Taylor Duerr, a Detroit area boxer and advocate for support for Substance Abuse Disorder,
is the subject of a documentary presentation and discussion at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday,
April 19, in Ferris State University’s Williams Auditorium.
Submitted photo.
Ferris State University is offering three events in Williams Auditorium on Wednesday, April 19, to present information and engender support for those suffering from Substance Abuse Disorder.
The Central Michigan Recovery and Education Network of Ferris is hosting “An Evening With Taylor Duerr.” The Health Resources Services Administration of the federal Department of Health and Human Services provided funding for the April 19 event. Associate Professor of Health Care Systems Administration Gail Bullard said this is the first community-wide offering that uses some of the $1 million grant Ferris received from the department in 2020.
“We will begin with Tim Rabolt, whose struggles with substance abuse followed him to George Washington University,” Bullard said. “There, he founded Students for Recovery, which continues as a student-run resource at his alma mater more than a decade later. Rabolt’s presentation in the auditorium begins at 4:30 p.m.”
An exhibition of student art from the Kendall College of Art and Design, that includes on-site presenters, starts at 5:15 p.m. Bullard said organizers hope to foster an open discussion of how substance abuse disorder impacts families and friends of those in denial of their abuse situations, along with those who are working on recovery.
“Pere Marquette Bistro will cater this event. This is an opportunity for students, faculty and staff, along with community members, to honestly consider and engage with our artists and others in the audience,” Bullard said. “There will be 15 pieces to observe as we move to the main event of the presentation.”
At 6:15 p.m., the graphic documentary “Machine Gun Duerr” will be shown in Williams Auditorium. Following that airing is a facilitated discussion with Duerr. Bullard said Taylor Duerr is a Detroit native who won 11 pro fights and a North American Boxing Federation title in 2020 despite the affects of substance abuse dating as far back as 9 years old.
“Duerr and Rabolt are two young men with sincere and personal passions for promoting a greater understanding of substance abuse disorder so that those seeking recovery have all the support and resources they need to make positive change,” Bullard said. “We hope anyone interested in learning more from these advocates will join us for all or any portion of our program.”
Bullard said Ferris’ Central Michigan Recovery and Education Network had been actively engaging various community groups to attend. A campus consortium supporting the program includes the Ferris’ Social Work Association, Operation Substance Use Disorder, the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists’ chapter, the Dental Hygiene RSO and Lambda Alpha Epsilon.