The 7th Annual Dawn Farm Ride for Recovery is Sunday, April 24th with early registration already under way! This is a family-fun-filled fitness event & a fundraiser for Dawn Farm. There many ways to participate at any fitness level; with 10-100 K bike rides; 5K & 10K walks or runs. There will also be food & tours of the working farm. This event gives our community an opportunity to support a critical service. Dawn Farm is committed to helping people find recovery from addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. Community support for events like the Ride for Recovery helps to keep these vital services available for those who need them most! For more information call: 734-485-8725.

Children who attend a high quality program in the year or two before kindergarten are better prepared for school academically, socially and emotionally.The Washtenaw County Quality Preschool Partnership is a collaboration of school districts and community-based providers who offer state (GSRP) and federally (Head Start) funded preschool services for low to moderate income families. There are preschool locations throughout the County with a wide range of classroom schedules to meet varying stages of preschool development. Enrollment begins March 1, 2016. For enrollment information go to the links provided or call 1-800-777-2861.

You’re invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium, at 5305 Elliott Drive in Ypsilanti. The Education Series schedule can be found here.You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All are welcome to attend! Registration is not required.

Recent publications claim to define research-supported definitive truths about the root causes of addiction and efficacy of treatment modalities; however conclusions are conflicting and have been subject to divergent interpretations. Feel confused? Dr. Carl Christensen, M.D. PhD, will review the recent criticisms of treatment for addiction including Twelve Step, residential, and medication assisted therapy, the scientific studies that do and do not support their use and other controversial issues. This program is Tuesday March 15, 2016; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

The public is invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium, at 5305 Elliott Drive in Ypsilanti. The Education Series schedule can be found here. You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All are welcome to attend! Registration is not required.

On Tuesday January 19, 2016 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Dr. Kevin T. McCauley, MD; co-founder of the Institute on Addiction Study; writer of the award-winning DVD Pleasure Unwoven will present a free program on “The Brain and Recovery: An Update on Neuroscience of Addiction .” The last twenty years produced an explosion of understanding not only about addiction but how our brains enable our most human capacities such as hedonic valuation and decision-making. This talk will summarize the most current neuroscientific research about addiction - research that explains how the brain constructs pleasurable experiences, what happens when this process goes wrong, and why this can have a dramatic impact in our ability to make proper choices. There will also be a free reception from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, with snacks, beverages, and an opportunity to meet and socialize.

On Tuesday January 26, 2016 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Professor Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing, and the Department of Psychiatry will present a free program on Telling Our Stories: Narratives for Recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. Storytelling has always been an important part of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Dr. Strobbe examined 24 new personal stories in the 4th edition of the Big Book of A.A., and found that these accounts shared certain elements and structures. Dr. Strobbe will describe a model to help us better understand and appreciate these transformative narratives.

For people with disabilities, navigating social support systems & government benefits can be an uphill climb. Listen to a couple of local self-advocates- Peg Ball and Lloyd Shelton- share their take on the best ways to engage in self-advocacy in the areas of Public Benefits, Education, Housing & Careers. Peg is a life coach,a person with a disability and has extensive experience with both Center for Independent Living and PPA. Lloyd now works for U of M after getting his MSW there, and is an organizer for students with disabilities at the University. The workshop will be held at the Center for Independent Living on Thursday, January 7th from 3:00-4:30 PM. The talk is sponsored by Partners in Personal Assistance in partnership with the CIL. Please RSVP by calling PPA, 734-214-3890 or CIL, 734-971-0277.