Today, 1 Million Strong, an impact initiative that seeks to transform the way people think about addiction and recovery, announced a partnership with the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival that will include a free sober-supportive wellness retreat experience for festivalgoers to cool down, recharge, and enjoy the music of Jazz Fest and alcohol-free cocktails in a relaxing environment.
“Having 1 Million Strong’s sober-supportive wellness tent at the event demonstrates that sobriety doesn’t mean that people in recovery can’t be a part of events such as this, but that there is a need to expand music culture to include sobriety,” said Bill Taylor, Director, Music Strategy and Programs, The Phoenix. “There is tremendous strength in coming together as a community to support one another, and that’s what these spaces are all about.”
The 1 Million Strong wellness experience at Jazz Fest is free and accessible to festivalgoers both weekends April 28 - 30 and May 4 - 7 and offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy mocktail happy hours and connect with people in recovery as well as allies to the recovery movement. The tent will open the same time Jazz Fest opens its gates at 11:00am (CT) daily.
"We are proud to partner with 1 Million Strong to, for the first time, make a wellness space part of this year’s festival — a meeting spot and retreat where individuals in recovery and allies can gather and connect with each other," said Quint Davis, Producer/Director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. “We hope that this space will be a reflection of our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and celebrated."
With more than 46.3 million people struggling with a substance use disorder, there is a need to change the approach to addiction which currently treats people as problems to be solved. The Phoenix is changing the experience of addiction and recovery by using the power of community, empowerment and belonging as a long-term approach to recovery. 83% of their members report remaining sober after three months and report increased meaning in their lives.
Over the past year, 1 Million Strong has served thousands of fans in partnership with various festivals and events across the country, including Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life, Park City Song Summit, and concerts by artists including The Chainsmokers, bringing new opportunities including mental health and wellness support and Phoenix-lead activities.
1 Million Strong is an initiative created as a partnership between Stand Together Foundation, which is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities, Stand Together Music, an organization that believes that the music industry is uniquely positioned to amplify and accelerate addiction recovery, and The Phoenix, which was founded on the mission to build a national sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we rise, recover, and live. The goal of 1 Million Strong is to support one million people in recovery through the strength of community – creating inclusive and engaging sober experiences and encouraging conversations about sobriety.
Learn more about how Stand Together Foundation and The Phoenix are working together to support alternative recovery solutions and how The Phoenix is working to create a sober active community.
For more information about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, visit www.nojazzfest.com.To learn about 1 Million Strong, visit www.1millionstrong.com.
