Tara Moreno-Wallen accepting the Advocate of the Year award at the Faces and Voices Leadership Summit Gala Dinner.
The Peer 360 team meeting with state senators as a part of the Recovery Leadership summit Hill Day.
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Two members of the Michigan Association of Recovery Community Organizations (MARCO) were nationally recognized at the 2025 Faces and Voices of Recovery Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit’s prestigious annual awards celebrate the contributions of individuals and organizations advancing recovery advocacy and peer-based support across the nation. Tara Moreno-Wallen, founder and executive director of Serenity House Communities, was awarded Advocate of the Year. The honor recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to recovery advocacy and civic leadership. “Being awarded Advocate of the Year encouraged me to look back on all of the hardships I’ve overcome,” said Moreno-Wallen. “With this award, it feels like I’ve conquered the great mountain I visualized at the beginning of my recovery journey.” Moreno-Wallen’s advocacy has centered on creating inclusive recovery spaces and speaking openly about her lived experience, particularly as a mother in recovery. “It took me seven years before I finally received our first big grant that would allow Serenity House to have full-time employees,” she reflected. “During those years I strengthened my advocacy muscles.” In 2024, she played a critical role in securing funding allowing Serenity House to launch a motherhood and recovery initiative. “I never wanted another mother to feel the way I felt,” she said. “The beautiful thing is that my daughter and I are now working on this program together.” Peer 360 Recovery Alliance, based in Saginaw, was also recognized with the Recovery Community Organization of the Year award. The honor is given to organizations that model peer leadership, cultural responsiveness, and authentic support for all pathways of recovery. “We receive a lot of joy from having been recognized and are grateful to Faces and Voices for the national award,” said Ricardo Bowden, executive director of Peer 360. “Most importantly, it’s recognition for all the staff, independent contractors, and program participants who have embraced and safeguarded our core mission of All Recovery, All Pathways, All Together.” Established in 2015, Peer 360 has developed into a impactful recovery support organization serving a wide range of communities. “At the onset, we were not taken seriously by the courts, and the 12-step community was outright antagonistic,” Bowden explained. “We stood up for the validity of multiple pathways—including medication—and let our work speak for itself.” Bowden also credited Mid-State Health Network, Region 5’s PIHP, for supporting the organization’s foundation. “They openly embraced the concept of a standalone recovery organization from the beginning.” Peer 360’s statewide reach now includes partnerships with several Tribal Nations. “This collaboration has been unbelievably value-added for Peer 360 and has enriched the lives of all of us who interact with the First People,” Bowden said. As for what’s next, Bowden offered a grounded reflection: “We will keep our heads down and keep doing the work. Delivering service with integrity and being good stewards of the resources that come our way has always been a priority and will remain so.” MARCO congratulates both Serenity House Communities and Peer 360 on this well-deserved national recognition and celebrates their role in shaping a stronger, more inclusive recovery ecosystem in Michigan and beyond. |
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