program at NEW Alliance Behavioral Health in Ferry County. She has been with the Recovery Navigator Program since its inception, working diligently to build relationships with community partners and supporting clients in accessing resources within her rural community.
Cassie is in long-term recovery and has a personal history of incarceration and substance use disorder. A graduate of Ferry County Drug Court, she is an active member of the recovery community and is dedicated to using her story to reduce the stigma of addiction.
As a wife and mother, Cassie resides in the beautiful mountain town of Republic. She’s passionate about helping others improve their lives, and we are excited to have her as part of the team!
Overdose Prevention & Response Training Series
The Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA) is hosting a free training series for our behavioral health recovery community. Learn how to identify and respond to an overdose, discuss local overdose trends, harm reduction + recovery resources, and receive free naloxone.
Wed, Apr 30 | 5:30-7:30 PM
Renton Library
Mon, May 5 | 1:00-3:00 PM
Renton Library
For questions, contact Tristan at tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org.
Join Us for Elevate Recovery Advocacy Training – June 17
Elevate is more than a training—it’s the foundation of a statewide recovery movement. 🌟 The Washington Recovery Alliance and King County Recovery Coalition are teaming up to host a free, virtual Elevate Recovery Advocacy training on Tuesday, June 17, from 5:00–7:30 PM.
Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to sharpen your skills, this session will help you confidently share your recovery story with lawmakers, engage in the legislative process, and use media as a tool for change. The training is interactive, so come ready to participate and connect with community!
Reserve your spot now: tinyurl.com/elevatejune2025
Questions? Reach out to Tristan at tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org.
Recovery Podcasts
King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.
Listen Now
In this episode of King County Recovery Conversations, host Brad Finegood sits down with Esther Lucero, CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board. They explore how traditional Indigenous practices and modern medicine work together to support recovery and holistic healing, and discuss the powerful role of community, culture, and resilience in health care.
You can watch the full conversation on YouTube and hear more about the expansion of the Thunderbird Treatment Center, the importance of culturally grounded care, and how Indigenous communities are leading the way in transforming recovery.
WRA Out in the World
YOU can stay connected!
Stay engaged, see what we’re up to, and join the recovery movement.