Local Chicago organizations and faith leaders will hold a faith leaders’ brunch to discuss the drug use issue in the community through a lens of compassion. The goal of this event is to educate people to better understand the substance use issue and to foster a more compassionate conversation around this topic.
“Substance use disorder has been cast as an issue of morality when it shouldn’t be,” said Fanya Burford-Berry, director of the West Side Heroin and Opioid Task Force and a pastor.
The free event will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature an eggs and bacon brunch provided by Splyt\n/Half restaurant.
The event is organized by Rev. Dr. Charles Brown, Emergent, Rush Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence, Chicago Department of Public Health, Westside ROSC Council, South Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, Splyt\n/Half, Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, and West Side Heroin and Opioid Task Force.
During the event, there will be presentations about harm reduction, removing the stigma around drug use, educating people about the medical terminology of drug use, and preventing the use of harmful language around drug use.
Burford-Berry said while they do not condone drug use, they are committed to addressing the issue with empathy rather than judgment.
To RSVP for the event, scan the QR code on the flyer above or follow this link.