Our Team
Mustafa Ali
Recovery Ambassador & PRS Intern
Email: [email protected]
Mustafa brings 18 years of experience as a U.S. Army Ranger, along with a strong background in leadership and advocacy, to his role at RICARES. As a Recovery Ambassador, he is deeply passionate about helping others find their path to recovery. Mustafa leads by example, demonstrating that long-term recovery is possible and achievable. Whether he’s connecting with community members, working out, or spending quality time with his family, Mustafa remains grounded in purpose and service.
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Cynthia Cabral
Senior Training and Development Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Cynthia has devoted the last eight years of her professional life to standing alongside organizations that support asylum seekers and refugees as they rebuild, heal, and thrive in a new country. Driven by a deep belief in education as a tool for dignity and empowerment, she has designed learning aids for ESL learners and individuals with limited formal education, always centering accessibility, respect, and possibility.
A proud Chicago native, Cynthia’s earlier work as a psychiatric nurse in adult rehabilitation institutions and homeless shelters immersed her in the realities of trauma, resilience, and human strength. These experiences ignited a lasting commitment to supporting diverse learners with compassion, creativity, and care.
Outside of her professional work, she finds joy and grounding in playing the cello and embroidering, practices that mirror her patience and attention to detail. As a lifelong learner, Cynthia brings curiosity and imagination to everything she creates, shaping training materials that are not only effective, but deeply human.
Mel Costa
Peer Recovery Specialist Intership Program Manager
Email: [email protected]
Mel Costa (she/her) is a person in long term recovery and passionate about bringing recovery from substance use disorder and addressing mental health issues for almost 14 years. She has been an advocate for many coming into early recovery, including finding resources for those coming out of military service, treatment or the prison system.
Before joining RICARES, Mel worked at the Providence VA Medical Center as a Lead Certified Peer Specialist for 14 years. Mel plans to share her knowledge and show interns that they too can be mentors to others as Mel has great plans for the interns as the new Recovery Peer Internship Program Manager. She is a Veteran, serving in the US Marine Corp (95-99), the Army Reserves (00-06) with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq.
In her free time, Mel enjoys being in nature, spending time with Steamboat Willie, her service dog, 3 cats, and her wife, Kim. Mel uses poetry to express her feelings and is a published author.
Sarah Edwards
Assistant Director of Recovery Housing
Email: [email protected]
Sarah Edwards (she/her) is a dedicated CPRS/CCHW in long-term recovery, bringing over eight years of experience in the fields of recovery support, overdose prevention, and harm reduction. Her approach is rooted in the belief that every person deserves compassionate, nonjudgemental care and dignity-no matter where they are in their journey.
Sarah is a stalwart advocate for harm reduction and person-centered, accessible recovery pathways. Sarah has devoted her career to supporting individuals and communities affected by substance use. Her approach emphasizes community-driven solutions, and she is deeply committed to uplifting the voices of those with lived and living experience.
Sarah is currently in school, pursuing a degree in Social Work to further use her personal recovery and experience to address structural inequity surrounding substance use.
In her downtime, Sarah enjoys hiking, catching frogs, building miniatures, and taking naps with her beloved cat “Meowy”.
Alex Gautieri
Assistant Director of Advocacy
Email: [email protected]
Alex (he/him) is excited about bringing his decade of experience working with people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and severe and persistent mental health disorders to RICARES to making lasting, policy change. As a “macro” focused MSW he has a deep understanding of how the systemic issues impact our neighbors across Rhode Island. He combines his “boots-on-the-ground” outreach experience with his lived experience as a person in recovery, along with his core beliefs in harm reduction and person-centered care at the root of all his work. Alex is driven by a deep commitment to a community-centered approach, public health equity, and social justice. In his down time, Alex is a husband and cat-dad who enjoys reading, going to the gym, being out in nature, and fixing up his home.
Lindsay Garcia
Executive Director
Email: [email protected]
Lindsay Garcia (she/her) is the Executive Director of RICARES (Rhode Island Community for Addiction Recovery Efforts), which is the recovery community and advocacy organization for Rhode Island. Previously, Dr. Garcia served as the Associate Dean of the College for Junior/Senior Studies and Recovery/Substance-Free Student Initiatives at Brown University, where she directed the Donovan Program for Recovery and Substance-Free Initiatives. She is also a socially engaged artist, educator, and person in long term recovery. Lindsay is an appointed member of the Rhode Island Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health and the senior co-chair for Board of Directors of the Association for Recovery in Higher Education. She received her PhD in American Studies from William & Mary, her MFA in Visual Art from Purchase College, State University of New York, her MA in Contemporary Art History from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.
Jessica Jean-Charles
Chief of Staff
Email: [email protected]
Jessica (she/her) was born in New York, but raised in Pawtucket, RI and graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal with a BA in Management and a Minor in Fine Arts: Music. She has held a variety of administrative roles primarily in public education and the corporate sector. She is excited to be working at RICARES and supporting recovery efforts in the community.
Tricia Kehl
Membership Engagement Manager
Email: [email protected]
Tricia (she/her) recently relocated from Ohio and brings a background in community behavioral health and community services, with experience in both the nonprofit sector and insurance services. She is passionate about supporting people not just in navigating their recovery journeys, but in truly thriving.
Tricia is honored to be part of an organization that values lived experience, community, and empowerment. Outside of work, she loves exploring new coffee shops and thrift stores, biking, hiking, and curling up with a good book. She’s looking forward to connecting with others and making a meaningful impact here at RICARES!
Stacey Levin
Deputy Director
Email: [email protected]
Stacey Levin (she/her) is a passionate community advocate with over 12 years of experience dedicated to supporting individuals in substance use disorder recovery. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPRS) and Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW), she brings unwavering dedication and lived understanding to her mission of improving the quality of life for underserved individuals across Rhode Island.
Stacey is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that recovery support services reach those who need them most. Her collaborative approach with state agencies and community partners reflects her belief that sustainable recovery requires comprehensive, coordinated care. Stacey was awarded the Sister Judy Soares & John Coen Memorial Award for Direct Service by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness in 2023.
Stacey combines her professional credentials with real-world experience in harm reduction, social justice, and public health approaches. Throughout her career, Stacey has been motivated by her belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and access to the support they need to thrive. Her community-centered approach and commitment to evidence-based practices have strengthened recovery support systems across the region, creating lasting positive change for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
Stacey’s work is fueled by her passion for social justice and her deep understanding that recovery is not just about overcoming addiction—it’s about rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to heal and flourish.
In her down time, Stacey is a backyard chicken farmer, avid baker, longboarder, and crocheter. Stacey is an adoring aunt to four nephews, one niece and cat mom to Chicken Nugget Matzo Ball.
Christopher Lloyd
Recovery Housing Inspector
Email: [email protected]
Christopher Lloyd (he/they) has been involved in recovery his whole life, having parents that met in 12 step and starting his own journey of recovery at the age of 16. Christopher has extensive lived experience in recovery styles of all kinds from CBT, to faith based, to 12 step and everything in between. He has years of firsthand experience living in, and helping run, recovery residences in his local state of Florida.
Christopher found his solution in 2020 and has been an advocate that we need to be all inclusive of every recovery and individual, because there is no one right way. A strong supporter of harm-reduction, housing first, and MOUD, he uses his time to work with marginalized populations that are underserved and underrepresented.
His free time is usually spent working on being the best father he can be, watching YouTube or movies, and constantly learning and working on his own recovery.
Sarah Liew
Senior Manager of Community Relations
Email: [email protected]
Sarah is thrilled to be part of the RICARES team as the Senior Manager of Community Relations. Her day-to-day is all about creating meaningful opportunities for connection—whether that’s organizing community events, supporting volunteer efforts, or just being present for people in recovery. She’s passionate about building spaces that feel welcoming and supportive, and believes in the power of showing up for one another.
Before joining RICARES, Sarah worked in student mentoring, partnership development, and volunteer coordination—experiences that reinforced her belief in the value of relationships and the impact of small acts of care. She has also worked extensively with international students, drawing from her years of living abroad to offer mentorship and support. In addition, Sarah is the founder of a volunteer-run nonprofit focused on tackling litter in the city and beyond, bringing together community members and collaborating with city, state, and nonprofit partners to make a difference.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys sewing, mushroom hunting, and gardening with her son—they’re always off on some kind of adventure together!
Molly Smith
Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]
Molly has worked in nonprofit fundraising for the past decade, building narratives that compel the public to engage. She brings her own recovery journey to her storytelling for RICARES and loves working to make Rhode Island an easier place for everyone to find their joy.
In her free time, you’ll find her with a sewing or knitting project in her hands and at least six new project ideas in her head.
RICARES Interns
Maya Lima
Masters of Social Work – Advocacy Intern
Email: [email protected]
Maya (she/her) is a current MSW student intern from Rhode Island College. In her final year, she is excited to put her classroom experience to use working with the Senior Recovery Policy Advocate and the rest of the RICARES team! When not advocating alongside the recovery community, you can find Maya working with elementary students in her after school program or hanging around with her dogs and cats at home.
Peer Recovery Specialist Interns
