_edited.png)
SERLC Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2025-26
What's been happening at the SERLC?
This fall was filled with powerful moments of connection and reflection through Recovery Month events in the community, Halloween Parties, guest speakers, and Friendsgiving celebrations that strengthened our community’s bonds and reminded us of the resilience we all share. As we move into winter, we are creating new opportunities to celebrate light in the darker days through holiday gatherings, creative workshops, and ongoing peer support.
Fall Events and Activities
All four SERLC Recovery Connection Centers embraced the spooky spirit this October with festive Halloween parties that brought together costumes, creativity, and community fun. From pumpkin decorating and games to shared meals and laughter, each center offered a welcoming space to celebrate the holiday.
The Hyannis RCC hosted a cheerful Ice Cream Social this fall, bringing together community members for a sweet afternoon of connection. With plenty of flavors to enjoy and conversations to share, the gathering offered a lighthearted way to celebrate the end of summer and strengthen the bonds of peer support.
Fall River RCC completed the 14th and 15th cycles of the Grief Healing & Support Group, created and led with compassion and dedication by Blanca R. Garcia, with co-facilitator Shannon Donnelly. This 4-week, ongoing, closed, in-person group, offers a safe, private and supportive space for reflection, healing, and peer connection where participants can come together not to fix each other, but to listen, to support, and to heal. Each cycle continues to build on the strength of shared experience, fostering resilience and post-traumatic growth within each participant. Stay tuned for new upcoming cycles of the group over the winter months! Interested in joining one of these cycles?
Email garciab@vinfen.org for more information.
This October, our centers joined peer supporters around the world in honoring Global Peer Support Day, in a SERLC-wide virtual event. The gathering was filled with reflection, gratitude, and recognition of the vital role peer support plays in recovery and resilience. We took time to honor our own peer supporter employees, whose dedication, compassion, and lived experience continue to guide and strengthen our community. As part of the celebration, we created a tribute video highlighting the many memorable moments of our peer supporters in action, offering a heartfelt reminder of their impact and connections they have built over time. Their contributions remind us that peer support is not only a global movement, but also a daily practice that uplifts lives, strengthens hope, and builds lasting community at the SERLC.
).png)
This fall, each of our four RCCs hosted warm and welcoming Friendsgiving gatherings, creating space for gratitude, connection, and community. Folks came together to share meals, reflect on the season, and honor the bonds that sustain us. Tables were filled with homemade dishes, laughter, and stories, reminding everyone of the comfort found in gathering together. These celebrations also offered moments to recognize the resilience of our peers, the importance of mutual support, and the joy of building traditions that carry us forward.
Monthly Guest Speakers
The SERLC welcomes guest speakers each month, creating opportunities for members to hear fresh voices and perspectives that enrich our community. These sessions bring in leaders, advocates, and storytellers who share their experiences and insights, sparking meaningful conversations and reflection. By inviting diverse speakers who highlight the power of peer support and the importance of learning from one another, we ensure that each month offers something new to inspire and connect us.
As part of Recovery Month in September, the Brockton RCC welcomed guest speaker, Mathematics, hip-hop artist and author of THAT P.A.R.T. (Poetry And Rap Therapy). Through spoken word, rhythm, and reflection Mathematics brought a message of healing, resilience, and transformation, sharing reflections on accountability, healing, and the power of storytelling. The event is a celebration of creative resilience, where rhythm, poetry, and lived experience came together to uplift and empower
In October, the Brockton RCC welcomed presenters, MarcCawley Bercy and Chaplain Clementina Chery, from the Lewis D. Brown Institute for a powerful session on Peace Play in Urban Settings. This healing technique invites individuals and families to reflect on their struggles and strengths without words, using miniature figures to create scenes that represent different parts of life. These visual stories help participants put language to feelings and experiences, translating personal journeys into concrete, three dimensional form. Much like a 3D vision board, Peace Play offers a creative and compassionate way to express emotions, conflicts, and resilience that might otherwise remain unspoken.
In November, the Brockton RCC welcomed guest speaker, Jenn Knight, Director of Outreach from OutstandingLife, a safe, diverse, and nurturing online community of LGBTQ+ older adults in Massachusetts (and beyond). Similar to a virtual senior center, their social networking platform is a welcoming space that creates meaningful social opportunities through cost-free online programming and peer support.
Stay tuned this winter as we continue to welcome inspiring guest speakers each month. These sessions will bring fresh voices, new perspectives, and meaningful conversations to keep our community engaged and connected through the season. We look forward to learning together and celebrating the wisdom that each speaker brings!
SERLC Outreach
Our BMC Peer Community Facilitators (Marquee, Alexandra, and Lana) have been busy with outreach to communities that are underserved at the SERLC. They attended AHA! Night in New Bedford over the fall, hosting informational resource tables at their monthly event. They shared resources, networked, and solidified community partnerships. We look forward to more nights to come with AHA! New Bedford.
Our Response to the November SNAP Disruptions
The Southeast Recovery Learning Community responded to the recent SNAP disruptions with urgency and compassion, centering the voices of those most directly impacted. Most of our members rely on SNAP benefits, so these disruptions created immediate stress and uncertainty across our community. We worked to map local food resources, share clear updates, and create accessible guides that helped community members navigate sudden gaps in benefits. We acknowledged the challenges these disruptions caused and offered practical support through peer-led groups, resource referrals, and collaborative problem-solving. We also came together and created food pantries in our centers, ensuring that our community had immediate access to essential supplies. Our response highlighted resilience and solidarity, ensuring that our community was not left isolated during a critical moment of need. If you are facing food insecurity, reach out to your RCC Program Director for support in accessing our food pantries.
