photo by steed media service

There was a time when dreams of obtaining an undergraduate and master’s degree from the University of Michigan seemed too unattainable for Annette Williams to wrap her mind around. But those self-limiting beliefs perished once she became involved with the Detroit Recovery Project, and empowering beliefs sprouted and blossomed. Williams, a volunteer coordinator for the Detroit Recovery Project, not only wants to attend one of the nation’s most elite universities, but she’d love to bring that acquired knowledge back to the city of Detroit to uplift others.

“I want to serve other people, I want to give back,” she says, grateful for the Detroit Recovery Project’s rehabilitation and prevention programs. “Volunteering has ... helped me to sustain my own recovery.” she says.

Williams hails the vision of CEO Andre Johnson, whose compassion for the community has facilitated the recovery of many others. “When he sees people trying to recover, he personally takes time out to see where it goes, and [that] they ... follow through on their goals,” she adds.

Williams considers the Detroit Recovery Project a gift. “That is the most beautiful thing,” she says, “to see someone who used to eat out [of] garbage cans, and live in abandoned homes and couldn’t keep a needle out of their arms ... and to see them become leaders, take over [and] become businessmen and [business]women and create programs. That is the beauty of life, period. I’m real grateful for this organization and to be a part of this team.” – terry shropshire

For more information contact www.detroitrecovery.org or call: (313) 579-5462 /(313) 868-7021/(313) 864-5306.


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