028 Mother Turns Grief into Hope | Staci James

In this episode of "Longterm: A Podcast in Recovery," host Ti King sits down with Staci James, the Executive Director of Hope Movement Coalition. Staci shares her deeply personal story of losing her 22-year-old son, Hagen, to a drug-related death. This tragedy inspired her to create Hope Movement Coalition to support other families impacted by the opioid and fentanyl crisis.

The podcast explores the annual "Bridge the Gap" event in Little Rock, where families gather to honor their lost loved ones and find support. Attendees like Samantha Rudd and Carmen Jones share how the event helps them remember their children, Brittani and Jasmine, and provides a sense of community. Staci emphasizes the importance of continuing these conversations to "stop the stigma" and allow families to talk openly about their loss without shame. The event has grown significantly, with over 1,000 attendees from 11 states last year, showing the vital need for this support resource.

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