In 2004, The Johnson Institute founded America Honors Recovery, an annual awards program to recognize people who are in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol or other drugs and have given back to their communities so that future generations can experience the reality of recovery. Four years later, Faces & Voices of Recovery started the Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community annual awards program to recognize one local, state or regional recovery community organization for its success in assessing the specific needs of their community and carrying out a vision and mission of mobilizing resources within and outside the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
In 2009 The Johnson Institute transferred key programs including America Honors Recovery to Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy to keep the Johnson Institute’s 43-year legacy alive. This year, Faces & Voices and Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy are coming together to recognize one outstanding recovery community organization with the Joel Hernandez award and three outstanding individuals with the Vernon Johnson award.
America Honors Recovery will salute 2010’s most influential recovery community leaders and organizations as well as the legacies of Joel Hernandez and Vernon Johnson during an evening reception on July 28, 2010 in Washington, DC. We hope you’ll join us!
Past Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Honorees
2009
Pennslyvania Recovery Organization- Achieving Community together (PRO-ACT)
2008
Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR)
Past America Honors Recovery Honorees
2008
Steve Brugge- San Jose, CA
Robert Carter
Carol Colleran West- Palm Beach, FL
Elizabeth Currier- Cooperstown, NY
C. West Huddleston- Washington, DC
Merlyn Karst- Denver, CO
2007
Karen Casey-Elliot- Prior Lake, MN
Kitty S. Harris- Lubbock, TX
Benneth Lee- Chicago, IL
Domingo Rodriguez- Chandler, AZ
Donald Kurth- Alta Loma, CA
Carol McDaid- Washington, DC
2006
Peter Hayden- Minneapolis, MN
Mary Jane Hanley- Roaring Gap, NC
Lisa Mojer-Torres -Lawrenceville, NJ
Tom Hill- Washington, DC
Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones- Hood Detroit, MI
Phillip Valentine- Wethersfield, CT
2005
Elizabeth Scott- Westfield, NJ
Stacia Murphy-NYC, NY
Pat Snyder- Rocky Mount, NC
Tom McHale- Flint, MI
Jerry Moe- Rancho Mirage, CA
James McClain- Clinton, MD
Mark Helijas- White River Junction,VT
Jay Davidson- Louisville, KY
2004
Henry Lozano- Forest Falls, CA
David Whiters- Atlanta, GA
Susan Blacksher- Sacramento, CA
Jim Devine- Bethpage, NY
Nancy Whittier Dudley- Chevy Chase MD
John Shinholser- Richmond, VA
Don Coyhis- Colorado Springs, CO
Mel Schulstad- Sammamish, WA
- About the Joel Hernandez Award Recipient
- About the Vernon Johnson Award Recipients
- About Joel Hernandez and Vernon Johnson
- Awards Home
Faces & Voices of Recovery and Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy have joined together to host America Honors Recovery honoring the legacies of Joel Hernandez and Vernon Johnson. All contributions to the America Honors Recovery awards event will go to Faces & Voices of Recovery. For questions, please email or call Dannie Greenberg at (202)737-0690.
