News  Probation and community partners honor women in recovery at 9th Annual Women's Recovery Court Celebration

Women in recovery shared their stories of the addiction that once ruled their lives and how they turned things around for the better while also offering words of encouragement to other women on the journey during the 9th Annual Recovery Court celebration at Malden District on Thursday.

The event theme “Stronger Together” was evident in every remark by court and local leaders, personal testimonies, and the two panel discussions—“Sharing Experiences” and “Lynn Recovery Court Panel.”

Lynn District Court First Justice Ina Howard-Hogan served as mistress of ceremonies Courtroom 1 which was decorated with butterflies, a balloon arch, and ribbons all in shades of purple, the color that symbolizes recovery.

The event featured remarks made by District Court Chief Justice Stacey Fortes and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan Cassidy. Daniela "Danni" Lopes, Office of Community Corrections Regional Program Manager, provided opening remarks. Shannon Lundi, Clinical Manager of Power of Recovery, paid homage to "Women Lost in Recovery," who passed away. Allison Burke, Executive Director and yoga instructor, lead attendees in yoga and medication exercises.

A woman in recovery from the Rhode Island Veterans Court, who prefers not to be named, gave the keynote address and shared her story of addiction, recovery, relapse and regaining the respect of her now adult children.

This year’s Benjamin C. Barnes Women’s Recovery Court Sessions Award was presented to Gianna Pleva, Malden District Court Probation Officer; Deena LaCorte, Recovery Court graduate; and Kerrianne Caccavaro of the Services Over Sentences Program of the Suffolk County District.

Introduced by then Chelsea First Justice Benjamin Barnes in 2013, the Women's Recovery Court was the first in the state to address the specific recovery needs of women. Honorable Judge Benjamin Barnes, now First Justice at Edgartown District Court, joined with former Chelsea District Court Probation Officer Judy Lawler, who was later promoted to Assistant Chief Probation Officer before retiring; and Katie O'Leary, North Suffolk Community Services Director of Recovery.

Women's Recovery Court Session Committee Members

• Honorable Ina Howard-Hogan, First Justice of the Lynn District Court
• Honorable Kimberly Foster, Presiding Justice of the Lynn Recovery Court
• Marisa Cogliandro-Vaughan, Malden District Court Chief Probation Officer
• Jennifer Donahue, Malden District Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer
• Judith A. Lawler, retired Malden District Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer
• Gianna Pleva, Malden District Court Probation Officer
• Erica Colombo, Malden District Court Clerk Magistrate
• Ashley Newman, Malden District Court Specialty Court Coordinator
• Jennifer McCarthy, Framingham/Natick District Court Treatment Manager
• Courtney Waldron, Woburn Community Justice Support Center
• Daniela Lopes, Office of Community Corrections Regional Program Manager
• Katie O'Leary, North Suffolk Community Services Director of Recovery
• Caitlin DiBlasi, North Suffolk Community Services Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
• Shannon Lundin, TrailHead Behavorial Health Clinical Manager
• Nhi Tran, Training Unit Administrative Assistant
• Keriann Caccavaro, Suffolk County District Attorney Office
• Jessica Lanneville, The Bridge Recovery Center
• Maryanne Frangules, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR)
• Rebekah Cole, ReNewHER Reentry Program Director