Recovery Is Possible. Community Makes It Real.
The 2026 RAI Symposium brought together multiple sectors, lived experience, clinicians, advocates, and community leaders for two transformative days of learning, connection, and action.
Across May 7–8, attendees heard from nationally recognized voices – including keynote speaker Dr. John Kelly and Nicole Augustine – explored the cutting edge of recovery science, and walked away with tools, partnerships, and a renewed sense of purpose.
This wasn’t just a conference. It was proof of what happens when a community shows up for each other.
What some of our attendees had to say:
- “It has motivated me to change the way I practice.”
- “The knowledge and resources in this room will impact generations to come.”
- “Powerful when you add lived experience side by side with expertise — because experience is lived expertise.”
What Made the 2026 RAI Symposium Unforgettable
✦ Keynote by Dr. John Kelly, Harvard’s leading recovery researcher – the highest-rated session of the entire event. ✦ A groundbreaking AI workshop: “5 Ways AI Can Make Your Job Easier” – the most mentioned favorite among Day 2 attendees. ✦ Interactive case study tables that put real-world systems challenges in the hands of attendees – not just on a slide. ✦ Panels that wove lived experience and professional expertise together, session after session. ✦ 138 evaluation responses – nearly all rating every session at 4 or 5 out of 5. ✦ Connections across agencies, counties, and communities that attendees called “life-changing,” “transformative,” and “exactly what this field needs.”
The Conversation Doesn’t Stop Here.
The 2026 Symposium made one thing clear: this community is ready to go deeper.
That’s why we’re coming back this October for the RAI Summit – a focused, action-oriented gathering designed to help build a truly connected, statewide system of care.
Attendees have already told us what matters most to them:
↳ Mental Health & Its Intersection with Substance Use Disorder
↳ Prevention & Early Intervention
↳ Care Coordination & System Navigation
↳ Recovery Housing & Employment Pathways
↳ Policy, Funding & Sustainability
Save the Date – RAI SUMMIT October 8-9th at the McKimmon Center at NC State, Raleigh, NC