New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Features 1 Million Strong Sober-Supportive Wellness Retreat to Promote Inclusive Recovery Solutions

The Wellness Retreat will be hosted in conjunction with the Stand Together Foundation, Stand Together Music and The Phoenix April 28 – 30 and May 4 – 7

New Orleans, LA (April 24, 2023) – Today, 1 Million Strong, an impact initiative that seeks to transform the way people think about addiction and recovery, announced a partnership with the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival that will include a free sober-supportive wellness retreat experience for festivalgoers to cool down, recharge, and enjoy the music of Jazz Fest and alcohol-free cocktails in a relaxing environment.

“Having 1 Million Strong’s sober-supportive wellness tent at the event demonstrates that sobriety doesn’t mean that people in recovery can’t be a part of events such as this, but that there is a need to expand music culture to include sobriety,” said Bill Taylor, Director, Music Strategy and Programs, The Phoenix. “There is tremendous strength in coming together as a community to support one another, and that’s what these spaces are all about.”

The 1 Million Strong wellness experience at Jazz Fest is free and accessible to festivalgoers both weekends April 28 – 30 and May 4 – 7 and offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy mocktail happy hours and connect with people in recovery as well as allies to the recovery movement. The tent will open the same time Jazz Fest opens its gates at 11:00am (CT) daily.

“We are proud to partner with 1 Million Strong to, for the first time, make a wellness space part of this year’s festival — a meeting spot and retreat where individuals in recovery and allies can gather and connect with each other,” said Quint Davis, Producer/Director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. “We hope that this space will be a reflection of our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and celebrated.”

With more than 46.3 million people struggling with a substance use disorder, there is a need to change the approach to addiction which currently treats people as problems to be solved. The Phoenix is changing the experience of addiction and recovery by using the power of community, empowerment and belonging as a long-term approach to recovery. 83% of their members report remaining sober after three months and report increased meaning in their lives.

Over the past year, 1 Million Strong has served thousands of fans in partnership with various festivals and events across the country, including Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life, Park City Song Summit, and concerts by artists including The Chainsmokers, bringing new opportunities including mental health and wellness support and Phoenix-lead activities.

1 Million Strong is an initiative created as a partnership between Stand Together Foundation, which is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities, Stand Together Music, an organization that believes that the music industry is uniquely positioned to amplify and accelerate addiction recovery, and The Phoenix, which was founded on the mission to build a national sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we rise, recover, and live. The goal of 1 Million Strong is to support one million people in recovery through the strength of community – creating inclusive and engaging sober experiences and encouraging conversations about sobriety.

Learn more about how Stand Together Foundation and The Phoenix are working together to support alternative recovery solutions and how The Phoenix is working to create a sober active community.

For more information about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, visit www.nojazzfest.com. To learn about 1 Million Strong, visit www.1millionstrong.com.

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About 1 Million Strong 
Together with the music industry, 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 physical activity and social connection to help participants recover from addiction. 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 to build a movement that changes how we look at substance use disorder 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 recovering from substance use, their supporters, and those who choose to live a sober life. Since launching programs in Colorado, approximately 192,000 people have joined The Phoenix community globally. By leveraging the intrinsic power of physical activity and social connection, participants build confidence and find the support they need to live productive and fulfilling lives in recovery. 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. Instructors are either in recovery themselves or supporters with a strong tie to the mission and desire to make a difference. The Phoenix helps individuals rise from the ashes of addiction 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.

About Stand Together Foundation

Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed over $120 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives out of poverty. Learn more at StandTogetherFoundation.org.