Our Mission:
To remove the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, and prevention, and to provide financial support for treatment and recovery.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- Emily’s Hope is honored to participate in a public forum and panel discussion hosted by Justice4cuz on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in memory of Prince Rogers Nelson. The event will take place in Pohlad Hall of the Hennepin County Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN. This forum, open to the public, will be moderated by Esme Murphy, reporter and anchor with WCCO-TV, who was one of the first reporters to arrive at Paisley Park the morning of April 21, 2016, when Prince was found unresponsive due to an unsuspected fentanyl overdose.
From 12:30-2:30 p.m., representatives will provide literature and resources in the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Room on the second floor of the Hennepin County Library, adjacent to Pohlad Hall. Attendance is free, but space is limited.
Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope and host of the Grieving Out Loud podcast, will join the panel to share her expertise on the fentanyl crisis. Angela lost her own 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018. Her personal story and professional dedication to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl highlight the critical need for education and prevention.
The panelists include:
- Rafael Mattei, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Major Rick Palaia, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
- Jeremy Drucker, State of Minnesota Office of Addiction and Recovery
- Angela Kennecke, Emily’s Hope & Grieving Out Loud Podcast
- Alicia House, Steve Rummler Hope Network
- Charles (Chazz) Smith, Justice4cuz
Prince’s toxicology report revealed high levels of fentanyl, underscoring the dangers of this potent synthetic opioid. According to the CDC, illicit fentanyl is the most common drug involved in overdoses today, with laboratory tests indicating that 7 out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a potentially lethal dose.
Angela Kennecke and Emily’s Hope are committed to combating this crisis by providing vital information and resources to the public. Join us at this important forum to learn more about the risks of fentanyl and the steps we can take to prevent further tragedies.
For more information on the risks of fentanyl, visit DEA.gov/OnePill.