The Story Project of Measure 110, Part One: Peers
Sarah E. Shively
29 mins | 2024
The Story Project of Measure 110: Peers explores Oregon's Measure 110, focusing on peer support and its impact on addiction recovery amidst decriminalization challenges.
Sponsored by:
Friday Harbor Film Festival
Oregon's groundbreaking Ballot Measure 110 significantly boosted funding for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services statewide, with a key focus on expanding Peer Support programs. The Story Project of Measure 110: Peers delves into the experiences of those within the Peer Support workforce and the individuals benefiting from their support. This film also explores the transformative impact of this pioneering Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Act. As the Measure 110 Movement gains philosophical momentum while suffering crushing blows to its deciminalization efforts, this film captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of addiction recovery in Oregon and beyond.
Sarah E. Shively
In 2022 Sarah E. Shively completed a Multimedia Journalism Masters’ Program at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. She works on stories centered around individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Darcelle XV community, and the opioid crisis in Portland.
Her short film, Mugshots in the Digital Age, was selected for the 2021 Portland Film Festival and won Best Northern Student Documentary at the 2023 Klamath Independent Film Festival. Her capstone film, Moving Into Adulthood won Best Director of a Documentary Short at the 2022 Seattle Film Festival, Audience Favorite at 2022 Autfest: Texas Autism Film Festival, Best Student Film from the 2023 Beaches Cities Inspirational Film Festival, Best Autism Film from the 2023 Star City Film Festival and screens as a Finalist in the 2024 NY New Filmmakers Plus Series.
In 2019, she has earned a Certificate in Intercultural Training from Portland State University and completed a Certificate in Foundations of Creative Leadership from Ideo U in May 2020. After moving to Portland, OR from NYC in 2016, she served for two years on the Portland Area Equity Liaison Committee as a founding member. From 2021-2023 she was the President of Friends of Forest Park Elementary, an independent local school foundation in Northwest Portland.
Sarah holds an MFA in Acting (PATP) from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Her BA is from Oberlin College where she majored in Theater and minored in Spanish.
CREDITS
Director
Sarah E Shively
Moving Into Adulthood, Mugshots in the Digital Age, Contemplating Emily
Writer
Sarah E Shively
Moving Into Adulthood, Mugshots in the Digital Age, Contemplating Emily
Producer
Sarah E Shively
Moving Into Adulthood, Mugshots in the Digital Age, Darcelle: On Life, Love and Dying, Contemplating Emily
Key Cast
Morgan Godvin
"self"
Mugshots in the Digital Age
The Measure 110 Movement aims to change the very paradigm that most of us have known regarding our approach to the drug crisis. We can’t successfully do that if we don’t care who the people are who need or provide the services for recovery. We know people through the stories of their lives. Without their stories, they are reduced to statistics, referred to in derogatory terms, viewed as less than, and left behind. What works is human compassion. The Story Project of Measure 110: Part One, Peers aims to build that compassion one story at a time.
We have plans to expand the project to include other documentary shorts, audio storytelling, live event storytelling, writings, music, and art—all focused on the people whose lives are affected by the Measure 110 Movement through funding and services.
For this project, I leveraged my relationship with Morgan Godvin to network with organizations that employ Peer Support Specialists. Morgan connected me to Candi Balabon, a Peer Supervisor at Columbia Community Mental Health who became one of my main sources for this project. My aim is to highlight peer specialists and their stories while also giving insight into the work they do. The people interviewed for this video project were previously incarcerated on drug-related charges. Most are still in recovery. They are the hope that the drug crisis needs right now. Their dedication deserves attention at this time.