The Center for Recovery and Wellness is proud to call Big Vision a partner organization. Big Vision is a nonprofit organization that helps people in recovery develop meaningful relationships, have fun, and ultimately sustain their recovery through community experiences and lifestyle. In order to achieve this mission, they organize and run a wide variety of events that help people discover new interests and get out of their comfort zone.
For many people, the most difficult part of recovery is not treatment, but maintaining their recovery long term after they leave treatment. Big Vision was founded in 2015 by Eve Goldberg after her son Isaac passed away of an accidental overdose when he was 23.
“Everything that we do is in memory of Isaac,” says Christine Jeberg, Big Visions’ Director of Operations. “He went to treatment several times, but once he left there was no sense of where to go or how to live a new life. Usually when you leave treatment, they say, ‘here’s your therapist and here’s your AA meeting,’ but no one tells you, ‘On Friday night when all your other friends are doing this, where do you go?'”
“Eve noticed that it was a really big problem, that there’s nothing that makes recovery sound fun and would make someone want to continue doing it.â€
Big Vision provides this missing link between treatment and transitioning back to the real world. They help people sustain their recovery long term by providing the opportunity to make new connections and to build a healthy and fun lifestyle.
“We just did a rock-climbing event last night and we’ve also gone kayaking” Christine says enthusiastically. “But my favorite event is trapeze. I like to compare it to Big Vision and someone’s recovery journey where we’re the net that catches you if you fall.â€
In addition to adrenaline-filled activities, they also host more low-key events such as a theater workshop, knitting workshop, arts and craft classes, and much more.
“At our events, people can just go up to each other and say, ‘Hey, what’s your story?’ It might come out or it might not, but you know that we’re all in the same boat. It’s a great way to show that you can laugh and do all these things in recovery that you didn’t think were possible. We strive to show that a fun, sober lifestyle is very attainable,†says Christine.
Christine also likes to come to CRW and get feedback from clients on new activities and things they’d like to try doing sober. “People have given some amazing suggestions, we did paintball because someone had suggested it, comedy nights, you name it. I like to let everyone in our community know that you have a voice and let me know what it is that you want to see.
“When Eve started Big Vision, CRW was actually the first place that she went to. Ever since, we’ve had the most amazing group of people come to our events. I’ll never forget my first Big Vision event was mostly CRW Clients and everyone who comes is so grateful. I’ve had people say, ‘I’ve never laughed as hard in recovery, I didn’t think it was possible.’ It makes it all worth it, it’s so beautiful to see.â€