March 4, 2026
9:30am-3pm
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Culver Family Welcome Center
625 Pearl Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901
The 2026 We Heart You: Recovery in Our Community event focused on bridging the recovery community with the broader community to break the silence, reduce stigma, and save lives. In light of federal funding cuts and the uncertain future for many local programs, we saw this as a powerful opportunity to return to our roots and uplift the inspiring stories of recovery happening right here in our own backyard. The event featured a mix of local and statewide voices whose lived experiences and professional expertise inspired, educated, and united those in attendance. This approach honored the incredible work being done within our own community, strengthened our connections, and celebrated the resilience that defines us. By focusing on the assets we already had, we moved forward together with renewed purpose and pride. Through these efforts, we worked to stop the shame and stigma around addiction, which have contributed to increased substance use and overdose deaths. The support we received helped us continue building a community where recovery is celebrated, stigma is replaced with understanding, and lives are saved.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:
Lead Sponsors: Nova Counseling and JEK Foundation
Champion Sponsors: Vital Strategies, Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes, Breakwater, Rogers Behavioral Health, ThedaCare, Fox Valley - HERC, and Support Provided by the Medical Staff at Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh/FDL, and the Overdose Response Network
Community Sponsors: Apricity, Recovery.com, Govani Gives, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Wisconsin Wellness, Mirrorless Productions, Ascension, Collaborative Wellness, Solutions Recovery, and Winnebago County Human Services
For any questions about the event email Jennifer at jskolaski@winnebagocountywi.gov
The Secret Sauce: Five Secret Ingredients For Helping Clients Sustain Substance Use Recovery Long Term
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international behavioral health speaker, consultant, author, and educator whose work has reached audiences across the United States and abroad. He is the recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards, author of five books on behavioral health recovery, and co-author of the influential monograph Recovery Management. Mark has taught at several universities, contributed to trauma-informed violence prevention work, and co-founded Serenity Academy Chicago, which supports recovery-oriented peer groups in local high schools.
Keynote: Mark Sanders
Emcee: Tom Farley
Tom Farley grew up in Madison, WI, and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Marketing. He began his career in banking and finance before running The Chris Farley Foundation (1999–2012), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on substance abuse prevention. Through humor-based programs, he helped young people build communication skills and create supportive environments. Now in recovery himself, Tom is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction treatment. He works at Recovery.com, connecting people with the resources they need to heal. As a speaker, he shares his journey to break stigma, inspire hope, and foster connection. Tom lives in Madison, WI.
The event included Breakout Sessions on:
Families in Recovery: Challenges, Strengths, and Community Voices.
This breakout session explored the unique experiences of parenting while in recovery, highlighting both the challenges and the strengths that come with rebuilding family connections and navigating community systems. Building on the 2023 Winnebago County Health Department’s community conversations with parents in recovery, the session shared key findings from those discussions, including common barriers, local gaps in support, and what parents envisioned for a more recovery-friendly community. Watch the recording here.
Drug Trends and Awareness in Northeast Wisconsin: A Community Wake-Up Call.
Jerimiah Winscher delivered an insightful and powerful presentation on current drug trends and awareness across Northeast Wisconsin. His session highlighted the evolving landscape of substance use in our region and offered data-driven insights on emerging substances, local overdose patterns, and the community impact of shifting drug availability.
With a focus on prevention and early intervention, Jerimiah emphasized the importance of collaboration among public health, law enforcement, treatment providers, and community partners. Attendees left better informed and motivated to take actionable steps toward saving lives and supporting recovery in their communities. We are not able to share a recording of this presentation.
Beyond Drugs and Alcohol: Understanding Cross Addictions.
Addiction extended far beyond substances, touching many aspects of modern life. This session, Beyond Drugs and Alcohol: Understanding Cross Addictions, explored the growing prevalence of behavioral addictions such as gambling, digital and technology dependence, eating-related disorders, and other compulsive behaviors that often went unnoticed.
Participants gained insight into how these addictions developed, their connections to mental health and substance use, and why they were often under-discussed, under-assessed, and under-diagnosed in behavioral health and medical settings. The session highlighted practical screening tools, warning signs, and strategies for providers, families, and communities to better identify and support individuals struggling with cross-addictions, ultimately promoting a more holistic understanding of recovery and wellness. Watch the recording here.
