Michigan Connects

10/20/2026

Recovery housing changed my life. I am so glad that it is starting to get more recognition and being considered as a critical part of someone’s early recovery.

When you take someone struggling with addiction off the street, get them into treatment, and then send them right back into the environment they came from, it doesn’t accomplish much. Recovery housing isn’t just a place to live. It provides social support, structure, peer recovery coaches and case managers, and transitions someone back into the community.

The state has increased recovery housing sevenfold since 2017, with new opioid settlement investments supporting long-term wellness for people recovering from substance use disorders.

10/12/2026

Thank you so much 🙏 This means a lot. I know this was Alina that made this so I just wanna say I feel blessed to be able to work under you and learn from you on a daily basis.

🧡 O for October. O for Organization! 🧡

Today, we’re celebrating Michigan Connects, the personal blog founded and written by our very own Program Director, Aaron Emerson! ✍️

Aaron is an inspiration and mentor to so many of our clients and community members. As a coach, leader, and advocate for recovery, he meets challenges with passion and dedication, helping others see their potential and take steps toward a better life.

His impact reaches far beyond his writing. He lives what he writes, teaches what he’s learned, and shows his commitment through his actions. Every day, Aaron puts his heart into serving others—offering guidance, encouragement, and an example of recovery in action.

We are proud to have Aaron as part of the Pinnacle family and grateful to be part of his journey. Thank you, Aaron, for your work, your leadership, and your commitment to Pinnacle and our recovery community. 💜

👏 Let’s show Aaron some love! Share a kind word or a story about how he’s helped you, and support his passion by visiting, reading, and sharing Michigan Connects. Help his words and his message reach someone who needs them!

10/06/2026

The Michigan State game on 10/17 will have a sober tailgate. Even if you don’t go to the game you can show up for the tailgate to have some sober fun.

09/29/2026

This event is going on at Connected Health and is giving away $10 gift cards for people to get tested. There will be some booths there too.

09/02/2026

Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. When you live in a reality dominated by instant gratification, it can be challenging when we don’t get the job, car, house, and recovery wife right away. Then when life starts throwing haymakers, sometimes it’s easier to throw in the towel.
But nobody said it was gonna be easy. The biggest rewards usually come after the hardest battles. Don’t sabotage your blessings for immediate relief. And those battles don’t have to be fought alone. For me, it was my faith in Jesus and relationships with my support system that made the difference.

09/01/2026

Here’s a list of the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s mobile locations for September ‼️

09/01/2026

Have you ever wondered about the history of sober living in the US? Probably not. But I still wrote this anyway. It’s interesting that sober living actually goes back nearly 200 years. With how much it has grown over the last decade, I think it’s important to learn from the past.

Sober living goes back almost 200 years in the US and has evolved considerably. This is a brief history of key events that played a role in its development.

08/31/2026

Today is the day we honor, celebrate, remember, and spread awareness to those who have lost their battle to addiction. If you have someone you want to share with us- please put their picture, their name, or something about them in the comments for us to commemorate them. Our hearts and prayers are with everyone who has lost someone they love to addiction. 💜💜

08/29/2026

One thing that has not changed no matter how long I have stayed sober is the relief of going to bed clear-headed. I can not take for granted the “blessing of stressing” about what time I have to get up for work or take my daughter to school. It’s nothing compared to the worry of whether the cops will show up at 3 AM for a probation warrant, or what scheme I have to create to get money in the morning. Any 24 hour period without putting poison in my body is a win.