Honoring Hazelden

Sara Glassman, Star Tribune

Jim and Kathryn Ramstad with Nick Motu

By Story and photos by sara glassman, Star Tribune

Last update: October 24, 2009 - 6:45 PM

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At a reception celebrating Hazelden's 60th anniversary, guests schmoozed, shook hands and chatted enthusiastically in the reception hall of the Depot in downtown Minneapolis, just as they would at any other bustling party. Instead of champagne and wine, they toasted the occasion with water.

"It's remarkable the people who have been affected," said Mark Mishek, Hazelden president and CEO. "Tonight is a night of gratitude, thanking everyone who made this a great institution."

The guest speaker was Christopher Kennedy Lawford, who wrote about his own struggles in "Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption." While he never attended Hazelden himself, he knows of its reputation. "It was the Mecca for treatment," he said.

His current focus is on public policy. "How do we find dollars to effectively treat people with this illness?" Kennedy asked, noting that most have to take 90 days off from work for treatment.

The event was all about celebrating the Minnesota-based substance abuse treatment center, which has been a leader in the recovery community. "There have been six decades of experience, strength and hope," said William Moyers, the son of Bill Moyers and vice president of foundation relations, who chronicled his own experiences in "Broken." "This is the heart and soul."

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177

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