More than a dozen local organizations, recovery advocates and residents came together at the Civic Theatre of Allentown recently for a public screening of “Recovery City,” a stirring documentary that captures the lives of four mothers navigating addiction recovery.

The event, funded by Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Services and hosted by the Center for Humanistic Change, drew nearly 200 attendees and served as a catalyst for conversations around stigma, opioid recovery and housing. The evening opened with a community resource fair, where Valley Youth House, Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services, Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley, the Journeys Program and more offered overdose prevention and harm reduction tools and information.

Attendees then viewed “Recovery City,” directed by Lisa Olivieri, who joined for a post-film question-and-answer session. The award-winning filmmaker shared insights into her five-year journey capturing the intimate and resilient stories of women balancing recovery, motherhood and housing insecurity.

“The film humanizes recovery and teaches us all about the difficult path women face when trying to rebuild their lives,” Molly Stanton, LCDA assistant administrator, said. “By screening ‘Recovery City,’ we were able to spark meaningful dialogue and bring visibility to the challenges of mothers in recovery.”

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan delivered opening remarks and emphasized the importance of partnerships between justice, health and human services.

“By working together with LCDA and CHC, executing events such as this, we get the opportunity to listen, learn and act in a way that better serves families in need,” Holihan said.

This community screening also signaled the upcoming launch of a recovery housing initiative led by Lehigh County, meeting secondary needs of the Journeys Program participants. The initiative will provide transitional housing and support services to pregnant women and mothers affected by opioid use, keeping families together as they rebuild their lives. The housing initiative will be jointly funded through opioid settlement funds provided by both the district attorney’s office and LCDA.

“‘Recovery City’ gave our community the opportunity to witness the strength, struggle and resilience of women in recovery,” CHC Executive Director Andrew D’Angelo said. “Events like this are essential for reducing stigma and connecting people with real solutions. CHC is proud to be a part of that movement.”

For additional information, contact Stanton at 484-656-5891 or mollystanton@lehighcounty.org.

LCDA manages federal, state and local dollars to combat addiction in the county.

CHC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing prevention education and life skills training. CHC’s mission is to equip individuals, especially youth, with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed and positive life choices.