What an exciting beginning to the new year. On January 26 ROR founders Leslie and Lindsey Glass met First Lady Michelle Obama at Caren Lobo’s house on the bay in Sarasota. It was a great thrill to meet and be in this great lady’s presence as she talked about the accomplishments of the Obama administration and the plans for the President’s second term.

At Reach Out Recovery, we look back on 2011 with amazement that so much has been accomplished in such a sort time. We have made amazing new friends all over the country and are planning for great strides in promoting recovery as a national cause in 2012.

This is how the end of our 2011 shaped up. First came the documentary, The Secret World of Recovery. What a learning process it was to edit so much footage to find the right format for what we plan as a series of documentaries. We tried several versions. What was the right vision, the right tone, the right people to highlight and show? In its editing journey, The Secret World of Recovery went from 50 minutes to 68 minutes, then down to 45 minutes before it seemed right. The final cut was gleaned from 80 hours of extraordinary footage.  The film is now ready to be marketed for distribution and can be viewed online at www.IMDB.com. We had some guidance from experts. After our initial screening at the Van Wezel Center for Performing Arts in Sarasota and a second screening at the Straz Center in Tampa as part of DACCO’s celebration of National Recovery Month, we screened the film in Washington at SAMHSA in November and edited the new version which is suitable for classrooms and an hour TV show. We’re very excited about the final cut. Watch it on www.IMDB.com

But that was just the beginning. In the summer and fall we filmed a second documentary, this one about teens. We are now in the editing stage. This is our second movie using our new format. The Silent Majority is an inspiring film about teens and their mentors for audiences of every age. Want to hear some good news about solutions for teens who desperately need positive reinforcement against the culture of drinking, partying and drug use that has become the number 1 health issue for teens in America? This is the movie for your community. “The Silent Majority” tells the story of 4 innovative and positive programs teens that inspire community, teamwork, and personal responsibility.

 The Silent Majority will be screened for the public for the first time in Washington D.C. in April.  More information coming soon.

To continue our work, Leslie and Lindsey have applied for an Echoing Green Fellowship, as well as support from the Ford Foundation, ITVS, and other nonprofits that support film and social issues. In Florida, we are seeking leaders and sponsors interested in partnering to show the film to middle school and high school students in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, and to partner for a fundraiser for local charities in the fall.

Contact us. If you are interested in bringing one of our films to your organization for a screening, a film event, or a fund raiser, or are interested in sponsoring a new film.

To help our communities and our precious children be safe from drug and alcohol addiction or be supported in their recovery from addiction, DONATE NOW.

Reach Out Recovery is dedicated to collaborative solutions to the epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction that affects nearly every family in America.