Here's Why The Sidewalks Outside Bel Air's Town Hall Have Chalk Messages

BEL AIR, MD — The town of Bel Air is showing its support for those in recovery in several ways. At the Town Hall meeting on Monday, the dais was festooned with purple lights and signage about National Recovery Month.

September is National Recovery Month, an observance to promote recovery resources, strengthen the recovery community and thank service providers who help those in recovery.

Through an event called "Chalk the Walk," the Bel Air Police Department and those from agencies supporting people in recovery from addiction and mental illness came together outside Town Hall to write messages in chalk Monday afternoon on the sidewalk on Hickory Avenue.

Here are some of the inspirational notes left to celebrate National Recovery Month:

• "Believe you can & you're halfway there"
• "Keep on growing"
• "Push on"

“I encourage everybody to go out and take a look at it and the inspirational messages out there for just people that are suffering," Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore said at Monday night's Town Hall meeting.

He said he was impressed by the creativity on display, adding: "None of those creative things are mine."

The Bel Air Police Department's LEAD program was among the initiatives promoted in chalk.

Through the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, police refer people suffering from behavioral health issues to public health resources rather than making an arrest. The program began in 2020 and runs through 2025.

It is designed “to help those suffering from mental illness and substance use disorder," Moore said, by partnering with agencies like Harford County social services and the health department.

See Also: Bel Air Police To Steer Some Criminals To Treatment Not Jail

These organizations were also represented at Chalk the Walk:

• Addictions Connections Resource (ACR), a Fallston-based organization that helps people navigate treatment, housing, therapy and recovery programs.

• Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy, the county's office that provides education and outreach around addiction services.

• Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, a center in Bel Air that provides a 24/7 crisis hotline, a mobile crisis team, mental health urgent care and same-day evaluations and intervention.

• Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services, which coordinates and funds efforts to advance public safety.

• Rage Against Addiction, a Harford County nonprofit that raises awareness about and offers support for those suffering as a result of alcohol and/or drug addiction.

• Springboard Community Services, an organization that provides counseling and psychiatric services to those in the greater Baltimore area.

The Bel Air Town Commissioners presented a proclamation earlier this month to Jennifer Godfrey Redding, executive director of Harford Counseling, for helping people recover from mental and substance abuse disorders.

Mayor Amy Chmielewski proclaimed September National Recovery Month in the town of Bel Air and called upon citizens to recognize the month by participating in activities and programs supporting those with mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.

Harford County is celebrating National Recovery Month by inviting businesses to turn their lights purple in a show of support and asks people to wear purple on Friday, Sept. 24.

Here are some of the recovery-related activities offered this week:

• Free Dion Flynn comedy show at the Bel Air Armory from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. Mocktails and snacks will be available. Registration is required.
• Free outdoor movie night at Shamrock Park in Bel Air. The family friendly activities run from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. Held in partnership with Ashley Treatment's Adolescent Clubhouse, the event features the Disney movie "Soul."

Related: Harford County Celebrates Recovery Month in September