Albuquerque council proclaims September 2025 National Recovery Month, honors Serenity Mesa’s 10th anniversary

The Albuquerque City Council on Sept. 3 issued proclamations recognizing National Recovery Month and marking the 10th anniversary of Serenity Mesa, a youth-focused recovery and treatment program.

Why it matters: The proclamations called attention to local behavioral-health resources, public events this month and the city’s collaborations with community organizations that provide treatment, transitional housing and recovery supports for young people.

What presenters said: Accepting the recovery-month proclamation were local program leaders and volunteers. Jennifer Weiss Burke, identified in the meeting as the executive director of Serenity Mesa, described the program’s 90‑day evidence‑based curriculum for young people ages 14 to 20, including housing, therapy, life-skills training and education supports. Councilors who sponsored the proclamations thanked staff and volunteers and highlighted a series of recovery-oriented events: an art show at Casa de Cultura on Sept. 5 and a civic celebration with a recovery powwow on Sept. 12 at Civic Plaza. Speakers noted the tenth-anniversary celebration expects more than 1,000 attendees and 75 providers.

Council comments and community context: Council members praised Serenity Mesa’s prevention and intervention work and its partnership with other local providers. Councilor Pena and Councilor Grout both referenced the organization’s role in serving youth and its recent campus-based medical detox addition in 2024. Councilors encouraged attendance at the recovery month events and noted ongoing city collaboration with the state’s behavioral-health services and Bernalillo County’s behavioral-health authority.

Ending: The council’s proclamation formally declares September 2025 as National Recovery Month in Albuquerque and recognizes Serenity Mesa’s decade of service to youth in recovery.