SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) — Angela Kennecke, founder of the Sioux Falls–based nonprofit Emily’s Hope and host of the Grieving Out Loud podcast, will be a featured speaker at the National Trail of Truth in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
The event will transform the National Mall into a striking National Memorial Cemetery, displaying more than 3,600 hand-painted tombstones to honor loved ones lost to substance use across the United States. Memorial quilts, crosses, and other installations will join the display, providing a powerful and heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing national crisis.
Kennecke was invited to speak because of her advocacy work following the death of her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018. “I never imagined I would become part of this epidemic in such a personal way,” Kennecke said. “Now, I feel called to share Emily’s story and to work toward removing stigma, expanding access to treatment, and saving lives.”
The Trail of Truth is a grassroots movement that unites families and organizations from around the country to raise awareness, offer healing opportunities, and demand policy changes that address substance use. The day will feature grief circles, memorial art, free naloxone training, and presentations from leaders, advocates, and those with lived experience.
In addition to speaking nationally, Kennecke continues her work locally through Emily’s Hope. Since its founding in 2019, the nonprofit has distributed thousands of doses of naloxone, created a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum now used in five states and one foreign country, and provided over half a million dollars in treatment scholarships to help individuals access recovery.
