MARQUETTE COUNTY

It’s 2:30 am. You get the call. Your loved one has been arrested. Possession with the intent to sell. What do you do? It doesn’t end. It keeps on going. You are living with a loved one who you know has a substance use disorder (SUD) and you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your sister was in an accident, months ago, and was prescribed a painkiller. She comes to you asking for some of your leftover prescription Vicodin because she ran out and needs more. What do you say? Do you give it to her?
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What do you do when you witness family and friends struggle with the crisis of addiction year after year? It wasn’t until attending a FAN chapter-sponsored conference on SUD that we learned that there is an organization able and willing to help communities support one another. Families Against Narcotics was formed as a community’s response to the real crisis in their midst. Our community is filled with caring and helping individuals who are affected by addiction in one way or the other and are willing to come forward to serve and support one another.
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Marquette FAN has made a commitment to integrate cultural diversity awareness support and has made a point to address substance use disorders by educating and utilizing cultural teachings when beneficial for the community. As such, Marquette FAN recognized this important component and has made sure there is room for inclusion.
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Marquette County Families Against Narcotics was established to serve our community, hand holding hand, step by step, working together to support each other in the fight against the stigma and judgment surrounding addiction.
We are here to help. You are not alone in this. Marquette FAN strives to assist those affected by addiction by utilizing community resources to aid in the recovery process. Together, with our partners in the judicial system, healthcare community, and educational system, along with individuals in the recovering community and all other elements of our community, we shall provide awareness, education, and solutions to this situation. Please join us and become a part of the solution.
MONTHLY MEETING
3rd Tuesday of the Month
6:30 pm
Peter White Public Library
217 N. Front St.
Marquette, MI 49855
Also live streaming via Zoom at THIS LINK
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EXECUTIVE BOARD
RYAN REDMOND
President Term Exp. 12/24
Ryan was born in upstate New York and grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. He attended college at Oakland Community College, where he studied psychology and social work, and has since become state certified as a Peer Recovery Coach and as a Community Health Worker. Currently attending Northern Great Lakes Synod to become a licensed Lay Pastor, Ryan serves as the Campus Ministry Director for First Presbyterian Church. He identifies as someone who is in long-term recovery, which means he abstains from drugs and alcohol. Ryan has five beautiful children: Ryatt, Luci, Rome, Ruby--who is their guardian angel in Heaven--and Ruth. In his free time, Ryan hikes, works out at the Y, volunteers, and teaches yoga as a certified yoga instructor. He is the founder and Executive Director for Superior Housing Solutions, which was born out of a need in his life for structure, purpose, and accountability. In and out of treatment centers for the better part of his early adult life, Ryan's experience put him in a unique position to understand where the need is for the vulnerable and people in recovery. His hope is that with Superior Housing Solutions and his involvement with FAN, he can continue to reduce stigma within communities, work a plan for the individual, reintegrate addicts and the vulnerable into their communities with happy healthy lives, and give back to the community in which he serves.
STEVE HULL
Vice President Term Exp. 12/24
Steve graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology. He is the co-founder of Youth Arts: Unlocked and is the current board chair. With more than 10 years of child welfare experience, Steve is currently the Program Manager of MDHHS (Marquette/Alger/Schoolcraft counties). He enjoys engaging in the communities he serves.
MICHELLE METZ
Secretary Term Exp. 12/24
Michelle is the interim secretary and treasurer of the Marquette FAN chapter. She is a person in recovery and active in the Marquette recovery community. Over the past several years, Michelle worked for Superior Housing Solutions, helping to create care programs and assist with finding housing for homeless individuals in Marquette. She is also the vice president of the Marquette Housing Commission board of directors. Currently, Michelle is employed by Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago as a remote analyst supporting the electronic charting and billing software.
BOARD MEMBERS
BARBIE DUPRAS
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Barbie was born and raised in Marquette, graduating from Marquette Senior High School and Northern Michigan University. She has been in the early childhood field for over 45 years and loves working with parents and supporting their efforts to meet the demands of working and caring for their children. One change Barbie has seen over the years is an increase in the devastation of addiction in young families. She became interested in FAN at a conference in the Soo a few years ago. "FAN brings the whole community together to support one another without stigma or judgment," Barbie states. "I believe Marquette County can support our residents and help protect our children from this crisis. I am looking forward to Marquette County becoming a healthy environment for everyone."
KRISTINE KIVELA
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Being born in Marquette and raised in Ishpeming, Kristine has always loved her hometown. She is passionate about helping others and changed careers to do just that. Kristine has worked for Community Action Alger Marquette in the past and came back to work as a bus driver knowing that she could have direct contact with the community. When her first husband became dependent on opioids, Kristine did everything she could to help him. But she found that she had lost herself in the process of trying to save him and their family, including their twin daughters. "I wanted nothing more than to keep our family together," Kristine reveals. "But after nearly 12 years, and numerous overdoses, I made the decision to end the marriage and get my girls out of that environment." Kristine's first husband made it 17 months after the divorce before ultimately losing his battle with addiction. "FAN is something that may have been a wonderful resource back then, so I am all about bringing awareness and resources to our community," Kristine says. "Addiction does not discriminate."
DR. DAVID GUINN
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Dr. David Guinn (DNP, FNP-BC) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience caring for adults and adolescents. His passion is addiction medicine and the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Dr. Guinn earned a B.S.N. degree from the University of North Carolina, completed graduate studies at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, and received his doctorate from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. He currently sees patients at Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, with offices in Marquette and Gwinn. In his spare time, Dr. Guinn enjoys traveling and watching movies with his wife and four children. He considers it an honor to serve on the board of Families Against Narcotics to help spread awareness of substance addiction/dependency among the community of Marquette and abroad.
KHADIJAH WILSON
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Khadijah--or, as her friends call her, Kaye--was born in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. She came to the United States so she could attend college, obtain a nursing degree, and become a registered nurse. After working as a nurse in Redbank, New Jersey, Kaye spent most of her time as a nurse for a cardiologist in Tampa, Florida. She also worked as an administrative assistant for the Sligh Masjid in Tampa and assisted members with translating documents. Following the death of her first husband, Kaye moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she served as campaign manager for Obama for Ohio and as an advocate for low-income residents in the state. Kaye's second husband, Dr. Carter Wilson, head of the Department of Political Science at Northern Michigan University (NMU), brought Kaye from Toledo to Marquette. While living in Marquette, Kaye has been involved with several community organizations. She was the President of Toastmasters International and has worked with Rotary West of Marquette, the SART team for the Women’s Center, and the Community Baby Shower. She also served on the board for the Women's Center and UPHP and is currently a member of NMU’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. A few years ago, Kaye created a nonprofit organization called the Queen's Heart. This organization provides household items to Marquette community groups that serve low-income clientele: homeless shelters, nursing homes, veteran centers, and others. A mother of two, Kaye enjoys arts and crafts, decorating, learning American history, kayaking, traveling, shopping, and spending time with her grandson.
CHARLIE YEAGER
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Charlie dedicated his career to helping youth strive to be the best they can be. He has been an explorer, reclamation specialist, broadcast engineer, dog musher, teacher, technology coordinator, prevention specialist, and a regional school health coordinator. In Michigan, Charlie worked for the NICE Community School District and MARESA (Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency). Five years ago, he and his wife, Ann, started the only Nar-Anon Family Group in Marquette County. The father of three adult sons, Charlie is also a grandfather to three grandkids. Besides spending time with his grandchildren, he keeps busy maple sugaring, kayaking, canoeing, biking, hiking, building with timber frame and cordwood, gardening, keeping bees, and baking bread.
GINNY MACHIELA
Director Term Exp. 12/24
Born and raised in Marquette County, Ginny has a Bachelor's Degree in Writing (technical & creative) from Northern Michigan University. She is the Sustainability Coordinator at Dial Help, where she began working in 2014 as a Crisis Specialist on the crisis line. She is certified in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and a Stronger Together facilitator. Ginny is passionate about creating community change in the Upper Peninsula, especially breaking multigenerational cycles of substance use disorder (SUD). She was part of the R-CORP projects Beyond the Save and Facing Addiction through Community Engagement, both of which promoted education and access to resources for SUD. Ginny currently supports Communities That Care coalitions UP-wide, helps oversee the UP Suicide Prevention Coalition, and is part of the Marquette County Suicide Prevention Alliance and West End Suicide Prevention Coalition. In her spare time, Ginny enjoys reading, a bit of gaming, triking around town, and spending time with family and friends. Other interests include disability advocacy, LGTBQ+ rights, anti-racism education, women's issues, and ACEs. She loves the white of winter and green of summer, but most of all that majestic queen, Lake Superior (Gichigami).
ADVISORY BOARD
Theresa Sell
Financial Advisor
Elevation Retirement
Deb Carello
MAPS Coordinator
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center
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Mary Jenerou
Executive Membership Liaison
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
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Dr. T. Michael Kates, FABPM
Family Medicine
UP Health Systems Marquette
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Jenna Luoma
Family Advocate
Community Action Alger Marquette (CAAM)
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Jesslyn Ward
Family Advocate
Community Action Alger Marquette (CAAM)
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Randy Perry
Community Member
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Dana LaPorte
Community Manager
IMPACT Community
Barb Olsen
Supportive Services for Veterans and Families
CAAM Health Care Navigator
Samantha Ledbetter
MSU Psychiatry Resident
Michigan State University
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Mandy Bonesteel
AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
OPEN-MSU Opioid Prevention and Education Network
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Tim Sholander
D/Lt UPSET Team
Michigan State Police
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Kayleigh Babcock
Men's Case Manager
Great Lakes Recovery
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Stephanie Bryan
Outreach Caseworker
Superior Housing Solutions
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Melissa DeMarse
UP Behavioral Health Consultant
Michigan Opioid Collaborative
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Ashly Gleason
Health Education Specialist
Coordinator, Marquette County Cares Coalition (MC2)
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