The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) was honored to attend last week’s world premiere of What It Takes, a moving new documentary highlighting the HARP program at the Chesterfield County Jail and the reality that recovery is possible. Approximately 470 guests gathered last week at Richmond’s historic Byrd Theatre for the world premiere.
The evening brought together community members, county officials, recovery advocates, HARP alumni and participants, jail staff, and many of the individuals featured in the film itself. Following the screening, guests had the opportunity to hear directly from filmmaker Jeff Shulman, current HARP participants and staff, and Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard about the impact of the program and the stories behind the documentary.
The film follows two deeply personal journeys: the work happening through Chesterfield’s HARP program and a California family navigating the devastating effects of addiction and alcoholism. Though their stories unfold on opposite sides of the country, the film connects them through shared experiences of pain, hope, family, recovery, and resilience.
Audience members were visibly moved throughout the evening as the documentary explored addiction with honesty and compassion while never losing sight of hope.
“Last night wasn’t about a movie,” said Sheriff Leonard. “It was about providing hope for those struggling with addiction by showing them recovery is possible. It was about also providing hope to the families of those in the grips of substance use disorder, letting them know there are resources out there for them as well. But mostly it was about letting everyone know recovery is possible!”
The documentary shines a light on Helping Addicts Recover Progressively (HARP), the Chesterfield County Jail’s recovery program focused on treatment, accountability, connection, and long-term support for those struggling with substance use disorder.
More than a film premiere, the evening felt deeply personal. Guests stayed after the screening to meet many of the people featured in the documentary and hear firsthand how recovery programs like HARP are changing lives both inside and outside the jail.
By the end of the night, one message had clearly resonated throughout the theater: recovery is hard, recovery is messy, but recovery is possible.
