WORCESTER, MA – April 2, 2025 – Quinsigamond Community College is hosting a screening of the documentary film “Recovery City” on Monday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hebert Auditorium of the main campus on 670 West Boylston St., Worcester. This event is free and open to the public. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the director and cast members.
“Recovery City” was directed by Lisa Olivieri and follows four women from Worcester who are either in recovery from drug addiction, or helping others with addiction recovery. The film received the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 GlobeDocs Film Festival and the 2024 Provincetown International Film Festival.
“Everyone's lives are touched by addiction and being able to pull back the curtain in our own community and see what these people's journeys have been, will be an eye-opening experience,” said QCC’s Director of Health and Wellness Heather Lukas, organizer of the screening.
Lukas wanted to screen the film on campus to spread awareness about local issues such as the hazardous effects of opioid abuse. Lukas has completed work with the Worcester Department of Public Health’s opioid taskforce and the state’s Community Naloxone Program (CNP), which has allowed QCC to offer education and distribution of naloxone with the goal of preventing death from an opioid overdose.
“The fact that this was filmed in Worcester over five years, doesn’t show active drug use, but shows the featured women doing well really sets this film apart from other documentaries on this subject,” Lukas said, adding, “This is a powerful film that is a must watch.”