Staff & Volunteers

Founder & Executive Director

Tara Moreno-Wallen, M.A., ADS, holds a master’s degree in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications from Michigan State University. Moreno worked as a news reporter for four years before becoming the founder and executive director of Serenity House in 2015. Moreno’s inspiration came from her own recovery journey. She trained in recovery coaching through Genesee Health Systems in 2016 and is a member of the Genesee County Prevention Coalition. She also sits on Genesee County’s Family Against Narcotics advisory board. Other networks also include Faces & Voices for Recovery and Mobilize Recovery, national organizations geared at eradicating addiction stigma and unifying people in recovery. Moreno is also a certified Reiki master teacher, developer of Recovery Reiki, and is a certified Acudetox Specialist. 

Ms. Moreno is experienced in non-profit board development and recruitment, strategic planning, and budget crafting and implementation. Her role includes developing, leading on, and managing project strategies and work plans; managing and supervising staff and directing tasks on individual projects; providing strategic guidance of varying substance to staff on a wide variety of issues; directing stakeholder interactions, including facilitating meetings, calls, presentations, and conferences; contributing to planning and new outreach development, including drafting proposals for potential clients. Moreno collaborates with individuals and/or organizations such as law enforcement, health care and other community resources and systems in Genesee County and other regions in the state of Michigan to establish working relationships and systems of referral and engagement with recovery coaches and recovery support services. 

  Program Coordinator, Reiki Master, Acudetox Specialist, & Holistic Healing Hour Facilitator 

Serena Gunn, CPRM, CADC is the former President of the Serenity House of  Flint (SHOF).  Serena studied at Mott and is continuing her education  in an undergrad social work program and plans to pursue a Master’s in  Social Work at the University of Flint. As a person in long-term  recovery, Serena has made it her mission to advocate for people in  addiction recovery and educate the communities on holistic models for  recovery from all addictions.  After committing to her recovery in  recovery housing for 18 months she became a graduate of Flint Odyssey  House.  Her career in the SUD field began in 2016 when she became a  recovery coach at Odyssey House and transitioned to the adolescent  program as she worked to become a Certified Alcohol and Addiction  Counselor. Being on the front lines working daily with local schools,  Adolescent Recovery Court, and Girls Court she spends endless hours  educating and advocating for education and recovery supports the  adolescents and their families. Currently, she sits on a Peer Advisory  board in Flint. Serena shares her story on multiple platforms,  conventions, 12-step fellowship, local panels, and travels the state in  the hope that her story can inspire hope in the individuals and  families.  She also is certified Reiki Master and an Auricular Detox  Specialist.  She uses holistic models in groups she facilities with at  risk youth and people in the community. She is currently a volunteer in  the outreach program with SHOF and provides reiki and acudetox for its  clients. 

Fundraising Specialist

Tavé Kuckhoff is the Fundraising Specialist for the Serenity House of Flint,  Tavé is responsible for coordinating diversified fund development as well as communication initiatives.  This effort involves building the database of donors through individual giving, foundation and corporate support as well as sponsorships.  This position supports the Fundraising Committee’s initiatives. Tavé is in long-term recovery from  opioid dependency and is very passionate about helping others to get  what she has because “this is a beautiful life.”Tavé is also certified recovery coach and level II Recovery Reiki practitioner. She is also an advocate of a holistic  lifestyle and is working to spread the love and knowledge of Holistics  to the community. “I am honored to be able to work with The Flint  Serenity House team.”

Child and Adolescent Yoga Instructor with an emphasis in at-risk, incarceration, and trauma 

Ilona Curry has been employed as a paralegal in Flint for over 20  years. She practices harm reduction and has been a participant of the  Holistic Healing Hour at the Serenity House of Flint for over a year.  She has completed the 15-hour training with the Connection Coalition for  Trauma Informed Youth Outreachm focusing on yoga programs for youth.  Ilona has also completed the Prison Yoga Project training for providing  Yoga and Mindfulness in prisons and jails. Ilona is currently pursuing  her 200-hour Yoga teacher training certification and will soon be  certified through Yoga Alliance. She also plans on pursuing a Reiki I  training and trainings on aromatherapy and crystal healing. Ilona is a  recovery ally. 

 Staff Accountant 

Jamie Pemberton is a Flint native. She graduated from U of M-Flint with a degree in accounting with a minor in psychology.  She also has an associates in social work. Jamie specializes in  non-profit accounting and has worked for numerous non profits which  include St. Luke New Life Center and Berston Field House. She is also  the Director of Finance for Michigan State University. Jamie has been  the Serenity House accountant for two years. Jamie is passionate about  helping nonprofits fulfill their missions. Jamie is a person in  long-term recovery.

Aromatherapy Specialist

Jennifer  Davis is currently a program at General Motors. She has been in the  automotive industry for the past 4 years, but her true calling is  aromatherapy. She is an advocate of holistic healing having used  alternative medicine most of her life. She is educated in essential oils  and the many benefits they provide. She is passionate about sharing how  essential oils can help a person in the recovery process from addiction  and emotional trauma. She has shared a personal experience with  addiction as a child and spouse of an addict. She is devoted to helping  the community overcome this epidemic and enthusiastic about working with  the Serenity House of Flint. Jen is a recovery ally.

Community Research Coordinator, Reiki Master, & EFT Practitioner

Michael Wallen is the Community Reasearch Coordinator for Serenity  House and is the co-owner of Green Tara Holistic Recovery Services.  Michael says it’s not uncommon when someone experiences addiction,  co-dependency or trauma for their life to unravel. Michael helps  Serenity House build capacity for research. His interests include  gathering quantitative and qualitative data for the organization.   Michael holds certifications as an Acupuncture Detoxification  Specialist, in WHEE (Wholistic Hybrid EMDR EFT) and in EFT-1.  He also  has an Engineering Degree from the University of Michigan – Flint. “I  believe it is the relationship that we have with ourselves that is  ultimately what creates the world around us. Therefore, I want to help  as many individuals to heal and change their internal reality as  possible. This will impact our families, our communities and our society  in a way that is quite miraculous,” says Michael. Michael is a person  in long-term recovery with holistic methods.

 Drumming Facilitators

Ool is the owner of StrongHeart Drum Medicine with his wife Kellie  Pardi who is a staff member at Catholic Charities. The two have been  working together over the past couple of years to deliver drum circles  and drum ceremonies across Michigan. In 2014, Ool took a drumming class  with Spirit Hawk of the Ojibwa Nation. He was given the name StrongHeart  by Chief White Buffalo at a gathering in Alocna County, Michigan. The  Pardi’s facilitate ceremonies in yoga studios, churches and private  residences. Together they create a unique experience using native  instruments from around the world. Kellie and Ool are recovery allies. 

Reiki Master & Holistic Healing Hour Facilitator 

Morgan Gross is 24 and native to Grand Blanc, MI. She is a mother to a  daughter age three. As a student employee, she has been employed at  Mott Community College since September of 2018. Currently a student at  Mott Community College, she is finishing her associates in arts with a  3.7. As a social work candidate, her educational goals include pursuing  her masters.

 Reiki Level I Practitioner 

Natalie is a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer for 16 years  and works at a local hospital.   Natalie is a serenity house volunteer  and has been attending holistic healing hour for over one year.  She has  been sober for over 5 and a half years.  She is certified in reiki 1  and has been meditating since 2016.  Natalie  is currently taking yoga  teacher training.  She enjoys riding her bike, walking, reading,  swimming and yoga.  Natalie is a person in long-term recovery. 

Acupuncturist & Reiki Master

Sabrina was exposed to Acupuncture in her teens and with it sparked a life-long passion for natural medicine. She has been practicing traditional and cosmetic Acupuncture since 2015. She completed her Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at East West College of Natural Medicine, in Sarasota Fl. Sabrina is an avid learner. Holds a BS in Biomedical Health Sciences from the University of South Florida. She also has a background as a licensed massage therapist and a licensed medical esthetician. Appreciative for the knowledge, constantly amazed by her patients as their health is transformed by Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.