Recognizing Heather Venegas

Heather Venegas pictured with David Coffey at Recovery Day at the Mariners

Some people become part of this work in ways that stay with you, even as things change. Heather Venegas has been part of the Washington recovery community for many years, including her time as a Washington Recovery Alliance staff member, serving as Director of the King County Recovery Coalition (KCRC).

Over time, Heather became a familiar and steady presence in recovery spaces across King County and the state. She showed up in community, carried her lived experience with pride, and contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing work of building connection and visibility for recovery.

Many will recognize her from events like Recovery Advocacy Day, Voices of Recovery Summit, and Recovery Day at the Mariners, where we come together to celebrate recovery in community. Heather has been a consistent part of these gatherings over the years, helping to create the sense of connection and shared purpose for many community members. This year, we plan to acknowledge Heather during our Recovery Day at the Mariners pre-event, located in the Ellis Pavilion at T-Mobile Park. More details will be shared soon, and I hope you will join us in honoring Heather and other Recovery Champions who have contributed to the movement.

As she moves into her next chapter, we acknowledge the time and heart she has brought to this work. We wish her well in what comes next and thank her for the role she has played as part of this broader network.

The work of recovery is shaped by the people who show up over time and the connections they leave behind. 

Thank you, Heather Venegas!