Hope on Wheels: Ryan Hampton Reflects on Epic “Mobilize Recovery Across America” Bus Tour
This Q&A, facilitated by Jeremiah Gardner of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, was originally published for Hazelden Betty Ford’s monthly Recovery Advocacy Update. If you’d like to receive our advocacy emails, subscribe today.
If anyone other than Ryan Hampton had proposed the idea of touring the country in a bus and visiting 27 cities in a single month to spread the word of recovery everywhere from fire stations, parking lots and cafes to state Capitols, Congress and the White House, it might have seemed too ambitious to pull off. But with Ryan, just like recovery, everything seems possible. In just a few short years, the Mobilize Recovery founder has rocketed to the center of America’s rising addiction recovery advocacy movement, spearheading many successful advocacy initiatives. With two books to his name and online content that reaches millions each month, he has connected a vast network of people who are passionate about ending the addiction crisis and is inspiring a new generation of people recovering out loud through his Voices Project. So, when Ryan asked Hazelden Betty Ford to be among the sponsors for his self-described “crazy idea,” it seemed — as they say — so crazy it just might work!
Mobilize Recovery Across America was incredible. We were honored to welcome the bus to events in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and to also participate in events in Washington, DC; New York City; and Spokane, Washington. Ryan and the tireless team he brought together were on the go for 31 days and nights, stitching together mobilizations with community partners everywhere. We checked in with him to get post-tour reflections, expecting to hear exhaustion. There was a little of that, to be sure, but also a healthy reserve of energy and inspiration. He said it’s just the beginning.
For more on Mobilize Recovery Across America 2022, including short, powerful videos documenting every stop, visit the iHeart National Recovery Month website.
As an example, here’s the great video from the Minnesota stop!
