Event Overview
The commUNITY conference is an annual event, hosted by Unity Recovery and Alano Club of Portland, convening a multi-stakeholder group focused on the innovative and impactful peer-design and peer-led programs and services in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. Over the course of three days, attendees will expect to participate in a diverse array of plenary sessions, interactive workshops, emerging research, and seminars on topics ranging from peer support services, community-based harm reduction services, low-threshold peer-led housing programs, and more.
Target Audiences:
The ideal attendees for the commUNITY conference are peer support workers, harm reductionists, people with lived and living experience including those who use drugs and identify as in recovery or living with mental health and substance use concerns, clinical and medical professionals, recovery community organization staff, community advocates, policy makers and government officials, third party payors (insurance companies including commercial and public), philanthropic foundations, housing and behavioral health administrators, and community members who work in or have a passion for community-based services and programs designed and led by peers.
Learning and Education Domains:
Learning and education domains may include any topic related directly or indirectly to peer led programs and services. Examples of acceptable and encouraged domains include:
- General Peer Recovery Support Services
- Community-based Harm Reduction Services
- Recovery Friendly Workplaces
- Forensic/Re-entry Peer Support
- Family Peer Support
- Pregnant and Postpartum Peer Support
- LGBTQIA+ Peer Support
- Peer Support Supervision
- Recovery Community Organizations
- Peer Respites
- Peer-run Housing Programs (Recovery Residences, SRO, PSH, etc)
- Overdose Prevention and Response
- Digital and Virtual Peer Services
- Advocacy and Political Engagement
- Peer Ethics and Service Delivery
- Street-based Outreach Services
- Peer Support Services Financing
Delivery Formats and Accessibility:
The commUNITY conference is facilitated as a hybrid event featuring content delivery in-person, digitally through video sessions, and virtually through VR in the RecoveryVerse. In order to reduce the disparities in access for a variety of stakeholders, registration is capped at $50 per person for in person attendance, and $25 for virtual and digital participation.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are used for each in person session and digital content uses closed captioning (note: virtual reality participation does not offer these services at this time due to technology limitations). The in-person venue is selected to be readily accessible to guests of different physical abilities with a dedicated team focused on addressing any accessibility concerns that may arise on site. On-site childcare services and nursing/pumping rooms are also available for all attendees at no additional cost. For out-of-town attendees, support with maintaining medication doses is also available via the organizers. This includes support in navigating out of state/location methadone and buprenorphine where available.
Inclusion Policy:
The commUNITY conference is an intentional space that seeks to include, welcome, and make ample space for stakeholders of different identities, experiences, characteristics, and lifestyle choices. Educational content and guest behavior that is stigmatizing or otherwise discriminatory is not allowed. All networking events as part of the formal agenda do not feature alcohol but do offer zero proof and non-alcoholic spirits for attendees.
Unpaid Labor Policy:
The commUNITY conference does not use volunteers to staff the conference as we believe all individuals time should be fairly compensated without exception. Any individual participating in a planning committee, advisory review board, or staffing of the event itself is paid for their time via hourly wages or honoraria.
Sponsorship & Underwriting Tiers
Exhibitor Hall:
- 10x20 space: $2,500 | 10 available
- 10x10 space: $1,500 | 30 available
Bronze:
- Scholarship Sponsor: $2,000 | 10 available
- Morning Physical Activity: $2,500 | 3 available
- Lanyards: $4,000 | 1 available
- Session Journals: $4,000 | 1 available
Silver:
- Event Breaks: $5,000 | 6 available
- Badges: $6,000 | 1 available
- Attendee Bags: $6,000 | 1 available
- Hydroflasks (Water Bottles): $6,000 | 1 available
- Charging Station and Wifi Sponsor: $7,000 | 1 available
Gold:
- Headshot Professional Lounge: $10,000 | 1 available
- Breakfast Sponsor: $10,000 | 3 available
- Rest Lounge: $10,000 | 1 available
- Lunch Sponsor: $12,000 | 3 available
Platinum:
- Attendee Childcare Sponsor: $15,000 | 1 available
- VIP Reception: $15,000 | 1 available
- Conference Co-host: $25,000 | 1 available