Posted on September 22, 2023 by Heather Adams

SOS Berks Mural Dedication Set for Friday, Sept. 29

The new mural celebrates recovery from substance use disorder. It consists of 60 panels and engaged an estimated 1,000 volunteers who participated in community painting events.

SOS Berks Mural Dedication Set for Friday, Sept. 29

by Council on Chemical Abuse

What: A mural dedication recognizing the completion of the first SOS Berks recovery-themed mural,  Mi Recuperación, Mi Familia (My Recovery, My Family).

When: Friday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m.

Where: The mural is located on the corner of 9th and Oley Streets in Reading. Address is 830 Oley St. Parking is available on-street and at the nearby Save A Lot parking lot.

Speakers will include: Berks County officials | SOS Berks Officials | Lead artist Leslie Ramos | Mural Coordinator Mike Miller | Recovery Coaching Services CEO Jose Lugo

Details:  The mural, Mi Recuperación, Mi Familia (My Recovery, My Family), was sponsored by the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition, in partnership with Albright College Total Experience Learning and Berks Community Murals. It was designed by Berks County artist Leslie Ramos and coordinated by Mike Miller, Artist-in-Residence at Albright College. The project was funded by the Council on Chemical Abuse through money received from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

The artwork was painted off-site on 60 five-foot-long panels that engaged an estimated 1,000 community members at various painting sessions from February through June 2023. It was installed in August 2023. It depicts the recovery story of Jose Lugo, who struggled with substance use disorder for many years. He credits his recovery to the support of his family and his memories of his childhood in Puerto Rico. Today, he is the President/CEO of Recovery Coaching Services, Inc.

SOS Berks hopes to install a series of murals in Berks County that focus on recovery from substance use disorder. The murals will expand on a stigma reduction campaign that SOS Berks created several years ago, promoting the theme “Addiction Doesn’t Define Anyone.”

A second SOS Berks mural, Switching Gears, will be located at 11th and Richmond Streets, on a building owned by Albright College. Painting on that mural is expected to be completed this fall.

About SOS Berks: SOS Berks is a coalition of Berks County community members who have joined together in an effort to reduce overdose deaths throughout the county. The coalition is invested in educating our community about the disease of a substance use disorder, raising awareness about stigma, and providing information about resources available for prevention, treatment, and recovery in Berks County. For more information on SOS Berks, please visit sosberks.org.

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