This is a press release from the City of Statesboro.
Healthy Boro, a subcommittee of the City of Statesboro’s One Boro Commission, will host the next event in its 2026 “A Healthier Boro Discussion Series” on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at 62 East Main Street in Statesboro.
The session, titled “Hope, Healing, and Harm Reduction: Recovery in Statesboro and Beyond,” will be led by featured speaker Catherine Tootle, Executive Director of Freedom Through Recovery. The event will bring together community members to explore local approaches to addiction recovery, harm reduction strategies, and the resources available to individuals and families navigating the path to healing in Southeast Georgia.
Catherine Tootle brings both lived recovery experience and professional expertise to her role as Executive Director of Freedom Through Recovery (FTR), a Statesboro-based nonprofit and safe space where individuals can connect with others pursuing a fulfilling and contributing life free from substance use. FTR provides experienced peer support and advocates for self-directed care, serving people in recovery, those desiring recovery and friends and family of those affected by Substance Use Disorder. Tootle is also a certified Recovery Coach through the CARES program.
The event is co-hosted by Healthy Boro, Georgia Southern University’s Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Community members are encouraged to register in advance to assist with event planning and ensure adequate accommodations. Registration can be completed online at www.statesboroga.gov/oneboro.
“A Healthier Boro Discussion Series,” sponsored by the Healthy Boro subcommittee of the One Boro Commission, is designed to create an inclusive, accessible space where local thought leaders and community experts can share insight on the most pressing health issues facing Statesboro and Bulloch County. The series provides a free, open platform for residents to listen, learn and engage in meaningful dialogue about topics that impact our community’s well-being—from prevention and mental health to access, equity and quality of life. By bringing together diverse voices and lived experiences, Healthy Boro fosters shared understanding, collective problem-solving and community-driven solutions that strengthen belonging and promote a healthier Statesboro for all.
