I wanted to become part of the Founders Group, because I feel this is something RI needed to not only show, but make people realize that becoming a Peer Specialist is a profession, should be treated as one, have the pay, and benefits that all professionals receive.

I have been in recovery from alcohol, PTSD, anxiety, panic, and depression for over seventeen years. Upon returning from being deployed overseas in Iraq in the Army Reserves, I turned to drinking to quiet my mind and help me get through the nights. I lost jobs, damaged relationships, and caused physical injuries to myself. Finally, I went to the VA Medical Center for help and that started my journey into recovery. It has been a long, bumpy road; It has taught me that deep down, the courage, strength, and will were there to help me succeed. Now I help other Veterans with their battles and walk beside them through the journey.

Nic (They/She) has been in recovery from substances and alcohol since 2018. They have always been passionate about helping others, particularly for those whom experience barriers meeting their basic needs. Joining the founders group was important to them as they’ve seen first hand through their work as a CPRS how peer support can provide help, hope, and recovery to people in a multitude of ways, including harm reduction. They believe that the peer role should not only be well defined, but compensated fairly.  

Nic started as a house manager at Hazel’s House, a recovery house for the LGBTQIA+ community from 2020 to 2021 and since July 2024 has been working as a Peer Recovery Specialist at Anchor Recovery Community Center, West Warwick. 

As a founder, promoting CPRSS — my ikigai — is rooted in the belief that every person deserves support, connection, and the chance to build a brighter future. No one should feel lost when facing real-life struggles. Meaningful recovery becomes possible when communities come together. Recovery happens when people feel seen, understood, and supported. Recovery is possible, as it’s something we must build together.  

My recovery journey began during 2016, one of the most difficult periods of my life after I was found unconscious for hours. What could have been the end, thankfully became the beginning of my commitment to healing, growth, and service to spread personal development for all communities.  

Through my work experience in community-outreach BH services and residential care services over the past 5 years, my passion and education for recovery advocacy has only grown. “Things can get better with hard work and others who believe in you”.  

I am excited to be involved with this association. Since early on in the beginning of my career in this field, I’ve felt there needed to be a body to better represent peers and their needs. Now, here we are. 

I became a founder to turn my lived experience into spaces where people feel seen and valued. My recovery taught me the power of boundaries, self‑worth, and community care, and that’s the energy I bring into everything I build. 

I hold a BA in Psychology (graduation date of April 2026) and work as a peer recovery specialist and community educator, blending professional training with real‑life lessons. I’m also pursuing my master’s in clinical counseling (June 2026) with a focus on treatment and recovery, deepening the work I’ve already been doing in the field. 

I’m the author of From Ashes to Ink and the children’s book Glow Like the Odd Ones Do, using story to spark healing and empowerment. At my core, I lead with clarity, humor, and truth, whether I’m writing, organizing, or showing others how to glow in full color. 

I have personal lived experience with Mental Health challenges since my childhood including struggles with anxiety and depression/SAD and I have been in recovery since April 2022. 

I am a believer in the Law of Attraction and practice the message of Ask, Believe, Receive. I am a certified facilitator for Women for Sobriety sharing the message of the New Life Program.  I have a desire to learn about multiple pathways to healing from Mental Health and Substance Use symptoms so others may know there is always an option to choose when one is ready for change.  I am a passionate advocate for many social issues and will always be a voice for self advocacy, individual advocacy and system advocacy. 

I am a recovery coach with six years of experience working in the recovery field, and I am deeply passionate about peer-based work. Over the years, I have learned the power of connection, lived experience, and mutual respect in supporting individuals on their recovery journeys. I believe peer support is a vital and evolving part of the recovery system, and I am committed to advocating for meaningful change within the field. 

 My work is driven by a desire to strengthen and professionalize the peer recovery workforce while staying rooted in the values that make peer work unique like authenticity and empathy. I am continually learning and looking ahead to how we can build more supportive and effective peer-led services. 

 Outside of my work, I find balance and grounding in nature, especially spending time in the woods. Along with meditation, these practices help me stay present and centered. I also enjoy spending time with my family and my four pets, who bring joy, connection, and perspective to my life. 

I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Certified Addiction Recovery Coach whose work is grounded in resilience, self-determination, and the belief that people are not defined by their hardest moments. I am continually inspired by Invictus, the poem by William Ernest Henley, particularly its affirmation that each person remains “the master of my fate” and “the captain of my soul.” These ideas closely mirror the values at the heart of peer support. 

I began my peer work with Anchor Recovery Community Center, providing recovery coaching in emergency departments, fire stations, and through mobile outreach. Supporting individuals during moments of crisis reinforced for me that recovery is rooted in autonomy, dignity, and choice, and that peer support is most effective when lived experience is respected and properly supported within systems of care. 

Today, I continue this work at Marigold Health, where I advocate for the peer workforce while helping expand access to peer-led services across community and clinical settings. Serving on the RIPRPA Advisory Council allows me to contribute to policy and workforce development efforts that strengthen peer professionalism and uphold the belief that recovery belongs to the individual.