BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//NAMI Greater Boston - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://namiboston.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NAMI Greater Boston REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T193000 DTSTAMP:20260418T104642 CREATED:20260401T181458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T181703Z UID:1141-1778178600-1778182200@namiboston.org SUMMARY:PSAN Recovery Speaker Series - Vanessa Williams DESCRIPTION:BIO: \nVanessa Williams is a Certified Peer and Recovery Support Specialist\, mental health advocate\, and leader in the peer support movement with over 13 years of experience in warm line services. As the NC Warm Line Program Manager at Promise Resource Network\, she oversees a statewide 24/7 peer support line\, bringing a trauma-informed\, harm reduction\, and person-centered approach to emotional support. Vanessa has extensive experience in training\, supervision\, and program development\, and has played a key role in expanding access to peer-led services across modalities\, including phone\, text\, and chat. \n\nIn addition to her program leadership\, Vanessa is the founder of Elevate Recovery\, where she provides continuing education\, consulting\, and empowerment-based resources rooted in accessibility\, justice\, equity\, diversity\, and inclusion (A-JEDI) principles. She is a former Board President of the National Association of Peer Supporters and currently serves on the board of the Warmline Advisory Group. Vanessa is currently working toward becoming an Emotional CPR (eCPR) Facilitator\, deepening her commitment to fostering authentic human connection and emotional support in communities. \n\nPRESENTATION: \nYou Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup….But Also\, That Phrase Is Tired\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this engaging and honest talk\, “You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup… But Also\, That Phrase Is Tired\,” Vanessa explores the realities of burnout in peer support roles beyond common self-care clichés. Drawing from her experience in warm line leadership and peer practice\, she unpacks how emotional labor\, blurred boundaries\, and system pressures impact peer supporters. Vanessa offers practical\, trauma-informed strategies—including micro-restorations\, consent-based boundaries\, and eCPR-informed connection—to help peers stay grounded\, present\, and aligned with their values while doing this deeply human work. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo get an email invite for the meeting please email: hdt@namiboston.org \n  \nJoin the meeting now \nMeeting ID: 278 388 590 434\nPasscode: Z2NY6bm2\n________________________________\nDial in by phone\n+1 617-297-7925\,\,925045323# United States\, Boston \nFind a local number\n \nPhone conference ID:\n925 045 323# URL:https://namiboston.org/event/psan-recovery-speaker-series-vanessa-williams/ CATEGORIES:Peer Meetings,Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T193000 DTSTAMP:20260418T104642 CREATED:20260401T175416Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T181101Z UID:1135-1780597800-1780601400@namiboston.org SUMMARY:PSAN Recovery Speaker Series - Aroldo Ferreira\, CPS DESCRIPTION:BIO:\nAroldo Ferreira\, CPS\nCertified Peer Specialist Program Director\n\n \nAroldo Ferreira is the Director of the Massachusetts Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Program. He oversees statewide certification logistics and leads the team responsible for developing and delivering training materials that prepare individuals to become Certified Peer Specialists professionals. \nSince 2008\, Aroldo has been an active leader in the mental health and peer support movement through the Central Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community (RLC)\, where he served as Program Coordinator and Director of Multicultural Affairs. Using his own lived experiences to inspire hope\, he helped introduce peer support practices into most inpatient units across Central Massachusetts and beyond\, coordinated Kiva meetings\, built peer facilitator teams\, and expanded peer support to diverse communities\, including Latino\, Brazilian\, Young Adult\, LGBTQIA+\, and others. \nAroldo is an experienced multilingual trainer\, leading and developing workshops such as Trauma-Informed Peer Support Facilitation\, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)\, Parenting Journey\, and Trauma and Healing Dialogues.\nAroldo’s approach is guided by clarity\, honesty. He is passionate about culture and human connection and values\, learning about people’s beliefs\, traditions\, and lived experiences. His work is grounded in inclusion\, mutual support\, and creating spaces where every voice is heard and respected.” \nPRESENTATION: \n\nMany people who have lived through emotional distress\, trauma\, or mental health lived experience want to use their experience to support others—but may not know how to take that step. The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) training helps turn lived experience into professional peer support that makes a real impact. This gold standard CPS training is carefully curated and designed for review and curriculum analysis by our funders\, board members and multiple stakeholders. \n\n\nThis is a rigorous\, advanced training designed for individuals who already have a foundation in peer support. Through 24+ interactive modules\, small group work\, and guided assignments\, participants learn how to use their own story to foster hope and healing in others—while honoring the principle that healing is a self-determined process. \n\n\nThe primary purpose of the CPS program is to help build a peer workforce in Massachusetts. The training is designed to enhance the tools used by people who already have experience in peer support and the mental health recovery movement. Students bring their lived experience to class and learn how to use their story and skills to assist people receiving services as well as service providers. CPSs are the evidence that recovery is real. \n\nKiva Centers is the only organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorized to provide this training. Upon completion\, participants are eligible to sit for the state-recognized certification exam to become a Certified Peer Specialist.\n\nGraduates go on to serve in community and service system roles where lived experience is valued as expertise—bringing insight\, connection\, and inspiration to the people and systems they work with. \n\n\nTo get an email invite for the meeting please email: hdt@namiboston.org \n  \nJoin the meeting now \nMeeting ID: 278 388 590 434\nPasscode: Z2NY6bm2\n________________________________\nDial in by phone\n+1 617-297-7925\,\,925045323# United States\, Boston \nFind a local number\n \nPhone conference ID:\n925 045 323# URL:https://namiboston.org/event/psan-recovery-speaker-series-aroldo-ferreira/ CATEGORIES:Peer Meetings,Speaker Series END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR