01/23/2026
🎉 North Carolina’s First Connect Appalachia Recovery Friendly Workplaces Are Official! 🎉
Featuring RFNC Advisors: Kit Roberts (WCI, Inc.) & Mindy Wright (Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness)
🏆 The Appalachian Regional Commission recently announced a $9.2 million ARISE award to the Fletcher Group to launch Connect Appalachia, a regional initiative to advance job readiness and employment opportunities for individuals in recovery across six states. North Carolina’s hub for this effort is Recovery Friendly NC (RFNC), housed at Recovery Revolution, serving as the state anchor.
We’re excited to celebrate a HUGE milestone for Recovery Friendly NC and Connect Appalachia! Under the ARC-funded initiative, North Carolina has officially designated its first Recovery Friendly Workplaces — thanks to the leadership and collaboration of our RFNC Advisors, Kit Roberts (WCI, Inc.) and Mindy Wright (Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness).
👏 Congratulations to our newly designated Recovery Friendly Workplaces:
🏅 CareReach
🏅 Freedom Life Ministries
🏅 High Country Community Health
🏅 McDowell Partnership for Substance Awareness
These organizations are leading the way in reducing stigma, supporting wellness, and strengthening our region’s recovery-ready workforce.
🔦 Advisor Spotlight
Kit Roberts: Director, Recovery Friendly Workplace Programs — WCI, Inc.
💼 Kit is a certified professional coach, corporate trainer, and Recovery Friendly Workplaces consultant with WCI, Inc. She is recognized for her expertise in organizational well‑being, employee wellness, recovery‑ready workforce development, and leadership coaching.
Her driving mission is to help people discover purpose and potential—professionally and personally—while helping employers shape compassionate, resilient workplace cultures.
🌟 Why Kit’s Role Matters:
As the first NC Recovery Friendly Workplace designations under the Connect Appalachia grant were implemented, Kit’s leadership, training expertise, and cross‑sector employer engagement were crucial to moving these designations forward.
Mindy Wright: ARC Coordinator & Project Coordinator – F.R.E.E. Program
Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness
🤝 Mindy is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and the Project Coordinator for the Foothills Recovery and Employment Ecosystem (FREE)—a program supporting individuals impacted by SUD in Rutherford, Polk, McDowell, and Cleveland counties.
Mindy:
🔗 Connects individuals in recovery to employment and community resources.
📚 Trains employers interested in becoming certified Recovery Friendly Workplaces.
🎤 Serves as facilitator for RFNC designation trainings.
Mindy’s facilitation approach emphasizes community engagement, harm‑reduction principles, and practical workforce pathways for individuals impacted by SUD.
🌟 Why Mindy’s Role Matters:
Mindy is creating ripple effects of hope that extend far beyond the workplace and into families and communities. Her leadership is strengthening the recovery ecosystem in North Carolina and helping employers see recovery as a workforce asset — not a barrier.
🗣️ In Their Words
“Every designation represents a ripple of hope — one that extends far beyond the workplace and into families and communities.” -Kit Roberts
“This program bridges the gap between recovery and employment by connecting people with stable opportunities and educating employers who want to support a healthier, more inclusive workforce.” -Mindy Wright
💡 Why Advisors Like Kit & Mindy Are Indispensable
Recovery Friendly NC is built on a dual‑support model:
🧑💼 Advisors (Employer-Focused) – guiding and training workplaces, fostering stigma‑free cultures.
🧑🤝🧑 Advocates (Employee-Focused) – providing direct supports for individuals in or seeking recovery.
Kit and Mindy exemplify this model—bringing professional expertise, lived experience, and genuine empathy to their regions. Their leadership helps drive the RFNC mission forward through:
🤝 Relationship‑building with employers
🎓 High‑quality training delivery
🌐 Cross‑sector collaboration
💪 Elevating recovery as a workforce asset
🏳️🌈 Reducing stigma while expanding opportunity
Their work is not only transforming workplaces—it’s strengthening entire communities.
🙏 Gratitude
Recovery Friendly NC is deeply honored to work alongside dedicated advisors like Kit and Mindy, whose leadership and compassion drive this movement forward every day. Their commitment embodies what it means to support both employers and individuals in recovery with dignity, skill, and heart.