The City of Somerville, in partnership with the Somerville Media Center (SMC), has announced the release of a short documentary entitled From My Heart to Yours.

“From My Heart to Yours provides an intimate look at how the availability and use of opioids have impacted the lives of many individuals, especially here locally,” said Somerville’s Prevention Services Manager Matthew Mitchell. “It offers an opportunity for folks to see how the City of Somerville is working to stamp out stigma and support individuals in recovery as well as their families/friends and the community as a whole.”

The public is invited to the premiere screening of From My Heart to Yours on Wednesday, July 31 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at VOX POP, 431 Artisan Way, Assembly Row.

From My Heart to Yours is the result of a collaboration between the City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department and the Somerville Media Center, a non-profit community media arts organization that is the oldest media access center in Massachusetts.

“It has been our mission as an organization for nearly forty years to share the stories often unheard or not represented in mainstream media with our community through educational videos,” adds Erica Jones, Director of Institutional Advancement at Somerville Media Center. “The opioid epidemic is one that hits home for many people and to be able to try to convey the stories of those who were at their most vulnerable state and their journey to recovery was an incredibly powerful and moving experience for our team.”

Both organizations plan to determine ways to best incorporate this educational video into city trainings and offer it as a community resource.

Additional screenings will be announced soon.

For more information, please contact Matthew Mitchell, Prevention Services Manager, at (617) 625-6600, ext. 2570 or mmitchell@somervillema.gov.