“Faces of Hope” has been screened locally, including at Fixx Coffee in Columbia Heights.
The Hope & Healing Expo is titled “Hope & Healing Expo: Building Wellness Around Substance Use & Mental Health.”
Bestselling author William C. Moyers will deliver the keynote address, the announcement states. The event will also feature expert talks on wellness, stigma, kratom, cannabis and other topics, plus a screening of “Faces of Hope” and lunch for attendees.
A Documentary Rooted in Local Stories
“Faces of Hope” is described as a documentary featuring real stories of resilience, courage and connection from individuals and families in Anoka County, according to MyNortheaster. The film has circulated locally before — a prior community screening at Fixx Coffee in Columbia Heights included a panel discussion with Anoka County residents featured in the documentary, and that event was likewise sponsored by the Anoka County Opioid Solutions Initiative and offered free naloxone.
The Anoka County Opioid Solutions Initiative was established to respond to the misuse of opioids in the county, according to Anoka County, Minnesota.
Statewide Numbers Show Progress
The expo arrives as Minnesota reports continued, if uneven, progress against the opioid crisis. Opioid-involved overdose deaths statewide have gradually declined from a high of 1,039 in 2022 to 671 in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of decline, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Fentanyl-involved deaths also fell, dropping 6% from 602 in 2024 to 564 in 2025, and nonfatal opioid-involved overdose hospitalizations dipped from 3,685 to 3,617 over the same period.
Not every trend is moving in the right direction. All drug overdose deaths in Minnesota actually rose 3%, from 994 in 2024 to 1,025 in 2025, a shift the health department attributes to an increase in stimulant-involved deaths. State officials also note that naloxone has become more accessible to first responders and easier to obtain in places including schools, libraries, shelters and community organizations.
Anoka County's own numbers underscore why local events like this one carry weight. The county had the fourth-highest number of opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota in 2024, according to Faces of Hope, and 100% of those 2024 opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl. At the same time, opioid overdose deaths in Anoka County decreased by 39% that year, the organization reports.
What to Expect at the Expo
Beyond the keynote and film screening, the Nov. 14 event will include naloxone training and sessions addressing stigma and emerging substances like kratom and cannabis. Lunch will be provided as part of the free event, according to the sheriff's office announcement. Those interested in attending can register through Eventbrite.
