The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) creates conditions that support recovery at both the individual and community level through trauma-sensitive peer supports and the development of a regional network.   We believe that human relationships are at the center of what heals people who have experienced extreme emotional states, trauma, mental health diagnoses and a variety of other challenges in life.  Our lived experience and “humanness” is what unites us.  Our stories, collective wisdom and strength are what guide us and our community to wellness.   

Hello, my name is Janice Sorensen and as the Franklin County Coordinator for the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) I am thrilled that we have been chosen to be a Partner Charity for the 33^rd Annual Bridge of Flowers Road Race. 

As you would have read above, the RLC is a peer run organization for people in mental health recovery. By “mental health recovery” we mean people who have lived experienced with trauma, extreme mental or emotional states or those who have received a psychiatric diagnosis. The “peer run” part means I am a person in mental health recovery, my supervisor identifies as such, and my co-workers and the vast majority of our consultants, volunteers and community do as well. This is important because it helps give voice to those who have sometimes only been expected to listen, it helps provide an opportunity to give back to those who have typically been expected only to receive, and it helps value the wisdom gained through life experiences that have so often been devalued or kept hidden. One can say to another, “I have been there,” and in doing this we help to end stigma as well.

The reason I, personally, am excited that the RLC is a Partner Charity for the Bridge of Flowers Road Race is that running and exercise have proven to be my number one avenue toward wellness, mental, emotional and physical.  Running not only stabilizes my bloodsugar and my emotions, it gives me the energy I need to do my personal and professional work.  When I run, I have less trouble sleeping at night.  When I run outside, I am exposed to vitamin D, the deficiency of which has been linked to depression.  While I run, either the world falls away and I have time to meditate and “just be,” or the world comes to a special sort of focus, and I am able to think through and sort the issues of the day.  When I run with others, we connect in a way that does not seem to happen elsewhere and otherwise.  When I run, my skin becomes clearer and healthier and I like that.  My running helps me to maintain a weight that I and my knees feel good about and that allows me to walk or bike more and farther through cities and countrysides I would otherwise have to explore by car or bus.  When I run, I am slower to anger and less easily overwhelmed and see the world as full of possibility.

The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community provides many great offerings to our Franklin County community from Belly Dance classes, to acupuncture, to an Alternatives to Suicide Peer Support Group (and many more) and these on greatly limited resources.  Please consider supporting the Western Mass Recovery Learning this year as a part of your giving.  We make your money go a long way.    Thank you, Janice

Janice Sorensen
Franklin County Coordinator
Western Mass Recovery Learning Community