NEW ORLEANS (April 19, 2024) – Today, 1 Million Strong – an impact initiative created in partnership between The Phoenix, Stand Together Music, and Stand Together Foundation that seeks to transform the way people think about and approach addiction and recovery – announced its return to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the second year in a row. 1 Million Strong will host a sober-supportive retreat, featuring a VIP-like tent, mocktail happy hours, and daily recovery meet-ups led by The Phoenix to create a supportive community around sober festivalgoers, so all fans experience the best of Jazz Fest whether they choose to drink or not.
“We are proud to partner with 1 Million Strong for the second year to continue to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and has the support they need to have an optimal experience at Jazz Fest,” said Quint Davis, Producer/Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. “Last year, festivalgoers, staff, and artists were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about 1 Million Strong’s presence and we’re excited that their expanded activation this year will create even more opportunities for individuals in recovery and their allies to connect.”
The 1 Million Strong experience at Jazz Fest, located in the Southeast corner by the Jazz Fest Kid’s Area and Gentilly Entrance, is open to all festival attendees on both weekends, April 25 - 28 and May 2 - 5. It provides a space for individuals in recovery or sober and their allies to connect and enjoy craft mocktails. The tent opens daily at 11:00am (CT), featuring a recovery meet-up at 12:30pm and a mocktail happy hour from 3pm to 4pm, fostering a sense of community for sober festivalgoers and their allies.
With more than 48.7 million people struggling with substance use, there is a need to change the approach to addiction which currently treats people as deficient and isolates them from society. The Phoenix — a national sober active community that provides free, active, and meaningful programming to anyone impacted by substance use, including those in recovery and their allies, and anyone who chooses to live a sober lifestyle — is harnessing the innate power of community, empowerment and belonging as a long-term recovery model, so members can reach their full potential. 83% of their members report remaining sober after three months and report increased meaning in their lives.
"Partnering with Jazz Fest for the second year in a row underscores the ongoing importance of 1 Million Strong and what it stands for,” said Bill Taylor, Director of Music Strategy and Programs at The Phoenix and proud New Orleans native. “1 Million Strong is all about creating a strong sense of community around those who have been impacted by addiction, or choose to live a sober lifestyle, and empowering them to live their best lives, so no one is left outside the gates."
Over the past year and a half, 1 Million Strong has engaged thousands of fans in partnership with over a dozen renowned festivals across the country, including Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life, Stagecoach, and Luck Reunion, to name a few, catalyzing a movement around addiction recovery to create a more open society where everyone can reach their full potential.
“We are grateful to Jazz Fest for partnering with 1 Million Strong again to continue the important work of destigmatizing addiction recovery in the music industry and beyond, focusing on the power of community, so we can better support those impacted by addiction,” said Colette Weintraub, Head of Stand Together Music, Sports & Entertainment. “We are working to build a strong community of allies to the recovery movement so those in recovery can go from merely surviving to truly thriving and living their best life.”
For more information about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, visit www.nojazzfest.com. To learn about 1 Million Strong, visit www.1millionstrong.com.
###
About 1 Million Strong
1 Million Strong is committed to breaking down the barriers to sobriety for allies and their loved ones. We believe that the most powerful solutions are rooted in communities like The Phoenix, an organization that uses the transformative power of meaningful activity and social connection to help individuals impacted by substance use. To learn about 1 Million Strong visit,1MillionStrong.com. Join us on Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram.
About The Phoenix
The Phoenix is harnessing the power of connection and belonging to fuel a movement that changes how we approach addiction and recovery in this country and beyond. Founded in 2006, The Phoenix is a transformational non-profit that fosters a free sober active community for individuals impacted by substance use. Since launching programs in Colorado, over 430,000 people have joined The Phoenix community globally. By leveraging the intrinsic power of meaningful activity and social connection, community members find hope, empowerment, and increased meaning in their lives. The Phoenix events are free to anyone with at least 48 hours of continuous sobriety from alcohol and nonprescription drugs, including allies and supporters of those in recovery. The Phoenix helps individuals rise from the ashes of substance use and pursue lives full of hope. For more information about The Phoenix movement, visit www.thephoenix.org/movement, download The Phoenix app, or follow The Phoenix on Instagram.
About Stand Together Music:
Stand Together Music unites musicians and their teams with proven changemakers to co-create solutions to some of the most pressing problems in our country, including criminal justice reform, addiction recovery, education, free speech, and ending the war on drugs. To learn more about Stand Together Music visit, StandTogetherMusic.org.
