Bowling Green came alive Saturday, Sept. 6th with the sounds of music and laughter as neighbors gathered for the Recovery in Unity Block Party in the parking lots of One Song Church and Clean Line Tattoos.
The event hosted by Clean Line Tattoos and the nonprofit organization Unity Through Recovery highlighted themes of healing and community.
Dozens of vendors lined the street in tents and ponchos as community members filed in. Despite the rain that was present for most of the event, patrons still attended.
Beyond the fun, Rachel Wheat Jackson, co-founder of Unity Through Recovery, said the purpose was to show that recovery is possible and that no one has to walk the road alone.
Jackson said she has led the organization since 2019, when it began as the “Freedom Through Recovery Rally”.
In 2023, the organization took a year off from hosting the annual rally. Many were disheartened to hear the news, one of those being Amanda Nichols, manager and body piercer at Clean Line Tattoos and co-founder of Unity Through Recovery.
After finding out about the break, Nichols said she made the courageous move to plan and host a block party event with the same theme in the parking lot of the tattoo shop. Nichols said she planned the entire event in 30 days, and it “went off without a hitch.”
Jackson and Nichols joined forces to build Unity Through Recovery and the block party that we know today, Nichols said.
“Change is scary, whether that’s with your mental health or substance use,” Jackson said. “The unknown is sometimes paralyzing, even when what’s known and familiar is so uncomfortable.”
Jackson also said that she hopes the event inspires people to take steps toward healing.
Nichols said that the block party was held in partnership with local nonprofits and treatment centers. Representatives from groups like Bridge to Recovery set up tables to share information about treatment options, peer support groups and other resources for individuals and families affected by substance use.
Shera Loeser, a representative of Bridge to Recovery, said she has been working with Unity Through Recovery since they started.
“Having events like this is critical so that people know what’s available to them,” Loeser said. “Being connected is a vital part of recovery.”
Chris “Hero” Bishop, an artist at Clean Line Tattoos, who has been sober for 20 years, said the event provided a chance to connect with others who understand the challenge of addiction. He also said that for many in attendance, the block party was more than a social gathering; it was a milestone.
“In society, it’s really cool to be a fuck-up and to drink and do drugs,” Bishop said. “It can make sober people feel ostracized, but you don’t have to feel like that when you’re walking around with a bunch of motherfuckers like you.”
Jackson said that she wanted the atmosphere to reflect joy and community. She also said that she wants it to be a reminder that recovery isn’t just about surviving but thriving.
The block party displays a glimpse into a broader movement to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. Nichols said that the event ties in with the mission of National Recovery Month.
“A lot of addiction in general still has a bad stigma towards it,” Nichols said. ”There’s a lot of judgment.”
Nichols said that tattoo culture in particular has long carried a reputation for substance use.
“It’s really hard to stay sober when the industry is plagued with it,” Nichols said.
She said she recalls seeing a shop in Michigan with a similar concept. From there, she said that she and her husband developed a plan to open their shop in Bowling Green, making it the only recovery-centered studio in Kentucky.
The event also featured inspirational speakers such as Bambi Adams and performances from groups like Anointed Productions.
Andre Mitchell and Tommie Kemp make up the two-man team of Anointed Productions, a Christian hip-hop group from Russellville, according to their Facebook. Mitchell, who has been sober for 13 years, said his mission is to inspire others.
“If there’s one thing I hope people take home from today, it’s encouragement,” Mitchell said. “No matter where they are in life, they can overcome.”
