06/05/2026
Working together as community is the way forward to creating many doors to recovery and healing. We’re grateful to have spent time with Washington Recovery Alliance, We Level Up, Spokane Tribal Recovery, and Gabriels Challenge, discussing something that we're all so passionate about.
Monika Whitfield (WRA), thank you for creating this special evening. Mona, April, Kitara, Jody, and Melissa, thank you for your time, experience, dedication, and most importantly, your hope and inspiration.
Last night, I had the opportunity to attend a gathering hosted by Monika Whitfield, Executive Director of the Washington Recovery Alliance
I am grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to connect with people doing important work in recovery, behavioral health, advocacy, and community support throughout Washington State.
What stood out to me most was the representation in the room. Indigenous women leaders, tribal recovery leaders, recovery advocates, peer professionals, and community leaders all gathered around the same table, breaking bread bringing different experiences, perspectives, and ideas into the conversation. Validating that this is NOT easy work and we will work together to strengthen the recovery communities in Washington state.
Pictured from left to right are April (We Level Up, a behavioral health and addiction treatment organization with a location in Puyallup and now Spokane Valley, Sandy Munck, Hallie Burchinal, Spokane, Mona Miller (We Level Up and involved in statewide tribal recovery initiatives), Monika Whitfield, Executive Director of the Washington Recovery Alliance, Jody Haight (Spokane Tribal Recovery), Melissa Hood (We Level Up), and me.
As I listened to the conversations, I was reminded how important it is that Spokane stays connected to what is happening throughout the rest of Washington. Many of the leaders in the room are helping bring knowledge, resources, partnerships, and opportunities into Spokane while also helping elevate the voices and needs of our local communities.
Recovery impacts every community. It crosses city lines, county lines, and tribal boundaries. That is why organizations like the Washington Recovery Alliance play such an important role in bringing people together and ensuring communities across the state are learning from one another.
At Gabriel’s Challenge, we believe in building relationships, listening, learning, and staying connected to conversations that can help strengthen our community. The more we learn from one another, the stronger our collective response becomes.
Thank you, Monika, for creating space for these conversations and for your commitment to bringing diverse voices to the table. We are grateful for the work of Washington Recovery Alliance.
Recovery takes an entire community, and I left encouraged by the leadership, passion, and commitment of the people in the room.
