Recovery

From Gerald Butler

8/13/07

The ‘Recovery’ band is on the move spreading the message of Peer Support and recovery throughout the community through our music, and we are pleasantly surprised by the responses we have been getting. We are finding a community with 1) tons of resources and natural supports that are valuable to our recovery process 2) a community willing to help us, provided they are made aware that we can and do recover. So everywhere the band plays now, we are sure to let folks know we came about due to Peer Support and Person Centered Planning. Plus we are growing personally in the process, for instance: about five months ago, when we first started the band, Lamasa (keyboard player) was totally afraid of playing in front of a crowd of strangers. This past weekend we played an 80th birthday celebration for a member of the community and Lamasa opened the show on her own.

‘Arise Detroit’ is a collaboration of some 300 community groups, service providers, neighborhood block clubs, financial institutions, Detroit Public Library, the Institute of Arts, community collages, housing specialists, and business leaders. On August 4^th Arise Detroit sponsored a “Neighborhood Block Party” in which close to 100 community organizations held events around the city simultaneously. Not only were there block parties, but also health fairs, a basketball tournament, guest speakers, parties along the river and at Belle Isle. Mayor Kilpatrick even joined in the fun. Luther Keith (Arise Detroit/ founder, CEO) states: “We are thrilled by the citywide response to the first annual Neighborhoods Day. We needed a day to connect the entire metropolitan community in a demonstration of solidarity, working as one unit, providing hope for a brighter future”

The ‘Recovery’ band and those we represent are proud we were asked to be a part of this event. We are Peer Support in the flesh and don’t mind telling our recovery stories to anyone willing to listen. Of particular interest to us are those going through what we have already been through. Each one of the band has a deep down hope that after the show one or more consumers will say ‘Thanks, you gave me hope’. Besides the birthday party I mentioned earlier, the band has played a Synergy event, in which Robert Ficano (Wayne County Exec) and other County personnel attended. Although things did not work out, Maryann Bozenski ( President/ Children and Family Council) invited the band to play at CFAC’s annual picnic on Belle Isle, and for that we are pleased. This Saturday at 12:00 noon, we will be playing at the ‘Summer Blast’ along the Detroit Police band The Blue Pigs, and the ‘Girlies’ singing old Motown songs.

So as everyone from the Governor’s chair to us on the front lines work as one towards transforming the system, we look towards a future where ‘Recovery’ will be the norm not the exception. A future where we are judged not by the disease we have, but by the type of human beings we are. Yes, the train has left the station and it is no longer a matter of if, but more a matter of when we will be free to pursue our hopes and dreams.

Gerald Butler