Community Recovery Lab 2026: Turning Community Ideas into Action

Community Recovery Lab 2026
Turning Community Ideas into Action
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: September 16, 2026
Event Overview
If you see the gap, build the solution.
The Community Recovery Lab (CRL), created by Young People in Recovery (YPR), is a national pitch event and funding initiative designed to move bold, recovery-focused ideas from concept to implementation.
This is not a traditional conference. It is a launchpad.
CRL brings together recovery leaders, funders, healthcare innovators, community organizers, and individuals with lived experience to identify, elevate, and fund solutions that address real gaps in recovery support systems.
Finalists present their ideas live, competing for funding to implement projects that directly impact communities. Focus areas include recovery support services, harm reduction, prevention, re-entry, youth initiatives, and systems change.
What This Is
The Community Recovery Lab is a national innovation pipeline for recovery solutions.
It exists to:

• Fund community-led ideas developed by people closest to the work
• Create a structured pathway from idea to implementation
• Support scalable, measurable recovery initiatives
• Turn real ideas into funded, actionable projects

Selected finalists compete for funding tiers:

• $10,000 for large-scale or multi-component pilot projects
• $5,000 for mid-scale initiatives
• $2,500 for emerging pilot ideas

Winning projects move forward with funding, milestone tracking, and implementation support.
Tickets
Cost: Free (registration required)
In-Person Location:
Thrive Workplace Centennial
9200 E Mineral Ave
Centennial, CO 80112
Event Start Time:
TBD
Virtual Attendance:
Free virtual tickets will be available with live stream access for those attending remotely.
Apply to Pitch
Individuals or teams with recovery-focused ideas can apply to pitch and receive funding.
Apply here:
https://youngpeopleinrecovery.org/crl/
Timeline
Stage 1 Application Deadline: May 15, 2026
Finalists Announced: July 3, 2026
Stage 2 Deadline: August 14, 2026
Final Pitch Event: September 16, 2026
Funding is awarded following final review, with selected projects entering implementation under structured grant guidelines.
Why It Matters
The Community Recovery Lab builds a national pipeline of solutions designed by the people who understand recovery challenges firsthand.
It creates:

• Direct investment in community-driven innovation
• A platform for lived experience to lead solutions
• Scalable programs that can expand across communities

At its core, this is about funding what communities actually need—and giving people the resources to build it.
Learn More
https://youngpeopleinrecovery.org/crl/

Info: Stage 1 Application Deadline: May 15, 2026

Info: Finalists Announced: July 3, 2026

Info: Stage 2 Deadline: August 14, 2026

Info: Final Pitch Event: September 16, 2026

Info: Funding is awarded following final review, with selected projects entering implementation under structured grant guidelines.

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Host or Publisher Tara Moseley Hyde