Women who make strong bonds in recovery tend to have longevity in sobriety. The Arbor Women’s Group bridges the gap for women, and we do it in a FUN way! A2WG conducts monthly activities to strengthen and enhance women’s recovery through fun, informative, healthy events.  Our events, workshops and retreats are free, low-cost, and/or scholarship based.

Who Can Attend an A2WG Event?

If you are a former alcoholic or addict in recovery, and you are a woman, you qualify. Just register for our events.

Finding Out About Events

We list upcoming events on the home page and on the events and retreats page. We also post all of our events on social media. There are links to your favorite social media sites on every webpage. The fastest way to find out about upcoming events is to sign-up to receive recovery event emails and/or by joining our text notification list by texting EZA2WG to 313131.

Ann Arbor Women’s Group Board

 

Linda Edberg, Member at Large
Attended University of Iowa 3 years (Spanish and Psychology), EMU Honors Program 3 years (Social Work and Spanish). 25 years as Senior Executive Medical Secretary to Department Chairs, University of Iowa and University of Michigan Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Two years, served as Advocate, Domestic Violence Shelter. One year, veterinary office assistant. Two years, administrative assistant, ergonomics engineering consultant firm. Currently retired.

 

Catherine M. Freeman, President
MA in Pastoral Ministry, Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit; BA, University of Michigan. Worked 20 years as a manager in an Information Technology Department. Ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2011. Currently works as the Pastoral Assistant at Dixboro United Methodist Church and volunteers as a retreat leader, a spiritual director for women, and as a Board member for A2WG and two other non-profit agencies

 

Eileen Grady, Vice President
BS in Nursing, University of Kansas; MS in Parent-Child Nursing, University of Michigan. Worked 30 years as Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, 10 years as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Served 3 years on Washtenaw Alano Club Social Committee.

 

Georgea (Gigi) M. Langer, Secretary
Georgea (Gigi) Langer has served on the board of A2WG since it began in 2007. As a person in long-term recovery, she hasn’t had a drink or a drug since January, 1986. She began her professional career as a middle school Spanish and French teacher. After receiving her doctorate from Stanford University, she spent 24 years as a professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University. During those years, she authored several books on teacher effectiveness. Gigi currently lectures, writes, and leads retreats on personal and spiritual growth. She lives happily in Michigan with her husband, Peter, and her cat, Murphy.

 

Gloria Leiniger, Member at Large
Associates Degree in Applied Science of Radiologic Technology, Kellogg Community College; Associates Degree in Applied Science of Radiation Therapy, Lansing Community College. Diploma from Ann Arbor Institute for Massage Therapy. Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. Worked as a Radiologic Technologist 2 years at Community Hospital in Battle Creek, MI; Worked as a Radiation Therapist 13 years at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Gloria currently owns Healing Arts Center for Massage & Wellness in Dexter, MI providing Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. She is a Dexter Rotary Club board member.

 

Amy Gibson Thomas, Treasurer
BA in Biology and English at Rice University; MBA at University of Michigan; PhD from University of Utah (topic in Biochemistry/Protein Structure and Function). Research faculty scientist (3 years), University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Biological Chemistry. Research Administrator and Division Administrator (11 years), University of Michigan Medical School, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Founding Board Member, Michigan Biotechnology Association. Served as business consultant (2 years) to biotechnology startups, and new medical device manufacturers. Currently provides freelance independent scientific writing and editing, and serves as a seasonal tax professional.

 

Janice Weber, Member at Large
Masters Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), Wayne State University; Bachelors of Arts (BA), University of Michigan; Worked 20 years as system analyst in computer-based project development for IBM, Dow Chemical Europe, Serprocor AG.; Currently web interface designer for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for the Clean Diesel Program portion of their website.

 

 How It Started

In February, 2007, a former Executive Director and several other Ann Arbor, Michigan women recovering from alcohol or drug addiction attended a recovery conference in nearby Detroit. This conference and other events for recovering women (e.g., retreats) cost more than many women in early sobriety can afford. Yet, such events are a crucial “booster” to a woman’s sobriety. She saw women laughing, connecting and having fun. She saw that life without alcohol and drugs can be good as she listened to the stories of women of varied economic and ethnic backgrounds. She began to have hope.

The Idea

The former Executive Director began to wonder how to provide support to sober women who could not afford to attend such events. She knew it would take money and organization to achieve this goal.

Higher Power

In Recovery we speak of a “Higher Power” that cares for our lives. This Power was surely present as the former Executive Director stood in line to buy an audiotape of one of the Detroit conference’s main speakers. She began to chat with the woman in front of her and shared the idea of funding women’s attendance at such events. The woman said, “Please come and meet my mother; think she would be very interested.” The mother (Ms. Negley) agreed readily to allocate some of her extensive foundation funds to our cause, and asked for a concrete proposal. And that was the beginning…