Steven Herren Memory Initiative

“Steven was born on January 30, 1992. He had a big sister, Laura, who was almost 4 at the time. My boy became part of a statistic – a young man, dead of an overdose - part of a nationwide epidemic, but he was more than someone with substance abuse disorder. 

This is why the Steven Herren Memory Initiative was created - to bring artists’ voices to life - to be a safe arena for discussion and to ultimately end the silence and stigma which persists around grief and addiction.

Supporting my son through recovery was a journey of heartache, fear, hope, and uncertainty. His journey ended with his death from an overdose. Losing him reshaped how I understand recovery and how I want to advocate for addiction research. 

The Steven Herren Memory Initiative was created for all artists, but especially emerging playwrights. Stories of grief and addiction are not confined to realism and can unfold through comedy or other unexpected genres to pay tribute to the life at the heart of the story.”

-Sheri S. Herren, Steven Herren Memory Initiative Program Director