Run for Your Life registration is now open!

Registration is now OPEN for our 11th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk! Register by Friday, July 29th for a special early bird rate and celebrate recovery with Odyssey House on September 24th.

The theme for Recovery Month 2016 is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery," which highlights the value of peer support by educating, mentoring, and helping others. It invites individuals in recovery and their support systems to be change agents in communities, and in civic and advocacy engagements.

Get more information.

Register Now!

I can't make it but I would like to support recovery.

We hope to see you in September!

Mark your calendar for the 11th Annual Run for Your Life event!

Join us at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island for music, entertainment, children’s activities and more in commemoration of National Recovery Month. This year, we'll also be celebrating Odyssey House's 50th anniversary! The fun begins at 9:30 am with children’s races. Online registration will open in July.

Celebrating Recovery Month: 10th Annual Run for Your Life

More than 1,000 people came out to Icahn Stadium on September 19th to show their support for men and women in treatment for substance use and mental health disorders at the 10th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk. WPIX reporter Jay Dow emceed the event, which also featured fitness competitions, zumba lessons, and children’s races and activities. 

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, though unable to attend, sent a message of support: “My administration has made it a priority to provide all our residents with access to quality health care, and in these efforts, it is essential that we address every facet of a person’s well-being, including their mental health. Under the leadership of First Lady Chirlane McCray and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, we are working to build a more inclusive mental health system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers. Odyssey House is an important ally in this mission, offering care and support to those suffering from mental illness, struggling with substance abuse disorders, or living with HIV/AIDS. Through its holistic counseling and rehabilitation programs, medical services, vocational training, housing assistance, and more, this organization helps individuals and families improve their lives and regain their dignity. Today’s event will enable Odyssey House to continue in its important work and celebrate the progress that its clients have achieved on the road to good health. I applaud this organization’s commitment to strengthening communities across our city."

Participants included clients from other NYC-based treatment agencies, friends and family of people in recovery, as well as representatives from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and our corporate partners. If you were unable to make it, visit our Flickr page to see the photos.

Thank you to everyone for making Run for Your Life such a successful event! 

Our Summer 2015 newsletter is now available!

The Summer 2015 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online. Read about our renovated medical clinic, latest art show, new services and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. Click here to read it (pdf). If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

And don't forget to join us on September 19th for our 10th Annual Run for Your Life celebration!

What is Your Spirit Animal?

“What is Your Spirit Animal?,” the eighth exhibition by members of Odyssey House Art Project, opens on Thursday, July 9th. Please join us for a festive reception with great food, refreshing beverages and more, while you view exciting new artwork by our clients.

For this year's show, members of the Odyssey House Art Project explored spirit animals as a means of expression. Click here to learn more and see a preview of the artwork.

Odyssey House Haven Art Gallery

Thursday, July 9, 4 - 7 pm

239 E. 121st St, New York, NY

RSVP!

Save the date! Run for Your Life celebrates 10 years

10th Annual Run for Your Life

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Join us at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island for music, entertainment, children’s activities and more in commemoration of National Recovery Month! The fun begins at 9:30 am with children’s races. Online registration will open in July.

Book launch party!

Please join Odyssey House as we celebrate the launch of Release: An Odyssey of Art and Recovery, a provocative book with over ninety artworks created by individuals living with substance use and mental health disorders.

Visit odysseyhouseart.org to preview the book and make a donation to receive a copy. All proceeds go directly to support the Odyssey House Art Project.

OPENING RECEPTION
Monday, November 24, 6-9 pm

LOCATION
Pablo's Birthday
57 Orchard Street, New York, NY

RSVP 
(requested, but not required)
212.361.1660 / cabrams@odysseyhouseinc.org

EXHIBITION
The artwork will remain on view November 24-26

Celebrating Recovery Month: 9th Annual Run for Your Life

More than 1,000 people came out to Icahn Stadium on September 20th to show their support for men and women in treatment for substance use and mental health disorders at the 9th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk. WPIX reporter Jay Dow emceed the event, which also featured fitness competitions, zumba lessons, and children’s races and activities.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, though unable to attend, sent a message of support: “My most important responsibilities as Mayor are to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers and provide people across the five boroughs with access to the resources they need to live good and fulfilling lives. For nearly five decades, Odyssey House has done just that, helping those struggling with substance abuse and people living with HIV/AIDS and mental illness to improve their lives...I am proud to join with all those gathered here at Icahn Stadium in applauding Odyssey House for its commitment to helping those in need, and together, we look forward to even more New Yorkers benefiting from its important work.”

Participants included clients from other NYC-based treatment agencies, friends and family of people in recovery, as well as representatives from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and our corporate partners. If you were unable to make it, check out this short news clip by Jay Dow, and visit our Flickr page to see the photos.

Thank you to everyone for making Run for Your Life such a successful event! 

Run for Your Life registration is now OPEN!

Registration is now OPEN for the 9th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk! Register by Friday, August 1st for a special early bird rate and celebrate recovery with Odyssey House on September 20th. 

This year's Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out," encourages people to openly discuss mental and substance use disorders and the reality of recovery. It aims to foster public understanding and acceptance of the benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery from behavioral health conditions. 

Register Now! 

Fundraise for Odyssey House 

Whether you walk, run, volunteer or just watch, we encourage everyone to raise funds. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Create your own FREE fundraising page on Crowdrise or FirstGiving. You can also download a pledge form (pdf). Proceeds from Run for Your Life support our programs that provide a safe, supportive residential community with an emphasis on beginning drug-free lives, family reunification, and educational and vocational training. 

We look forward to seeing you in September!

The Summer 2014 newsletter is now online

The Summer 2014 edition of Odyssey House News is now available! Read about our supportive housing openings, the latest art show, new grants, and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

Save the date for Run for Your Life 2014!

Mark your calendar! The 9th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk will be held on Saturday, September 20th. Join us at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island for music, entertainment, children’s activities and more in commemoration of National Recovery Month! The fun begins at 9 am with children’s races. Online registration will open in July.

First green supportive housing building opens in the Bronx

Odyssey House officially opened its first green supportive housing building on Thursday, April 10th. Located on Soundview Avenue, the building provides permanent housing for 56 single, low income adults living with special needs. We'll be posting more photos and details after our second building, Tinton Avenue, opens on April 24th. In the meantime, check out this post by our friends at the Supportive Housing Network of New York and watch this clip from News 12 Bronx.

Photo caption: Odyssey House management and board members gather to cut the ribbon. Front row, John Tavolacci, EVP, chief operating officer; Annise Weaver, senior director of admissions & residential support services; Peter Provet, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer; Colleen Beagen, VP, director of human resources; Stephen Gross, Marianne Guschwann, M.D., and George Rosenfeld, Odyssey House Board of Trustees; Durga Vallabhaneni, SVP, chief financial and administrative officer. Back row, Janice Slaughter, director of mental health and housing services; Jeff Savoy, VP, director of clinical support services; Darrin Brown, senior director of correctional & residential youth programs; Whittaker Wright, program director, Soundview Avenue and Tinton Avenue; Isobelle Surface, SVP, director of communications; Justin Mitchell, VP, director of adult residential services.

Two new supportive housing programs are now open

Please join us to celebrate the openings of our new supportive housing buildings!

Odyssey House Soundview Avenue provides permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for 56 single, low-income adults living with special needs and is our first green building. Odyssey House Tinton Avenue provides permanent supportive housing in the Bronx for 65 single, low-income adults living with special needs. Tenants in both buildings have access to Odyssey House's comprehensive social services programs, including substance use and mental health treatment, community-based recovery networks, medical and dental care, and educational and vocational services.

Each building offers a number of amenities, including community rooms and residential lounges; a communal dining room; 24-hour security; on-site laundry and gym facilities; and a large, landscaped backyard to encourage tenant interaction and activities.

RSVP for the Soundview Avenue ribbon cutting.

RSVP for the Tinton Avenue ribbon cutting.

Learn more about our housing programs and our commitment to responsible neighboorhood development.

The Fall 2013 Newsletter is now available!

The Fall 2013 edition of Odyssey House News is now available! Read about our recovery month events, how our corporate partners are supporting recovery, and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

Save the date: "Home" exhibition opens on Dec. 12th

“Home,” the seventh exhibition by members of Odyssey House Art Project, opens on Thursday, December 12th. Please join us for a festive reception with great food, hot apple cider and more, while you view exciting new artwork by our clients.

Odyssey House Haven Art Gallery

Thursday, December 12, 4 - 7 pm

239 E. 121st St, New York, NY

RSVP!

This year’s show explores “Home” as a place where we reside spiritually, physically and psychologically. Developing a new vision of “Home” is central to a strong recovery. Reaching a place of security and well-being within themselves prepares our clients to complete treatment and craft a functional and socially responsible life.

Check out a sneak preview of the artwork here.

Celebrate recovery month on Saturday!

The Odyssey House Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk is only 4 days away! Register today and show your support for individuals and families in recovery. 

Run for Your Life is more than just a race. Join us for a variety of family-friendly activities: 

• Zumba demonstrations 
• Children's races & games 
• Wellness booth and more! 

Register Now!

I can't make it but would like to support recovery. 

Run for Your Life is a National Recovery Month event in support of men and women in recovery from substance use disorders. This event increases awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, and promotes the message that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover. 

This year's Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Together on Pathways to Wellness," emphasizes that there are many unique ways people can prevent behavioral health issues, seek treatment, and sustain recovery. The theme also highlights the importance of mental, physical, and emotional well-being, as well as the value of family, friends, and community members throughout the recovery journey. 

Thank you for supporting recovery. We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrating 10 years of discovery through art

Odyssey House and global strategic branding firm Siegel+Gale celebrated ten years of creating art by members of the Odyssey House Art Project, men and women coping with substance abuse, mental illness, and homelessness.  This was the first curated show of paintings, photographs, and masks from an art collection a decade in the making. 

Dr. Peter Provet, president of Odyssey House, said: “The creation of art plays a critical role in the rejuvenation of the human spirit and provides a way of reaching sensitive issues embedded in the human psych. We encourage unschooled artists in treatment to identify archetypal themes such as childhood, family, and spiritual wholeness.

“This new show explores ‘Home’ as a place where we reside spiritually, physically and psychologically.  All too often home for our clients is a transitory and undefined place of dysfunction that limits their ability to lead fulfilling and healthy lives. Developing a new vision of ‘Home’ is central to a strong recovery. Reaching a place of security and well-being within themselves prepares our clients to complete treatment and craft a functional and socially responsible life.”

“This exhibition reveals the stories of a community of resilient individuals in recovery, and brings to light a body of work with power enough to engage and inspire us all,” said Justin Peters, Global Executive Creative Director. “Given Siegel+Gale's focus on helping organizations and individuals reach their true potential, we’re truly honored to host this celebration of creativity and join in marking the ten-year anniversary of this program."

To see more photos from the reception, visit our Flickr page.

Celebrate recovery with Odyssey House

Our 7th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk is TOMORROW, Saturday, September 29th. Come out to Randall's Island and show your support for individuals and families in treatment at Odyssey House. Register online until 5 pm today or register in person tomorrow. 

Schedule of Events: 
8:00 am - Registration opens 
9:00 am - Children's races 
10:00 am - 5K Run 
10:30 am - Recovery Walk 

Plus, the Knicks Groove Truck will be onsite holding skill competitions, free throw and 3-point shooting contests AND the Marines will be holding a Pull Up Challenge. You don't want to miss it! Register today.

Don't forget our online auction is open through October 6th. Click here to bid on tickets to sporting events, memorabilia, fine dining gift cards and more. Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping support our organization and mission.

Art show explores the search for wholeness

"Seeking Wholeness," an exhibition of mandala-inspired artwork, opened at the Haven Art Gallery in June. This is the sixth exhibition by members of the Odyssey House Art Project, composed of individuals in residential treatment for substance use and/or mental health disorders. This year's show explores mandalas as symbols of recovery and the search for spiritual wholeness. Artists, including the children of residents in treatment, were encouraged to use a variety of media, including painting, photography, needlepoint and a hand cranked spinning wheel, to capture the spirit embodied in these ancient images and portray how they continue to resonate and guide individuals in search of balance and wholeness.

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle." In various spiritual traditions, mandalas are used as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation. Preeminent psychologist Carl Jung saw the mandala as "an archetypal image whose occurrence is attested throughout the ages. It signifies the wholeness of the Self." He encouraged his patients to create them as "movement towards psychological growth, expressing the idea of a safe refuge, inner reconciliation and wholeness."

Artists interpreted the meaning of mandalas in different ways. Jose, an ElderCare client, created a visual interpretation of the baby boomer experience in the form of a clock. Using cut-out photos he created a circular timeline starting from 1945 to today. A self-taught artist, Jose gradually stopped making art until he joined the Odyssey House Art Project. “I was gratified to find I still had that creativity in me,” he said.

Fred, who entered our adult program in October 2010, found the art program to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences he’s had at Odyssey House. He says it provides balance to the clinical aspect and gives him something to look forward to every day. More than that, the art program has helped him relieve stress and given him a new perspective. “Art has a redemptive power,” he said. "No matter how dark your past is, you can use it to create something beautiful.”

“Seeking Wholeness” will be open through December 23, 2010 at the Haven Art Gallery, 239 E. 121st Street in Harlem. View additional selections from the exhibition on our website.

Get ready to "Run for Your Life!"

Mark your calendars! Our 6th Annual Run for Your Life 5K and Recovery Walk will take place on Saturday, September 24th at Icahn Stadium. Join us in celebrating Recovery Day in New York City with music, entertainment, children's activities and more! Online registration will open in early July. Check back soon for more details.