Abu As-Sidiq, CPRS

Recovery Navigator, TRCP

Abu As-Sidiq is a person in long-term recovery. Abu grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and has lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1989. Since the early 1990s, Abu struggled with addiction.…

Aderonke Pederson, MD

Dr. Pederson completed medical school and residency training in psychiatry at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. During residency she also received a certificate of scholarly concentration in global health.…

Aja King, Ed.D, LPCC

Dr. Aja Dionna King is a Counseling Psychologist and Licensed Professional  Clinical Counseling with over 22 years.  She earned her Bachelors of Science degree  from the University of Alabama at …

Akosua Dankwah, DrPH

Akosua Dankwah is graduating with her Doctor of Public Health degree in May 2022 from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is a fellow at the Recovery…

Alister Martin, MD, MPP

Dr. Alister Martin is an ER physician and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School and was a former Chief Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital. He…

Allegra Comas ACSW, MA

Allegra is a an Associate Clinical Social Worker. She earned her masters in social work at Smith College in 2019, and her first masters degree in women and gender studies…

Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD

CEO, American Psychological Association

Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. Before joining APA in March 2017,…

Ben Clark, PhD

Senior Program Manager University of Minnesota’s Medical Discovery Team on Addiction

Dr. Clark is a neuroscientist and the senior program manager of the University of Minnesota’s Medical Discovery Team on Addiction (MDTA).  His work as an electrophysiologist focused on glial cell activation…

Bishop Mark C. McGuire, Sr.

Executive Director & CEO The CARES Justice Institute, Inc.

Mark C. McGuire, Sr. is a native Daytonian, and the CEO and Bishop of The Potter’s House- Dayton International Ministries. He is also currently a Staff Pastor and Youth Director…

Carlton “CJ” Jessup

Founder and Owner, the 2nd Chance Project

I started the 2nd Chance Project in June of 2020, in response to the unrest that was happening in my community in South Minneapolis. My vision was to provide housing,…

Christopher Burks, CPRS

TCRP Outreach Coordinator

Mr. Burks is a CPRS and the outreach coordinator for Twin Cities Recovery Project in Minneapolis, MN.  Christopher is a person in long term recovery, who has battled with addiction…

David Whiters PhD, LCSW, MAC, MATS, NCPRSS

Private practice clinician, Recovery Works, LLC.

David is as a person with more than 36 years of long-term addiction recovery. He sustains his recovery by being active in a 12-step recovery program and by being active…

Dominiquie “CJ” Clemmons-James, Ph.D., LCMHC, CRC, LCAS, CCS

Dr. CJ holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration. She is also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, a Certified Clinical Supervisor,…

Dora Dantzler-Wright, BS, CADC, NCRS, CPRS, RCT

Founder/Executive Director, Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition

Executive Director: Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition 35 yrs. long term recovery from substance use disorder and mental illness 25 years’ experience in the field of alcoholism and substance abuse treatment…

Dorothy West, LCDC, RSPS Trainer, TIC Trainer

Dorothy West is a person in long term recovery with over 19 years of continuous sobriety. She is the Executive Director for the Center for Recovery and Wellness Resources (CRWR); a CAPRSS accredited RCO in Houston Texas. She has been…

Elizabeth Burden, MS

Senior Advisor National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Ms. Burden is a Senior Advisor with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. In this capacity she works to advance substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, providing technical…

Ese Aghenta, MD, MPH

University of Minnesota

Dr. Aghenta completed her Family Medicine Residency at Hennepin Healthcare. Following residency, she started practicing as a Hospitalist caring for hospitalized adult patients. She is completing her fellowship in Addiction…

Fred Dyer, PhD

Fred Dyer Ph.D. CADC is an international trainer, speaker, consultant, author who provides training and consultations to agencies and organizations; criminal justice, mental health agencies, adolescent treatment facilities, emerging adult…

George Lewis, CPRC

George Lewis is the CEO of Motivational Consulting provides services and resources to substance use treatment, education, therapy, and mental health professionals. Motivational Consulting currently has contracts with several treatment…

Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa

Assistant Commissioner for the Community Supports Administration, Minnesota Department of Health

Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa is the assistant commissioner for the Community Supports Administration, which includes the Behavioral Health, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Disability Services, Housing and Support Services, Fiscal Analysis…

Gregory Kemp, CPRS-R

TCRP Program Director

Gregory Kemp is a CPRS-R and the program director of the Twin Cities Recovery Project in Minneapolis, MN.  Gregory is a person in long-term recovery, with experience with co-occurring disorders…

H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH

Dr. Clark, MD, JD, MPH is currently the Dean’s Executive Professor of Public Health at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. He is formerly the Director of the Center…

Holly Hagle, PhD

Holly Hagle, PhD, is a Program Director/Assistant Research Professor in the Collaborative to Advance Health Services, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. She is…

Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD.

Dean, Vice President for Clinical Affairs, University of Minnesota Medical School

Dr. Jakub Tolar is Dean of the Medical School and Vice President for Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota. A pediatric blood and marrow transplant physician whose life work…

Jasmine McMeeking, AMFT

Jasmine McMeeking, AMFT, has a M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She interned at The Relational Center in…

Jen Belemu, PRS

With 11 years of experience working with teenagers in recovery at MaryHaven Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, Jennifer Belému brings a unique and vital perspective to Heartland High School as…

Jeremy Byard, CPSS, CSA, SES

Co-Founder/CEO, Louisville Recovery Community Connection (LRCC)

Byard is a passionate advocate devoted to ensuring all individuals with substance use disorders have access to high quality, evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services and is a leader in…

Jerome Adams, MD

Former U.S. Surgeon General

Dr. Jerome Adams is a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Purdue’s Health Equity Initiatives on October 1, 2021.  He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the…

Jesse Kaplan, RCPF, CPRSR-AS, CPS

Jesse Kaplan (he/him), RCPF, CPRSR-AS, CPS, is a person in long-term recovery who is currently serving the recovery community through his role as a CPRS Supervisor, overseeing a statewide team…

Jonathan Lofgren, PhD, LADC

Jonathan Lofgren is a native Minnesotan, lives a life of long-term recovery (est. Labor Day, 1987). Jonathan holds a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in Training & Performance Improvement from Capella…

LaTricia Tate

LaTricia Tate received her A.S. Degree in Human Services at MCTC in 2022 and is currently working on her B.S. degree. She has worked in the Human Services field for…

LaTrisha Vetaw

Council Member, Minneapolis

LaTrisha is proud to serve Ward 4 in North Minneapolis on the City Council. LaTrisha loves the diversity and small-town feel of Ward 4. She started her career in public…

LeRoy Brown

Founder and CEO of The Heart of it All Recovery Project LLC

Leroy Brown was born in Hamilton at Fort Hamilton Hospital May 16, 1978 to Leroy Henderson and Tommie Ann Brown. Mr. Brown went to Harrison Elementary School and graduated from…

Liz Folie, LMFT

Clinical Director at Friendly House

Liz Folie has a B.A. in International Relations from The University of Southern California and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC’s Rossier School of Education. She did…

Macy Hyland, BA, CPRS

Macy Hyland, BA CPRS, is currently overseeing statewide community peer recovery support services (PRSS) as the Recovery Advocate Manager at Mn Prevention & Recovery Alliance (MnPRA). Throughout her work, travel…

Marc L. Johnigan

Executive Director of Twin Cities Recovery Project (TCRP), Founder and Chief Officer

MARC L. JOHNIGAN established the Twin Cities Recovery Project, Inc. (TCRP) in 2016, and is the organization’s executive director. Currently in recovery from substance use and mental illness, Mr. Johnigan…

Mark J. Thomas, Ph.D.

Director, University of Minnesota’s Medical Discovery Team on Addiction

Dr. Mark Thomas, Ph.D. is a professor of neuroscience and Director of the University of Minnesota’s Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, a research team of 60 faculty funded by the…

Michael Askew

Deputy Director of The Office of Recovery at SAMHSA

Michael Askew is the Deputy Director of The Office of Recovery.  In his role at Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA and the Department of Mental Health and…

Minerva Francis, EdD, MPH, CHES

Dr. Minerva Francis is a social scientist specializing in health and behavior research. She completed a T32 pre-doctoral fellowship with NIDA’s Behavioral Science Training (BST) program in Drug Abuse Research…

Monty Burks PhD, CPRS

Director of Faith-Based Initiatives

Monty Burks, CPRS, PhD, serves as the Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, where his role is engaging and connecting Tennessee’s…

Nate Hurse MSW, MBA, LICSW, LADC

Vice President, Minnesota Certification Board, & Vice President, National Acupuncture Detoxication Association (NADA)

Nate Hurse is a Licensed Independent Clinical social worker. He comes with a wealth of expertise in the areas of clinical and program development, substance use disorders, successful treatment of…

Nathaniel G. Harnett, PhD

Director, Neurobiology of Affective and Traumatic Experiences Laboratory

Nathaniel G. Harnett, PhD, is a neuroscientist whose research is focused on understanding the brain basis for why some people are more likely to develop stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic…

Pastor Monica DeLaurentis

After many years of addiction, Pastor Monica found the love of God and was compelled to go to the streets with it. She worked in homeless shelters while attending North…

Peter Gaumond

Senior Policy Analyst, Office of National Drug Control Policy

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in the substance use disorder treatment and recovery field.  He joined the Office of National Drug Control (ONDCP) in October 2010 as the Chief…

Rahul Vanjani, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine

Rahul is a primary care physician with board certifications in Internal and Addiction Medicine. In 2023, he completed the UCI TNT Psychiatry for Primary Care Fellowship. As a Macy Faculty…

Shalini Wickramatilake

Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, ONDCP

Shalini Wickramatilake serves as Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In this role, she coordinates with State, local, and Tribal…

The Rev. Jan M. Brown, MSc, RCP, CPRS

The Rev. Jan Brown is Founder/Executive Director of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul. An ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, she serves…

Tina Nelson BA

Producer, Ask The Messenger

Tina Nelson has a bachelor’s degree in journalism & screen study from the University of Michigan. Her degree has taken her to many monumental opportunities. Her most recent work can…

Tony Sanchez

Tony Sanchez

Tony Sanchez is a passionate advocate who works tirelessly to enhance and develop recovery-oriented systems of care for all people. As a person in long-term recovery, Tony is continually amazed…

Waltrina E. DeFrantz-Dufor, Ph.D.

Waltrina E. DeFrantz-Dufor, Ph.D., is the Director of the Collegiate Recovery Program at the University of Denver in Denver, CO, and uses the pronouns she/her/hers. She has over 18 years…

Will M. Aklin, PhD

Will M. Aklin, Ph.D., is Chief of the Clinical Research Grants Branch of the Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and director…

Willie Pearl Evans, MAPL

Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership