MANCHESTER, NH – The Board of Directors for Hope for NH Recovery has selected Randy Stevens as Executive Director, following the departure last year of longtime leader Keith Howard.
“I am thrilled to be joining a team that is so passionate about supporting this community. Personally and professionally I have been a part of Manchester for the past few years and know that there is an ongoing need for a safe place for people seeking recovery,” said Stevens. “Hope has continued to be a beacon of light for many living in and around the city. My hope is to see this light grow even brighter as we address the growing needs of the population we serve.”
Hope’s focus is on peer-to-peer recovery support for those struggling with problematic substance use. The community center offers peer-based recovery coaching, a safe place for people to gather, and space for meetings and groups representing a variety of pathways to recovery. As Executive Director, Stevens will be responsible for creating partnerships and relationships with the community. His duties include staff and operational management, strategic planning, and development, in addition to emphasizing the value of lived experience in the role of peer support, through professional enhancement.
Stevens comes to Hope Recovery from The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative led by the Governor’s Office, administered through Granite United Way, where he most recently worked as a Recovery Friendly Advisor. Stevens’ qualifications for leading Hope are built out of his personal experience in recovery along with extensive work in the mental health field. These elements have shaped Stevens to be a leader who centers each person’s whole experience of life in their recovery. His integrative approach to helping each individual find recovery as a whole person within the recovery community makes us very excited for the days ahead at Hope for NH Recovery.
Stevens takes the helm March 18, replacing Keith Howard, who led the organization since 2018 until his resignation last October due to health issues.
Hope for NH Recovery opened its Manchester Community Center in 2015. After a couple of location changes to accommodate growing demand, the center landed at 293 Wilson St. which has nearly 1,000 visits weekly.
For a more in-depth understanding of Stevens’ personal journey, a video is available from his time working at The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester below.