About
Tara Tinnin - Owner and Co-Founder
Letter From the Owner
My name is Tara and I’m the owner and co-founder of Sunlight Sober Living Homes. I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and I am a graduate of Little Rock Central High. After high school I went away to the University of Denver for college. I thought I would never return to Arkansas. However, in 2012 I had gone off-track. I was in law school but my drinking and Adderall usage had brought me to the lowest point in my life. I entered a treatment program in California. At the time I thought I would spend 30 days in treatment, then return to Denver. I thought I would pick-up my life where I left off, having benefited from a “breather”.
But while I was in treatment, I had a huge realization—I was miserable and my life was actually in shambles. I let go of my plan and decided I was willing to do whatever was suggested to me by my counselors. I was willing to change everything.
They told me that after treatment I should move into a sober living home away from Denver. They said if I went back and surrounded myself by the same people and places, I would most likely end up where I started. So I decided to stay in California for a year. I decided to “do recovery” for a year and then reevaluate.
I moved into a wonderful sober living home where I was told to attend meetings, get a sponsor, and work the steps and go to an outpatient program. I did all of these things. My life and spiritual condition transformed dramatically. I became the manager of my sober home. One year turned into six. Through the program and my sober home, I made healthy friends that I could truly count-on. Life will never be perfect, but I finally have the tools, friendship and support to live life on life’s terms.
In 2018 I decided to move back to Arkansas and start a sober living home similar to what I had experienced in California—a beautiful home in a charismatic neighborhood managed by people with integrity. I co-founded Sunlight in 2018 with my high school best friend Kaki McClellan. Kaki has an amazing story and she leads Sunlight from a place of wisdom, experience, and true Compassion.
Working together we have realized our vision. We have gorgeous homes with rock-solid managers who are active in recovery. Our homes have a loving and familial vibe but we take accountability very seriously. We also take fun very seriously! I could never have gotten and stayed sober if my life wasn’t fun.
At Sunlight we cook together; we laugh and cry together; we attend meetings together; we grow together; and together we ‘trudge the road of happy destiny.’
Kaki McClellan
Kaki McClellan went to treatment for the last time in August 2017 after five failed attempts. That time she decided to move into a sober living home after treatment. “That was the best decision I ever made,” Kaki says. “Sober living saved my life. It held me accountable in early recovery, and it’s where I learned how to be an adult. When my friend from high school told me she was opening her sober living home, I jumped at the chance to come to help her manage it. I have been with Sunlight Sober Living for a little over a year now.” Kaki says she loves watching the Sunlight residents grow and seeing their lives transform. When she’s not at Sunlight she works at Serenity Park Recovery Center doing admissions and teaching yoga.
Ryne Woods
After struggling with addiction for many years, Ryne found a new way of life when he got clean April 4, 2018. He has been dedicated to his recovery ever since and has been actively working in the field of recovery and managing sober living homes since August 2018. He is currently employed as a CIT and pursuing a career in Addiction Counseling. Since finding freedom from addiction, he is very passionate about helping others achieve that same freedom. “If you ask people about me, they will tell you that I am thoughtful, loving, caring, compassionate and am truly in the business of saving lives”, Ryne says. He adds that his main goal is to give others hope and show them that there is a better way to live.
Kristen Tweetle
On June 23rd 2019 Kristen Tweetle went to treatment at Oasis renewal Center and says, thanks to Sunlight sober living homes, she has been sober ever since. “Sunlight gave me the strength and support I needed to start my new life. I was one of the first residents and I am now the house manager. In just a year and a half I have been able to get a good job, get my drivers license back, get a car and start working on my GED. I am so grateful for my life in recovery and I owe a huge part of it to Sunlight.”
Jason Jones
Jason Jones is the house manager at Sunlight Sober Living House men's home. He has been active in the recovery community for more than 12 years guiding men on a path of recovery. Jason loves seeing lives transformed and renewed from a life of active addiction. He is eager to share with others what he has learned on his recovery journey.
