Somerville Overcoming Addiction’s vigil honoring those who have been lost due to substance abuse will be held Monday at Connextions in Somerville.

By Cathleen Twardzik

A photo collage was created for display at Somerville Overcoming Addiction’s (SOA) First Annual Vigil, which will occur on September 8. The purpose of the vigil is to recognize, to remember and to celebrate loved ones all of whom were lost to addiction.

On August 12, SOA hosted an event at 149 Broadway Somerville at Connextions to make the collage. Participants were asked to bring photos of their loved ones to produce it, and pizza was provided by Wicked Sober Inc.

Somerville Overcoming Addiction, which was founded last spring, is a new grassroots community organization. The group’s members span a wide range, and include people working in the field, parents, all of whom have lost children to addiction and people in long-term recovery.

“We were born out of the community forums put on by the city in the early spring after the rash of overdoses that took so many lives. After the public forums put on by the city, Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin continued to hold meetings in his ward. A group of us that continued to meet, felt that we could do something, that we should do something. We couldn’t sit by idly, as our children, friends and neighbors died. We decided to form a group and get to work on making a difference to the best of our abilities in our community,” said Jesse Clingan, SOA Member and Community Organizer.

“What we aim to do is to connect the community with addiction support and recovery services, [to] work to lift the stigma of addiction, and to eliminate overdose fatalities in Somerville,” Clingan said.

Making collages

At present, to further its mission, the organization has shown a screening of the documentary “The Anonymous People,” which delves into success stories of people in long-term recovery. Approximately 300 people attended the screening.

“We felt it strongly that showing the film in Somerville, (for free at the Somerville Theatre) in conjunction with an Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training right there in Davis Square where many young lives have slipped away in the bathrooms of the local eateries, was a good way to start. We have no money, so we got the rights to hold a public screening from Adcare Hospital of Worcester,” said Clingan.

Before the viewing of the film, SOA provided an overdose prevention and Narcan training, which was made possible by the Cambridge Needle Exchange, and more than 30 Narcan kits were distributed that night.

Public awareness events continue to be held by SOA, which the organization believes will “make an impact.”

In late August, there was “a resolution drafted by SOA and brought forth to the BOA by Aldermen Katjana Ballantyne and Matt McLaughlin affirming September as recover month in Somerville. SOA member JoAnn Rivieccio will speak on behalf of the group.”

At the vigil on September 8, “We will gather in the names of those we’ve lost to addiction. There will be a beautiful song sung by the very talented Maggie Leon. We will hear from a parent who has lost a child to addiction. We will also hear the recital of the poem “The Fallen Addict,” which will be read by JoAnn Rivieccio, who lost her son Frank four years ago to addiction. We will hear a story of hope and survival from someone in long-term recovery. We will hear a poem from Thomas Warner, whose brother Chris Sousa was murdered for his Xbox by an addict in need of a fix,” she said.

Following that, candles will be lit and a moment of silence taken. The reading of the names will round out the night.

“We believe this event is an important community healing event. It’s been quite a few years since such a vigil has been held in Somerville, despite the ever-growing list of names of Somervillians lost to addiction,” said Clingan.

Approximately 35 people contributed to the collage, which will be at the vigil. However, on September 8 people may pin up photos throughout the vigil.

“The most important message of Somerville Overcoming Addiction is to never give up hope. There are people out there who do care. If your loved one is in the throes of addiction, just know that there are 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery. Our society just doesn’t celebrate or talk about sobriety. Don’t listen to those who say it’s hopeless. Recovery is possible, you can have you son or daughter back,” said Clingan.

“We can’t say for sure what we might add to future vigils, except that hopefully this vigil will grow in numbers of attendees, as the stigma of addiction gets broken down, and people become more and more comfortable talking to others about how their loved one died. Unfortunately, what we will undoubtedly add to the vigil are the names of more young people that have died from overdoses,” she said.

Interested individuals may view additional information about the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/651158844981176/.

Additionally, if you would like your loved one’s name to be read at the vigil on September 8, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1P4dMPp8WqNYtajMtyfuf1AaibIdDdW_n4np9xoQCs-8/viewform?edit_requested=true.