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.…
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.…
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…
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 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…
President & CEO of Detroit Recovery Project
Dr. Andre L. Johnson, a native Detroiter, is currently the Founder/President/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project Incorporated, a trailblazing multi-service non-profit agency that provides a wide spectrum of prevention, treatment,…
Anita Bradley is the founder and Executive Director of The Northern Ohio Recovery Association NORA. Anita has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Studies obtained from Kent State University. She…
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,…
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…
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…
Bobbi Bledsoe is the founder of Greater Louisville Recovery Project (GLRP), a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) based in Louisville, Kentucky. GLRP provides peer-led support services to individuals impacted by substance…
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,…
Director of Operations ADCT CPRS-R-FE
Christopher is a person in long term recovery, who has battled with addiction and incarceration for over twenty years. Tired of the life he was living previously, Christopher wanted more,…
I was born and raised in the Rondo Community of Saint Paul Mn, Damone J Presley Sr, I am Founder and Director of Vision In Living Life (VILL) “Change is…
Associate Director of Social Justice & Recovery
Daryl McGraw is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and recovery advocate with lived experience in addiction and the criminal justice system. After spending 10 years cycling in and out of…
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…
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,…
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 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…
Dr. Aja King, Ed.D., LPCC doesn’t just talk about burnout—she disrupts it. As a Counseling Psychologist and Founder of Brave Defiance Consulting, she works at the intersection of behavioral health and…
Dr. Corrie Vilsaint is a community psychologist who formerly served on faculty at Harvard Medical School, and as Associate Director of Recovery Health Equity at the Recovery Research Institute. She…
Dr. Darrell Gillespie is a distinguished leader in both faith and community service. As the founder and Senior Pastor of Proverbs Christian Fellowship Church in North Minneapolis, he has been…
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…
Emanuel Roberts is the Founder and Executive Director of Anything Helps, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) Trainer, harm reduction advocate, and a recognized leader in Minnesota’s recovery landscape. He…
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 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 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…
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…
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…
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, 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…
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, 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…
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…
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…
Jeremy Drucker is the state’s first Addiction and Recovery Director and is a person in long-term recovery. In this role he chairs a subcabinet of state agencies focused on improving…
My name is Jermale Kling, and I am a person in long-term recovery. I work as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with a Forensic Endorsement at Twin Cities Recovery Project,…
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 (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 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…
Kassandra Frederique is the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national nonprofit that works to end the war on drugs—which has disproportionately harmed Black, Latinx, Indigenous, immigrant, and…
Kennyle Johnson, MPH is a dynamic, community-centered leader with extensive experience advancing public health, human services, and recovery-focused initiatives. She is known for her ability to translate vision into action,…
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…
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…
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…
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, 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…
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…
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…
Co-Founder of Serenity Academy Chicago, Author, University Educator
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is CEO of On The Mark Consulting and Founder of the Museum of African American Addictions Treatment and Recovery.
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…
Detroit Recovery Project, Inc
Michael E. Johnson is a nationally recognized trainer and lecturer in the field of addictions. Over the years he has served the addictions field in many capacities; as a counselor,…
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, Ph.D., CPRS Dr. Monty Burks is the Director at the HHS Center for Faith at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS Faith Center), where he…
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…
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…
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 Delia is a Federal Policy and Advocacy Strategist for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. He manages several federal policy portfolios for the National Council, including issues related to…
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…
Philip Rutherford is the strategy lead for substance use in the Strategy and Growth Office at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. In this role, he expands the organization’s impact…
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…
Rev. Jan Brown
The Rev. Jan Brown is the Founder and Executive Director of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul. An ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church, she served as Archdeacon of the…
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…
Executive Director
Tarusa Stewart is a dynamic leader in the field of recovery, having been in a long-term recovery since 2002. She began her impactful work in the Behavioral Health field in…
Tava L. Scott serves as the CEO and Chief Consultant of T. Scott Consulting, a firm dedicated to advancing service excellence and helping agencies deliver the high-quality care their clients…
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 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…
Director of Outreach, Fletcher Group Inc.
With over 12 years of dedicated service as a Program Director for two transformative residential recovery programs in rural eastern Kentucky. His leadership has impacted the lives of countless individuals,…
Senior Vice President of Policy Advocacy
Tracie M. Gardner, Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network (NBHRN), and former Senior Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the Legal Action Center, has worked for more…
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, 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…
