About Us - Macomb County Recovery Resource Center
Overview
Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp is a non-profit organization based out of Southeast Michigan. We subsidize the individual in recovery's housing, education, therapy, and after care so they may become a productive, substance-free member of society once again. Saving another life is our mission and goal.
Recovery Resource Center - Resources at your fingertips
Our Recovery Resource Center in Roseville is now up and running. Our center is a community hub where someone at any point in their recovery can frequent. We have staff to help you make the first step in starting your recovery. We have resources such as food, clothing, job assistance and recovery housing that can get you back on your feet. We provide weekly meetings and events that keep you on the path of sobriety. View details more details on what we do and all the resources we provide Stop by our Center at 27700 Gratiot Ave., Roseville, MI 48066
What We Do
We provide resources for long term recovery
Our mission is to reduce the stigma and provide resources, education, and funding to the person and their families seeking recovery from Substance Use Disorder and Mental Illness. Saving one more life, so that they may easily transition from the life of substance use and mental illness into a lifestyle free from substances and destructive behavior. Building a foundation to become a productive citizen in society.
To view all of our resources that we provide at our Recovery Resource Center, Click here
Housing
We can help set you up with a place to live, in a home environment, with others that understand the challenges each person will face in the recovery process. Whether it’s at one of nine Live Rite Properties houses or another recovery house we can help with every step of the process. We will guide you through the process of applying for funding or you can receive a Live Rite Scholarship. If you choose to live at one of Live Rite’s Recovery Homes, you can do your intake right at the Center and we’ll drive you to your new house.
Food
We have a stocked food pantry at our Recovery Resource Center. If you are in recovery and are in need of food, fill out our food assistance application and we’ll get you as much food as we can and even provide transportation/drop off if needed.
Clothing
At the Resource Center we have a resale shop and clothing boutique where everything is $1! If you can’t afford this we can give you a clothing voucher where you can shop our store for free. To see if you qualify fill out our clothing need application or come into our Center.
Employment
As you may have heard, we have a staffing company here at Live Rite. It’s called Nu-Way Staffing, and we have been hard at work compiling information so we can assist everyone who comes in our doors in finding gainful employment. We have contracts with several local factories and are working diligently to build relationships with others to give our clients the best opportunities possible. We know how hard finding a job is in early recovery, as is just about everything when you’re first coming out of the fog of substance use. We want to do whatever we can to help make the transition to the clean, sober life as easy as possible. Call or come into our Recovery Center to talk to a Recovery Care Technicians about employment today. Learn more about what we do and our staffing program here.
Meetings
A large portion of the Recovery Resource Center are rooms for our meetings. We provide meetings at our Recovery Resource Center every day. Just come to the back of the building (the big red doors) and you will be greeted by a Recovery Care Technician, who will show you where to go. We have 12 step meetings, meetings for substance abuse education, yoga, meditation, nutrition & fitness, spiritual, grief and much more. Click here to see some of our meetings we provide. We have developed a check in application that takes in data from every one of our meetings and figures out which meetings people return to the most and what ones are statistically proven to help ever lasting sobriety. View meetings & events here
Education & Training
Along with our staffing program we do have meetings and events that can help gain you employment. One of our more popular meetings is at My Mechanic in New Baltimore, where attendees learn how to do different kinds of automotive mechanical work. Another meeting we provide now is a furniture restoration class where we restore old furniture. We are developing and garnering interest for new classes including computer & coding lessons, cooking and finance. If you want to see these classes or any others let us know.
Peer Recovery Coaching
Live Rite Recovery has several Peer Recovery Coaches to help those seeking recovery. Peer Recovery Coaching has been proven to be effective in gaining long lasting recovery. Live Rite has also developed a Peer Recovery Coaching app where Peer Recovery Coaches and users can communicate, update and set goals, get resources & information for their coach and much more. Sign up for Peer Recovery Coaching online, call or come in to start Peer Recovery with Live Rite.
Programs & Events
We put on events and provide programs that help the person in recovery in all aspects of their life. Some of these programs include legal assistance events, where attendees can talk with lawyers about their situations; financial well being classes where people learn to manage their money; family coaching events which a certified instructor can help with family counseling; and much more! View all Programs Here
Mental Health
Live Rite not only has an interest in helping those with substance use, but we have a complete separate program for those who struggle with their mental health or dual diagnosis. This is our Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program, where our staff uses evidence-based practices to work closely with individuals to treat their mental health symptoms and manage their every day lives Read more about our AOT Program
More
We provide a Resource Library to anyone who needs to get on the internet, print anything, or check out a book. We also provide a gym free of charge to those in recovery. Explore everything we have to offer at our Resource Center: View & Tour our other resources and rooms
History & Future
Watch video to discover more of what we do including our history and what we see for our future
This is a brief history on Live Rite Corp and our continuous efforts to expand and try new things in the Recovery Community! As some of us know, recovery may sometimes not be easy, but Live Rite Corp is trying to open a building big enough to have everything the person in early recovery will need!
Staff
Resource Center Staff
Brenda Maks
President / Founder
Brenda Maks, ABA, BBA, CPRM(Certified Peer Recovery Mentor), Paralegal, Peer Recovery Coach Facilitator, Licensed Realtor and Entrepreneur. She is a person that has been in long term recovery for over 23 years while mentoring women in recovery.
In 2012, Before founding Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp in 2016, Brenda established Live Rite Recovery Homes, for men and women in recovery, in Macomb County. Since then, her business has grown along with her outreach into the community of people seeking recovery and education.
Dakota Rogers
General Manager & Case Manager
Dakota is our General Manager for Live Rite Recovery Homes and Case Manager for Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2016 and has been working for Live Rite ever since then.
Drake Oxie
Assistant Case Manager
Drake Oxie has spent the majority of his life volunteering his service to the recovery community and organizing fundraising events for the addict/ alcoholic in recovery. Drake's personal interest in helping the addict/alcoholic find a new way of life has become a life-long ambition
Amanda Willis
Admistrative Assistant
I am the Administrative Assistant at Live Rite. I started as an outreach coordinator but quickly transitioned into helping with administrative duties. I decided to take the leap and try out a new position. I am a person in long-term recovery, and it is a blessing that I am now able to work in the recovery field. Working here has not only given me the chance to help others but has also pushed me to return to college and pursue a degree in business. I genuinely enjoy working at Live Rite and I’m passionate about helping others, especially when I know they need it most. Live Rite has allowed me to help those who are suffering, just as I did, and bring hope into their lives once again.
Gary Driver
Maintenance
Gary has been with Live Rite for over 3 years. He does the general maintenance to keep the Resource Center and all the recovery homes up and running.
Sarah Matthews
RCT Director & Peer Recovery Coach
Sarah is a MCBAP Certified Peer Recovery Mentor with a MDHHS certificate as a Peer Recovery Specialist and one of our Recovery Care Technicians (RCT) at our Recovery Resource Center. She helps those that come in that need food & clothing assistance, job assistance & training, Peer Recovery Coaching and anything else you would need. She started her journey with Live Rite as a resident in 2017 in one of the recovery homes and transitioned to her current position as aPeer Recovery Coach. Also is an active member of the Macomb county 12 step program.
Marketing & Outreach
Colleen Lafleur
Community Outreach Coordinator
I'm an outreach coordinator and part of the outreach team here at Live Rite. I help spread awareness about addiction and recovery as well as our programs. Being in recovery, I love being able to share my story, spread awareness, and stop the stigma.
Liliana Webb
Marketing Coordinator
Liliana works as the Marketing Coordinator for Live Rite, where she passionately spreads awareness of our mission. She is dedicated to using creativity and strategy to promote resources for recovery. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and breaking the stigma
Chris Keils
Peer Coach & Outreach
I am CPRC/Outreach coordinator at Live Rite. I love what I do here, I get a sense of giving back and instead of destructing the community, today I'm constructing the community, and breaking the stigma in addiction 1 NAY sayer at a time
Brandi Palazzolo
Outreach Coordinator, Headliner for Live Rite Tonight Podcast
I chose to work for Live Rite Structure Recovery Corp. because I have dealt with the disease in my family my whole life. I want to be part of the progress of breaking the stigma of addiction
Peer Coaches
Colleen Lafleur
Community Outreach Coordinator
I'm an outreach coordinator and part of the outreach team here at Live Rite. I help spread awareness about addiction and recovery as well as our programs. Being in recovery, I love being able to share my story, spread awareness, and stop the stigma.
Sarah Matthews
RCT Director & Peer Recovery Coach
Sarah is a MCBAP Certified Peer Recovery Mentor with a MDHHS certificate as a Peer Recovery Specialist and one of our Recovery Care Technicians (RCT) at our Recovery Resource Center. She helps those that come in that need food & clothing assistance, job assistance & training, Peer Recovery Coaching and anything else you would need. She started her journey with Live Rite as a resident in 2017 in one of the recovery homes and transitioned to her current position as aPeer Recovery Coach. Also is an active member of the Macomb county 12 step program.
Chris Keils
Peer Coach & Outreach
I am CPRC/Outreach coordinator at Live Rite. I love what I do here, I get a sense of giving back and instead of destructing the community, today I'm constructing the community, and breaking the stigma in addiction 1 NAY sayer at a time
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
Lisa Rogers
Registered Nurse / Case Manager
Lisa Rogers, RN, BSN, works as the case manager for AOT supportive service at Live Rite Structured Recovery. She has experience in bedside nursing, community health nursing, and mental health nursing. She is also certified in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training. She attends Spring Arbor University and is expected to graduate in January 2024 with her MSN to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Lisa also serves as a member of the MCCMH Substance Use Disorder Policy Oversight Board since September 2021.
Malissa Harris
Licensed Therapist
Malissa Harris is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Certified Care Manager. Gaining her education and experience in her formative years in Michigan, and throughout the US, she developed a desire to help vulnerable and underserved individuals. She has experience in private and non-profit settings for both Care Management and Mental Health Therapy, and is dedicated to helping others achieve their greatest quality of life.
As a Certified Care Manager and Professional Member of the Aging Life Care Association, her goal is to help by overseeing needs ranging from crisis intervention, working with physicians, hospital and discharge planning, helping to provide guidance for care and future planning. In Therapy, she has worked with various age groups and presenting problems with children, adults, seniors and caregivers with needs ranging from mental health to substance use.
Anna Brede
Case Manager Aide
Anna has been with Live Rite since August 2022. She is currently our Case Manager Intern and is almost finished with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology at Oakland University. She plans to continue her education at Oakland and get her Master's Degree in Social Work. Anna is very passionate about helping and displaying kindness to others as she assists our clients with SMI in our Assisted Outpatient Treatment program. She also participates in community outreach and helps coordinate fundraisers and events.
Jim Chaney
AOT Evaluator
I've been with Live Rite since 2017. I started off just creating a new website to get more information out to the public, but I ended up getting more involved after seeing everything Live Rite does for people. I ended up creating several applications that kept robust statistics on everything we do here. These apps and the stats gathered from them, make sure the services we offer are proven to help those in recovery.
I have family members that suffer with the their mental health, so now that we've added an AOT program, I'm even more determined to create groundbreaking programs that will help those with Serious Mental Illness and make sure we hit our full potential to help individuals and the community!
Charles Owens
Family Therapist & AOT Counselor
charles.owens@liveritecorp.org
Charles Owens has worked in health care for over 29 years, he is a provider, runs a non profit organization that services severe mental health clients, also seniors, he is a certified mental health counselor, family counselor, Charles earned his Master in Theology and his Doctorate in Theology , also Charles has been pastoring for 28 years; He has been married for 34 years with three children and six grand children; Charles currently works for LIVE RITE as a mental health and family counselor, He loves his job and the services LIVE RITE offers to clients and the community. Charles also provides grief and loss group meetings and family recovery every Friday as part of LIVE RITE services.
Board of Directors
Brenda Maks
President / Founder
Brenda Maks, ABA, BBA, CPRM(Certified Peer Recovery Mentor), Paralegal, Peer Recovery Coach Facilitator, Licensed Realtor and Entrepreneur. She is a person that has been in long term recovery for over 23 years while mentoring women in recovery.
She has volunteered as an Activities Committee Chair, raising funds and organizing recovery related events, and continues to volunteer with the female inmates at the Macomb County Jail and the food bank with Forgotten Harvest.
In 2012, Before founding Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp in 2016, Brenda established Live Rite Recovery Homes, for men and women in recovery, in Macomb County. Since then, her business has grown along with her outreach into the community of people seeking recovery and education.
Dianne Desano Dunn
Treasurer
Dianne Desano Dunn is a lifelong Macomb County resident. She served on the board of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for 15 years. She has served as the treasurer as well as the secretary. Dianne has also worked as a victim advocate for many years. Diane is committed to helping addicts in recovery. Dianne is a mother of three and grandmother of five.
Matt Desano
Board Member
Matt Desano, local business owner, master certified auto technician, graduate from GBMS: is a person in long term recovery; for over 16 years! Matt dedicates much of his time giving back to the recovering addict/alcoholic and mentoring men in recovery. Matt serves the greater community as well through his volunteer work with Forgotten Harvest.
Dawn Laridon
Secretary
Dawn carries a BBA and is the Financial Director of one of the big 3.
Kathy Carpenter
Board Member
Kathy Carpenter is a person that has been in long-term recovery for over 33 years. She is an Executive Assistant with a major health care system in Detroit and a Monitor and mentor for clients at an addiction rehabilitation center in Macomb County. She is a volunteer for a hospitals and institutions subcommittee for a 12 step program in Macomb County and remains active in the recovery community.
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life” – John Lennon
Rebecca Frolka
Board Member
Rebecca Frolka started her recovery at Live Rite's 3/4 house. She has now been clean for eight and a half years. She has been in the insurance industry for about seven years. Rebecca opened her own agency in December 2021.
Patrick Kucway
Board Member
Patrick Kucway is the owner of Motor City Stamping in Chesterfield, Michigan. Patrick has been a long- time associate and supporter of Live Rite.
Tim Clark
Board Member
Tim is the owner of Clark Home Building located in Fraser, Michigan, and is a person in long-term recovery. Tim is a supporter of the recovery community and Live Rite.
Jackie Brown
Board Member
Jackie Brown, MBA, BSME, BSBA, is a person in long term recovery, over 31 years. She recently retired from a 36-year career in automotive engineering. Her many volunteer roles include 10 years with female inmates at the Macomb County Jail, Forgotten Harvest food bank, numerous events through Visit Detroit, The Detroit Free Press Marathon and many other community events.
Jon Oman
Board Member
Jon is a person in long-term recovery and is a commercial real estate agent in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
Jim Chaney
Board Member
Jim Chaney has been working with Live Rite since 2017. He created the website and all applications to gather statistics for everything Live Rite provides.
Holly Ulewicz
Board Member
Holly Ulewicz is our Wellness Instructor and helps in the Finance office part-time. Thanks to Live Rite, she is celebrating six years of recovery this year. Holly began teaching yoga at the center in 2019 and recently earned a Master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She is 200-RYT with specialties in trauma-informed yoga and prenatal yoga. She is studying to earn an international accreditation in Yoga Therapy. She is training with integrative pain clinics throughout metro-detroit's major hospital systems. Holly is a reiki practitioner, AcuDetox specialist and coffee enthusiast. She believes that the impact made here is her soul's purpose.
Zach Ulewicz
Board Member
Zach is one of our newest members of the board. He has a B.S. in Business Administration and a J.D. both from Wayne State University.