April 29, 2026
Annual conference brings together experts in peer‑led recovery and harm reduction
Manchester, NH – SOS Recovery Community Organization (SOS) concluded its sixth annual RICH (Recovery, Inclusion, Community & Harm Reduction) Conference, held Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. Widely recognized as the Northeast’s premier peer‑recovery and harm reduction conference, the event featured nationally recognized speakers and more than a dozen breakout sessions focused on innovations in peer‑based recovery support and harm reduction programs and services, with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The conference brought together leaders, advocates, clinicians, peers and community members from across New England for two days of education, collaboration and connection. The nearly 300 attendees represented a broad range of sectors, including prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, healthcare, mental health, social services, education, first response and public policy, alongside individuals and families impacted by substance use and allies of the recovery and harm reduction community.
“The RICH Conference continues to serve as a powerful reminder that the most effective solutions come from community, collaboration and centering lived experience,” said SOS Executive Director John Burns. “From the powerful conversations throughout the conference to the recognition of leaders through our awards, including those whose work has shaped recovery and harm reduction across our state, this year’s RICH Conference reaffirmed that peer‑based, equity‑centered solutions are essential to saving lives and building healthier communities in New Hampshire and beyond.”
Keynote presentations were delivered by leaders at the forefront of peer-based recovery and harm reduction, including Drug Policy Alliance Executive Director Kassandra Frederique, Mobilize Recovery Co-Founder Ryan Hampton, Red’s Good Vibes Co-Founder Caitlin McGrath Levesque and OnPoint NYC Executive Director Sam Rivera.
Additionally, the conference featured dynamic breakout sessions highlighting innovative peer-based recovery models, harm reduction strategies and community-driven responses to substance use and overdose prevention. Sessions fostered thoughtful discussion on lived and living experience, workforce development, equity‑centered practices and systems‑level change, leaving attendees with concrete, actionable tools to strengthen their work in communities across the region.
A special awards ceremony was also held during the conference, recognizing individuals whose leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on recovery and harm reduction efforts, particularly through advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
The 2026 Arthur Woodard Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was presented to Robert Richard-Snipes in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the recovery and harm reduction communities. A former SOS employee, Richard-Snipes previously served as the organization’s Quality Improvement Coordinator and brings a strong background in both practice and policy. He holds an Addiction Recovery Certificate from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) College of Professional Studies and a Master of Arts in community development from the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy.
A long‑time advocate for equity and community engagement, Richard-Snipes has worked tirelessly on behalf of New Hampshire’s most vulnerable populations through multiple social service agencies, board service and leadership roles. He currently works at the Greater Nashua Mental Health Center and serves as Board President of Black Lives Matter NH. In 2022, he was honored with the Seacoast Excellence Award from Black Lives Matter Seacoast.
SOS also presented its first‑ever SOS Recovery Legacy Award to Cheryle Pacapelli, honoring her decades of transformative contributions to recovery communities in both Connecticut and New Hampshire. Pacapelli currently serves as Project Director at Harbor Care, where she oversees funding and support for 20 recovery community centers across New Hampshire. As she prepares for retirement following the conference, SOS proudly recognized her enduring leadership, mentorship and commitment to strengthening recovery infrastructure and cultivating the next generation of peer leaders.
The RICH conference featured a strong lineup of exhibitors and sponsors, showcasing organizations, programs and resources advancing recovery and harm reduction efforts throughout the region. The exhibitor hall, showcasing organizations such as Granite United Way, Hope on Haven Hill, New Futures, Revive Recovery Resource Center, Smoke Works, Collaborative for Advancing Rural Excellence & Equity and Reduce Harm Inc., served as a hub for networking, education and partnership-building.
Several themes emerged as standout takeaways for attendees:
The power of peer‑led and community‑based solutions in supporting recovery and reducing harm
The importance of centering equity, inclusion and lived experience in policy and practice
Growing momentum for innovation and collaboration across prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction systems
Renewed commitment to advocacy and systems change at the local, state and regional levels
Sponsors of the RICH Conference included Harbor Care (Diamond Sponsor), Kennebunk Savings Bank and New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (Platinum Sponsors), Addiction Supports & Advocacy Professional Alliance of New Hampshire (Bronze Sponsor), Collaborative for Advancing Rural Excellence & Equity (Ambassador Sponsor), MD Weaver, Hypertherm Associates, WellSense Health Plan, Northeast Delta Dental and Piscataqua Savings Bank (Friend Sponsors) and Granite State Credit Union (Supporter Sponsor).
For more information on SOS, visit sosrco.org.
