Downtown Green Bay has more than 20 bars, while many other businesses and gathering places close by 3:00 p.m. or earlier. This leaves few accessible, alcohol-free places where people can gather during the evening. There is a clear need for sober activities and a welcoming recovery-centered community space downtown.
Conversations with people in recovery reveal that many actively avoid downtown Green Bay. For some, its bar-centered environment can be triggering. For others, there is simply little reason to visit downtown if they do not want to drink or spend time in a bar. A permanent recovery-centered meeting place could give people a safe and positive reason to return downtown while helping create a more inclusive community.
Green Bay already has a substantial recovery network. Sober-living and treatment-related residences include Serenity House, Beacon House, Transformation House, the Mandolin Foundation, the Jackie Nitschke Center, Rebecca's House LLC, Shawano Avenue House, and the all-women's 4th Dimension House.
The local Alcoholics Anonymous community is also supported by two large clubs: the 218 Club and The Bridge. Other nearby recovery clubs include clubs in Wrightstown, the Genesis Club, and the 206 Club in Menasha.
There are approximately 92 officially listed recovery meetings held each week in the Green Bay area. When unlisted and independently organized meetings are included, the actual number is likely well over 100 weekly meetings. Individual meetings may attract anywhere from two to 80 attendees. These numbers suggest that thousands of meeting visits occur every week and that Green Bay has a large, active recovery community.
This research will examine whether a downtown 501(c)(3) recovery meeting place could address an unmet need, provide alcohol-free activities, strengthen existing recovery services, and make downtown Green Bay more welcoming to people choosing a sober life.