Happy 10TH Anniversary to us! Yes, this past fall marked DRP’s 10th year of operation. For one decade we have been on the forefront of recovery support services for citizens in the cities of Detroit, Highland Park,and Hamtramck, Michigan and around the world.

It’s quite sobering to consider all the lives that have been changed since we opened our doors on July 2005, at DRP’s original offices in the now-shuttered City of Detroit Herman Keifer Health Complex (the kiefer). And when I speak of changed lives I’m not only referring to the men and women who walk through our doors for help, I’m also thinking of our staff and myself.

One of DRP’s greatest attributes is our peer-led, peer-ran, and peer-driven approach that is bolstered by the fact that everyone operating under the DRP umbrella has been touched by substance use disorder, and or mental illness. Whether we are in recovery or have loved someone in recovery, we render services from a genu-ine place of compassion…a perspective that cannot be altered by political climate.

I’ve spoken several times over the years about the men who mentored me and helped direct my aspirations. I would be remiss to exclude them now: Dr. Calvin Trent, Dr. Kanzoni Asibigi, and Mr. Allan Bray. Also, I’d like to publicly thank key board members who have consecutively served DRP for 10 years with no break in service: Henry Williams, John Andrews, Wayne County Commission Vice Chair Alisha Bell, Raina Harris, and Rev. Charles Christian Adams.

Upon the shoulders of these giants, DRP has expanded to two locations just a few short years after opening. The expansion was not simply leasing space and hanging a shingle…we purchased two commercial properties that together house a myriad of programs and serves 4000 people annually.

The Eastside Health & Wellness Recovery Resource Center and the Westside Health & Wellness Recovery Re-source Center are parallel operations that allow DRP to kick drug abuse in the butt on both sides of town!

While our nationally recognized programming equips substance use disorders for a successful return to society, we took it one step further and founded homes where men in recovery could re-establish their independence in a self-sufficient atmosphere. The Bray Recovery Home for Men in Highland Park and the Trent Recovery Home for Men in Detroit are brick and mortar testaments to what can be achieved when desire meets opportunity.

DRP’s decades-long growth spawned international success as we traveled across oceans to impact the lives men and women in the African Great Lakes region. We helped design and develop recovery-oriented systems of care in the United Republic of Tanzania, its mainland Dar Es Salaam, the beautiful island nation of Zanzibar.

What we surmised and have come to know is that recovery is the same no matter where you go, the difference is demonstrated in who is there to help. DRP’s international presence keeps us focused on the main goal: help those who are bound by substance use breakthrough a vicious cycle that had previously rendered them hope-less.

What has allowed DRP to be effective here and abroad is CARF accreditation that lets the world know that we operate at the highest standards as a legitimate Human Service agency. We have held this certification for the most of the years of our existence, for this we thank God and press ahead to the next 10 years, God Bless!

Reflections from OurChief Executive OfficerAndre Johnson

For 10 years now the Detroit Recovery Project has pushed forward with a vision on how to serve the people of Detroit who are battling the compulsion to use drugs and alcohol – a place where people can come to develop the tools to deal with their disease.

In September DRP celebrated its 10th anniversary at the GEM Theater in Detroit. Kem served as the keynote speaker. The Grammy Award-nominated artist and Detroit native, shared his glorious story of how he transformed his life after years of drugs and alcohol abuse.

“The most important thing about me is that my name is Kem and I’m an alcoholic,” Kem revealed. “I’m in recovery and my last drink was on July 23, 1990. It’s amazing because when I started on this journey of recovery, I didn’t really know if I could stay clean this long. I was just trying to do it one day at a time. I came to a place where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Kem has been clean and sober for over 25 years now. He has released five studio albums during his 25 years of sobriety.

KEM talks about addiction and the gift of sobriety

10 Years Later:Still Winning Anniversary Celebration

In September of 2015, we here at Detroit Recovery Group cele-brated National Recovery Month at the GEM Theatre. Each day, strong Detroiters and people throughout the country struggle with the horrors of substance abuse dig deep to muster up the bravery and courage and pledge to change their lives for the better. After all, recovery takes an enormous amount of nerve.

It was a month, where we reaffirmed our unwavering commit-ment to all those who are seeking or in need of recovery sup-port. We also acknowledge the importance families, friends, and health care providers play in supporting those on the path to a better tomorrow. We put together an entire month ofactivities right here in Detroit. They were as follows:

Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Prayer Breakfast Participants: Munson Steed, CEO, Rolling Out, Urban National Newspaper, Rev. David Bullock and Councilman Andre Spivey

Thursday, September 3, 2015Private Screening of the Documentary: Recovery Unscripted

Friday, September 11, 2015Poetry & Karaoke

We wrapped up the celebration on Thursday, September 17, 2015 with A Message of Inspiration. The Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Alexis Wiley, acted as our Mistress of Ceremony and Detroit’s World Renowned Music Entertainer, KEM, left us with words of inspiration about his journey from addiction to stardom

Women’s Leadership Conference

Notable guestHonorable Shanelle JacksonDirector of Government Relations,Detroit International Bridge Company

Elizabeth MaysCEO, MCS Multimedia

Felicia Turrentine WasonDirector of Public Affairs & Communications forthe Coca-Cola Company

Alexis WileyChief of Staff for the City of Detroit

Darlene D. OwensDirector, Substance Use Disorders initiatives for Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority

Recovery Village: A Place to Call Home

Recovery Village will be a place that will empower indi-viduals on the path to recovery. It will be a newly reno-vated apartment building on the West Side of Detroit that will be located at Linwood and Courtland. Our advanced approach to recovery empowers individuals on the path to recovery.

Recovery Village will be a 35 unit apartment building that will have a storefront property that will have a five chair barbershop. Everything will be renovated. New chairs, new sinks, new bathrooms. It will also house a recreation area and a laundromat services. There will also be des-ignated office space for people in recovery to provide entrepreneurial services – painting, plastering, plumbing and electrical services. There will also be technological services (Recovery Tech) available to those in need. The goal is to develop an App where people can go and find the necessary preventative help – dental, optical, hepati-tis, HIV, breast and prostate screening.

We will offer alcohol/drug rehab treatments for men and women ages 18 and up, all under one roof. We will give folks the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and class. We plan to provide a setting where lasting health and wellness – spiritual, yoga, meditation – and peace of mind are the goals. The program will be peer ran and peer driven.

Special ThanksWe here at the Detroit Recovery Project would like to give a special thanks toDarlene D. Owens, Director, Substance Use Disorders initiatives for Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority. We are very appreciative of Ms. Owens’ invaluable leadership, sup-port and fi nancial sponsorship to our organi-zation.

Detroit Recovery Project partners with CeasefireThe Detroit Recovery Project is proud to part-ner with CeaseFire Detroit. Our goal is to help CeaseFire succeed outside of prison, with job training programs and substance abuse counseling.

The ultimate goal is to be a major partner in communities throughout the city with high rates of crime and violence. Here at the De-troit Recovery Project it’s not only about fo-cusing on individuals, but families and com-munities as a whole. What we do know is that if we start to treat the symptoms before they become a problem, we will see decreases in violence, which gives us a greater infl uence on people. By partnering with CeaseFire we’re looking to have a positive ecological impact on our neighborhoods throughout the city of Detroit.

The Substance Use Disorders initiatives for Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, made it possible for the Detroit Recovery Project to transport three 50 passenger buses to the UNITE to Face Addiction Rally in Washington, DC, that was held October, 4, 2015.

“Together we must find solutions to the addiction crisis and put a face on the hope that survivors offer,” said health expert and television host Dr. Mehmet Oz, in a statement to the website facingaddiction.org.

The event featured live musical performances by Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Aloe Blacc, The Fray, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and more.

The event also featured inspirational speakers from all walks of life who have been affected by addiction; and celebri-ties, elected officials and other advocates who joined together to help change the conversation around, and bring new solutions to, the addiction crisis that we face as a city and a country. We were joined by Michiganders from all over the state, including Ann Abor and Washtenaw County. More than 600 organizations from around the world gathered in a show of solidarity to UNITE to Face Addiction and end the silence around our most urgent health crisis.

“UNITE to Face Addiction will mark the first time our nation will collectively stand up to addiction, a health prob-lem that impacts 1 in 3 households,” said Greg Williams, co-founder of Facing Addiction and a person in long-term recovery. “Twenty-two million Americans are currently suffering from a substance use disorder, and more than 23 million others are living in recovery. When you include the families of the afflicted, addiction impacts over 85 mil-lion people – we all know somebody. It’s not ‘those’ people, it’s all of us.”

UNITE to Face Addiction Rally in Washington, DC

Presents…..

Women’s Leadership Conference Saturday, February 27th, 2016

9am-3pm Westside Health & Wellness Recovery

Resource Center 1145 West Grand Blvd.

Detroit, MI 48208 www.recovery4detroit.com

Topics Include: *Self-Development

* Empowerment *Leadership

*Success is yours * Love Yourself

* Opiate and Heroin Epidemic

To register please Contact Timina Smith 313.365.3106 email: tsmith@recovery4detroit.com

Special Guest:

Ms. Phaedra Parks From the Real

Housewives of Atlanta

Sponsored By: Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority