Washington, DC (September 2025) – The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) will host its upcoming Coffee Connections – Advocacy Session in recognition of National Recovery Month. This virtual event, presented in partnership with the Legal Action Center, will bring together national and local leaders to discuss urgent advocacy issues impacting prevention, treatment, and recovery services across the country.
NCADD Coffee Connections – Advocacy Session
Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Location: Washington, DC (Virtual via Zoom)
Register to Attend: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_Yj_kt7WQtK68SQoA1wJdw
The session will open with remarks from Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA, Executive Director of NCADD National, highlighting organizational updates and the urgent need for unified advocacy as prevention and treatment programs face shifting federal and state landscapes. The discussion will be moderated by Nancy Rosen-Cohen, MBA, Executive Director of NCADD Maryland, NCADD Board Treasurer, and Advocacy Chairperson, who will guide an engaging hour of dialogue with leaders representing NCADD Member Affiliates throughout the country.
Featured speakers include:
- Jenny Armbruster, Executive Director, PreventEd (St. Louis, MO), and NCADD Board Member, who will address the consequences of prevention defunding on community programs.
- Michael Ballue, Vice President of Strategic Development, Behavioral Health Services (Torrance, CA), and NCADD Board Member, who will discuss Medicaid reductions and the future of behavioral health care.
- Summer Brancoccio, Executive Director, National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, Inc. (NCAAR) (New Jersey), and NCADD Board Member, who will explore the ripple effects of harm reduction funding cuts.
- Nichole Dawsey, Executive Director, Addiction Prevention Coalition (Birmingham, AL), and NCADD Board Member, who will share grassroots strategies emerging in the South.
- Teresa Miller, J.D., National Director of Health Initiatives, Legal Action Center (New York, NY), who will frame the broader funding and policy challenges shaping today’s advocacy environment.
In addition to these spotlight presentations, NCADD Member Affiliates representing the North, South, East, and West will share reflections on how these issues are playing out in their communities. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion on building collective strategies, campaigns, and shared messaging to strengthen advocacy nationwide.
“National Recovery Month is a time to reflect on progress, but also to take a hard look at the challenges that lie ahead,” said Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA, Executive Director of NCADD National. “By coming together, listening to one another, and strategizing as a collective, we can strengthen advocacy efforts and protect life-saving prevention, treatment, and recovery services nationwide.”
This free virtual event provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from leaders on the frontlines of prevention, treatment, and recovery advocacy. NCADD encourages professionals, policymakers, and community members to register and take part in this important conversation.