In this episode, we speak with Laurie Johnson-Wade about her recovery journey. In addition to serving on our steering committee, Laurie is the co-founding director of Lost Dreams Awakening, a recovery community organization in Pennsylvania, and an advanced implementation specialist with the Opioid Response Network. She brings over 30 years of lived recovery experience to the revolutionary and rewarding work of recovery support services. Named 2020’s Advocate of the Year by the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk, Laurie is passionate about advocacy and seeks to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all systems of care.

In our first episode of the new year, we are bringing you something a little different. Our host spoke with some of our organizational stakeholders of the month about the work they are doing through their respective organizations. In this episode, you will get to hear from Honesty Liller of The McShin Foundation, Elizabeth Burke Beaty of Sea Change RCO, Tonya Harris of Kohnlinq Inc., and Ruth Riddick of ASAP-NYCB. Tune in now to hear stories and anecdotes from the field!

In this episode, we talk with Johanna Dolan, one of the PR CoE’s newest steering committee members, about their recovery journey. Johanna was a successful financial advisor. If you're imagining all the possessions and money that might come with such success, you'd be right. But having it all left her empty, lost and experiencing the lowest places one can get. She’s emerged from that low - committing to a journey of self-love, self-respect, love for others. Along the way they’ve learned from some of the best coaches in personal development. Johanna has won recognition for her advocacy and leadership in the communities where she lives and works. Johanna teaches how to change your life through emotional intelligence, financial literacy, business ownership, and principle-centered living.

In this episode, we talk with Kris Kelly, Nell Hurley, and Marin Nelson about their experiences creating and supporting recovery friendly workplaces. Employers play a critical role in fighting the disease of addiction and recovery is good for business. Employers are becoming more proactive in recognizing the economic and cultural benefits of being better informed about substance use and ways to support talent who are seeking help or are in recovery. Through recovery friendly workplaces, we can fight the stigma associated with the disease of addiction and encourage employees to get help sooner by providing resources that support their own, unique recovery pathway.

In honor of Recovery Month, we spoke with Tom Hill about his recovery journey and how it has intertwined with the recovery movement. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration appointed Tom to the position of senior policy advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Tom’s life has been dedicated to the advocacy for and with people who have been marginalized. In his current role, he is working to promote the life-saving role of evidence-based treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support efforts.

Today, we have a very special guest joining us, Cindy Christy. Cindy is a woman in long-term recovery and works as the Project Manager for the CoE’s Coordinating Center. If you have attended any of our events or trainings, you probably already know her. She is passionate about her own recovery and dedicated to serving others on their journey. Cindy wears many hats in both her professional and personal life, but there is always one that she never takes off—the one that asks, “how can I help?” In this episode, we have the honor of hearing her recovery story.

In this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Haner Hernandez, a member of our Peer-Led Steering Committee. Haner is a person in long-term recovery from addiction and is committed to eliminating health disparities by working at the national, state, and local levels.  He is currently a Senior Consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, with a focus on disparities, building health equity, addiction treatment, recovery supports, and the Recovery Support Centers located throughout the Commonwealth. Haner has worked for over 30 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs.

Today, we speak with Nell Hurley, a member of our Peer-Led Steering Committee, about her recovery journey. Nell has worked in the peer recovery space for over a decade and is an expert in developing vibrant recovery community organizations. She is passionate about recovery from addiction, fitness, and helping people meet their goals.

Today, we speak with Michael King about his recovery journey. In addition to serving on our Peer-Led Steering Committee and leading our organizational engagement, Michael is the director and creator of The Communities Project, a national initiative with the mission of saving a million lives from substance use related deaths over the next two decades. Michael is passionate about empowering individuals to find their full potential and reach for the power necessary to bring about social change.

Today, we speak with Sharon Hesseltine about her recovery journey. In addition to chairing our Peer-Led Steering Committee, Sharon is the President and CEO of Intentional Development Consulting & Training, an organization focused on promoting recovery from addiction. Sharon is passionate about reducing stigma associated with addiction and developing the capacity of communities, organizations, and individuals to better meet the needs of individuals with substance use disorders.