peer pathways

We need YOU to submit a workshop for Peer Pathways today!
We welcome all levels of experience!
The deadline to submit a workshop is April 22nd.

We are excited to announce that this year’s workforce development conference for Certified Peer Counselors, Peers, and Peer Allies will be held in Yakima at the Yakima Convention Center, August 21st and 22nd!

Stay tuned for more exciting speaker and registration announcements!

9th Annual Peer Pathways Conference! August 21st and 22nd, 2024

Register here!

Hey Ambassadors of Hope! Do you have a  workshop proposals for this year's virtual Peer Pathways conference that fits our theme, Building Inclusive Communities? If so, please submit it no later than June 3rd. All presenters will have their conference registration fee waived!  Thank you for being part of our peer community and partnering with us to make this conference an incredible experience.

sponsored by
August 18–19, 2021
Dates
Virtual
Location
Price here
Early birds price

9th Annual Peer Pathways Conference!

This conference is funded by The Washington State Health Care Authority and hosted by The Rainbow Makers and Jones Community Solutions. We invite you to check back for important conference updates or follow us on social media here: The Rainbow Makers and Jones Community Solutions

Click here to register now!

Register now

to Peer Into the Future at

Peer Pathways Conference

Registration Information

This years conference

Registration is $125 and limited scholarships are available, so we encourage you to speak with your agency before requesting a scholarship.

This years conference

As always, this year's conference will be filled with incredible keynotes, peer panels, performing artists, and fun prizes!

Come together to peer into the future and strengthen our movement & peer workforce.

Scholarships Available!

products

Seamlessly empower fully researched growth strategies and interoperable internal or “organic” sources.

Credibly innovate granular internal or “organic” sources whereas high standards in web-readiness.

Energistically scale future-proof core competence

Cindy willey award

Don’t forget to nominate a peer that you feel deserves the 2024 Cindy Willey Award for outstanding dedication, commitment, and support for the peers in Washington State! Nominations will close August 1, 2024.

Winner of the Cindy Willey Award will be announced at the conference!

nominations coming soon!
Peer-o award

The PEER-O Award is awarded to a Certified Peer Counselor for their outstanding work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

Winner  of the PEER-O Award will be annouced at the conference!

Registration Coming Soon!

Calling all Certified Peer Counselors, Peers, and Peer Allies to join us on August 21st and 22nd, 2024 for an incredible experience!  

Scholarships will be limited this year. We ask that you first approach your supervisor and agency to request they support your attendance before applying for a scholarship. We would like to prioritize giving scholarships to individuals that do not have agencies or the means to pay for their registration and travel. Thank you!

Apply for a scholarship

Last Year's
Special Guest Speaker

Mary Lambert

Platinum Artist
Mary Lambert is not your typical multi-platinum artist. While studying Music Composition at Cornish College of the Arts, she found a home in the spoken word community of Seattle and began experimenting with infusing poetry into her music, performing frequently as a cellist, singer-songwriter, and poet.

Lambert had never released music and was juggling multiple food service jobs when she received a call from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to collaborate on their marriage equality anthem, “Same Love”. Writing and singing the hook to “Same Love” led to an MTV VMA win and two Grammy nominations: Song of The Year and Album of The Year, and culminated in the iconic 2014 Grammys performance, which featured a mass wedding officiated by Queen Latifah and Lambert’s unforgettable duet with Madonna.

After the viral success of releasing a standalone version of the song, “She Keeps Me Warm,” Lambert shortly signed to Capitol Records. She released "Welcome to the Age of My Body," an EP with a re-release of the Top 20 hit “She Keeps Me Warm” and “Body Love,” a spoken-word piece about body image. Later that year, she debuted her first pop song: a tongue-in-cheek single, “Secrets,” that went RIAA Gold and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance charts, which was followed by her debut full-length album, "Heart on My Sleeve."

To add to her success, Mary received the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award, The SAMHSA Special Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for her work on destigmatizing mental illness, and was invited to speak at the UN. She has performed on the Colbert Show, Ellen, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and the American Music Awards.

Mary Lambert was successful in the eyes of the public, but below the surface, she was struggling with frequent panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. In 2015, she parted ways with formal management and Capitol Records. The desire was to reclaim her independence and to focus her attention on other aspects of her career: poetry, acting, composing, writing, and production. Lambert self-released the joyful indie-pop EP "Bold" and a self-recorded holiday EP, "Happy Holigays," under her own label, Tender Heart Records.

In 2018, Lambert signed a book deal with Macmillan to release a poetry collection centered around trauma and mental illness called "Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across," and she released her sophomore album, "Grief Creature," as a complementary work shortly thereafter. Written, produced, and arranged almost entirely by Lambert, the "breaking up with shame" album contains heart-rending adult-pop songs, intense spoken-word tracks, and slick collaborations with musician-friends Macklemore, Julien Baker, Maiah Manser, and Hollis. Lambert is currently working on a new book and album about body image; co-starring in the Netflix animated musical and series, "I ♥ Arlo and Arlo the Alligator Boy"; hosting "The Manic Episodes," a queer and mental health podcast with her spouse, Dr. Wyatt Paige Hermansen; and facilitates a virtual workshop on fat liberation and body image called "Everybody is a Babe." Lambert is also the film composer for "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture," a documentary about the weaponization of the word "homosexual" in the Bible, which is currently shopping for distribution after a successful film festival run. "1946" won the Audience Award at Doc NYC and broke records for the most viewed film in Doc NYC history. She lives between Seattle and Western Massachusetts with her spouse and her two dogs, Turnip and Georgie.
Find me on social media

Last Year's Speakers & Artists

GREG FRANKSON

Poet In Residence & Keynote Speaker
Greg Frankson is a Toronto-based poet, peer, author, educator and entrepreneur. He is an Ontario Certified Teacher in good standing and a member of the Canadian League of Poets
Find me on social media

Vanessa Williams

Keynote Speaker
Vanessa Williams is a seasoned professional who brings over 12 years of experience in peer support, leadership, and mental wellness. As CEO of Elevate Recovery, her deep understanding of the importance of mental health and well-being informs her approach to coaching and consulting, making her a trusted advisor in the field. Vanessa's leadership and mental wellness expertise extend beyond her work at Elevate Recovery. Throughout her career, Vanessa has witnessed the transformative power of peer support firsthand. Her years of experience working directly with individuals facing mental health challenges have shaped her compassionate and empathetic leadership style. She recognizes the profound impact of mental wellness on individuals and organizations and is dedicated to helping others navigate their journeys toward growth, resilience, and success.
Find me on social media

Roger Frenandes

Native American Storyteller, Artist, and Educator
Chacku is an Indian-American, who became involved in consumer/survivor/ex-patient advocacy and peer support when he was 15 years old. He has since accumulated over 36 years of racial equity, rights, and recovery advocacy experience in a variety of roles.
learn more about me
Roger Fernandes is a Native American storyteller, artist, and educator whose work focuses on the cultures and beliefs of the local tribes of western Washington. He is an enrolled member of the Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe and has a B.A. in Native American Studies from The Evergreen State College and an M.A. in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University. He has worked in the fields of Native education, social work, and health for over 45 years. He uses his diverse skills to create curricula that incorporates “the Heart” into our modern teaching and learning processes. He has also done work int the arenas of mental health, multicultural education, and diversity. He is the father to 5 children and grandfather to 17 young ones, ages 22 to 3. He dedicates his
work to all of them.

To Be Announced

Performing Artist
Shanelle Berry aka Shady B, Performing Artist Shady B is from Oly, WA and grew up in the foster care system where she discovered music as a healthy outlet. She describes her music as a health and creative outlet that is a guilt free expression of her personal self. Watch out, her positive vibes are contagious.
find me on social media

To Be Announced

Keynote Speaker
Cathán is a CPC and incredible advocate from SW, WA. Steeped in personal experiences, he aims to start a conversation around gender and the “trans experience”. Using his own story, he will speak to the journey that trans and gender diverse individuals experience to survive.
check out my website

Meghan Hetfield

Keynote
Meghan is a national trainer/consultant and advocate for peer support and harm reduction with a commitment to treating humans with radical compassion and ending the racist war on drugs. As a peer, she has supported individuals to examine their relationship with wellness since 2012.
check out my website

LaRae Cantley

Keynote
LaRae is a social justice activist, community leader, facilitator, and relationship builder. LaRae enjoys artistic expression to uplift and encourage thought as a means of liberation and inspiration.
check me out on social media

Spencer Lajoye

Performing Artist
Spencer LaJoye is an award-winning folk/pop singer songwriter, violinist, and vocal loop artist in Boston, Massachusetts, who believes everyone is made of the good stuff. They make music to remember what it means to be human, to find connection in a time of disconnection, and to feel something in a world gone numb.
check out my website

wednesday

  • Group discussion
    9AM
  • Workshop
    10AM–4PM
  • Dinner
    6PM
  • Group discussion
    7PM
  • Group discussion
    8PM

thursday

  • Group discussion
    9AM
  • Workshop
    10AM–4PM
  • Dinner
    6PM
  • Group discussion
    7PM
  • Group discussion
    8PM

Saturday

  • Group discussion
    9AM
  • Workshop
    10AM–4PM
  • Dinner
    6PM
  • Group discussion
    7PM
  • Group discussion
    8PM

Videos of Past Events

Early Birds

Get early access

Be the first to experience Conferencos before it’s publically available.
Email address
Get early access
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Come participate in 2 days of intimate discussions.,
interactive workshops, and lots of peer insights
for the 6th annual. Peer Pathways Conference

October 11–13, 2019
NOTTINGHAM

Victoria Embankment, Nottingham, NG2 5FB

What is the

Conferencos

Art Classes

& Camps?

We’ve held classes, camps, workshops, and private events out of our current studio for over ten years.

Our spacious classroom is stocked with everything that artists need to explore and learn. We also have a kiln for ceramics projects, and a backyard to enjoy during camps.
Get Tickets
Join Conferencos
Become part of Conferencos, contact us today to take the first step of your journey with us!
Contact us
Powered by
Made by

2023 Conference Agenda

Opening

7:30 am
Networking

Opportunity to connect and network.

Speaker Names
8:00 am
Land Acknowledgment, Opening Blessing by Blake Shelafoe from the Duwamish Tribe and Welcome by Health Care Authority

Blake Shelafoe
8:30 am
Deepening the Conversation about Race, Racism, and Recovery in Peer Support with Chacku Mathai

Roberto Dansie
9:20 am
Poet in Residence - Greg Frankson (He/Him)

Greg Frankson

Session 1

10:00 am
Healing the Divide: Building Bridges Through Compassionate Listening

Presenter: Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams
10:00 am
To affinity and beyond! JEDI (Justive, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) within peer support

Presenter: Evelyn Clark

Evelyn Clark
10:00 am
Decoding Compassion: Empathy, Sympathy, and Apathy

Presenter: Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen

Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen
10:00 am
Creative Approaches to Creating a Community

Presenter: Jordan Canevari and Marrie Smith

Jordan Canevari and Marrie Smith
10:00 am
The Success of Peers Working in Crisis Services

Presenter: Steve Miccio

Steve Miccio
10:00 am
Coffee with Cathan

Presenter: Cathan Tautfest

Cathan Tautfest
10:00 am
WRAP-ing at Western State Hospital

Presenter: Jenna Cooke and Prima Perez

Jenna Cooke and Prima Perez
10:00 am
Celebrating Our Unique Identities! Embracing Cultural Considerations for CPC's Supporting BIPOC Youth and Families

Presenter: Krystal Livingston and LaTonya Rogers

10:00 am
Recovery Leadership, Language, and Culture

Presenters: Ellen Healion

Keynote

11:30 am
CareOUTLoud with LaRae Cantley & Poet in Residence, Greg Frankson, and Prizes

David Granier
12:30 pm
Lunch

Session 2

1:30 pm
Personal Wellness- It starts with you!

Presenters: Karen Kelly

Karen Kelly
1:30 pm
The Transformative Power of Voice

Presenters: Greg Frankson

Greg Frankson
1:30 pm
Breaking Barriers for Youth and Young Adult Peers in a Culturally Relevant Environment

Presenters: Carolyn Cox and Gabriel Hamilton

Carolyn Cox and Gabriel Hamilton
1:30 pm
Utilizing DBT Skills in the Peer Role

Presenters: Sarah Jensen

Sarah Jensen
1:30 pm
Destigmatizing Sexual Health in Recovery

Presenter: Tanya Moore

Tanya Moore
1:30 pm
Pathways for Peer Policy

Presenter: Laura Van Tosh

Laura Van Tosh
1:30 pm
Apple Health and Homes-A Prescription for Housing

Presenters: Melodie J. Pazolt and Kimberly Castle

Melodie J. Pazolt and Kimberly Castle
1:30 pm
Transcending Barriers: Strategic Planning for TGNC Representation in Peer Organizations

Presenter: Jessica Alalawi and Aary Gariss

1:30 pm
Mamela (Mah-MEH-lah.) Hela hem mamela (HAY-lah HEM ma-MEH-lah)

Presenters: Roslynn Watson

Closing Keynotes and Prizes

3:15 pm
Spilling the Tea with Cathan Tautfest and Performing Artist Spencer Lajoye

Pat Tucker
4:15 pm
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

Eric Paul
4:25 pm
Closing and Door Prizes

Closing

No items found.

Opening

7:30 am
Networking

Great time to connect with peers and build community.

8:00 am
Opening in a good way with Heyoka Winyan/Katie Pratt and Welcome by Health Care Authority

Presenters: Heyoka Winyan/Katie Pratt & The Health Care Authority

Swil Kanim
8:30 am
The Intersectionalities of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice with Helen 'Skip' Skipper, and Performing Artist Shanelle Berry aka Shady B

Presenter: Helen 'Skip' Skipper & Shanelle Berry aka Shady B

Peggy Swarbrick
9:20 am
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

Greg Frankson

Session 1

9:45 am
Overcoming Your Roadblocks to Compassion

Presenter: Joe Saladino

Joe Saladino
9:45 am
Peer Programs in Prision- Shining a light in

Presenter: Stephanie Lane and Prima Perez

Stephanie Lane and Prima Perez
9:45 am
Compassionate Co-Caregiving

Presenter: Sarah Jensen and Nelson Rascon

Sarah Jensen and Nelson Rascon
9:45 am
Your Racism/Bias Isn't Compassionate

Presenter: Bianca Andrews and Chelsey Moore

Bianca Andrews and Chelsey Moore
10:00 am
Documentation; The Golden Thread

Presenter: Ellen Healion

Ellen Healion
10:00 am
Poetry for Self-Care, Engagement, and Community Building

Presenters: Marie Marchand

Marie Marchand
10:00 am
Peer Resilience at Work

Presenter: Julia Bradley and Lauri Bush

Julia Bradley and Lauri Bush
10:00 am
The Journey into Conscious Healing: Unlocking the Power Within

Presenter: Naomi Herrera

Naomi Herrera
10:00 am
What does Support look like in PSH?

Presenter: Pat Tucker

Pat Tucker

Keynote

11:30 am
We are ALL Harm Reductionists: Meeting people where they’re at with pragmatism and radical compassion with Meghan Hetfield, and Changing the game with Peer Support in Juvenile Rehabilitation with Joshua Smith

12:30 pm
Lunch

Session 2

1:30 pm
Neuroplaciticy, Mindfulness, and Compassion

Presenter: Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen

Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen
1:30 pm
How to provide support in individual placement and support (ISP)

Presenter: Pat Tucker

Pat Tucker
1:30 pm
WA 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Response Buildout and Role of Peers

Presenter: Bipasha Mukherjee

Bipasha Mukherjee
1:30 pm
TBA

Presenter: TBA

TBA
1:30 pm
LGBTQ+ Parents and Children of LGBTQ+

Presenter: Bryan Jeffers-Atkins-Ibarra

Bryan Jeffers-Atkins-Ibarra
1:30 pm
Invisible Barriers: Internal Bias in Peer Work

Presenter: Cinthia Marcellus

Cinthia Marcellus
1:30 pm
Keep F**ing Going: The Unstoppable Power

Presenter: Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith
1:30 pm
We Are Family! How Can We Support You?

Presenters: Janice Schultz, Krystal Livingston, and Kristie Lund

Janice Schultz, Krystal Livingston, and Kristie Lund
1:30 pm
TBA

Presenters: TBA

TBA

Award Ceremony and Closing Celebration

3:15 pm
Award Celebration and Prizes

Harvey Rosenthal
4:00 pm
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

Annie Dejka and Steve Miccio
4:30 pm
Closing and Door Prizes

Maureen Bailey, Mary Chambers, Justin Wilson, and Jen McDonald

Closing

No items found.
Registration Closed

Registration Information

This year's conference registration is $125 and limited scholarships are available, so we encourage you to speak with your agency before requesting a scholarship

Stay tuned for our 2024 Sponsors

Arise Health logoThe Paak logoEphicient logoOE logo
Sep 18 - 19

Schedule

11:30 am
CareOUTLoud with LaRae Cantley & Poet in Residence, Greg Frankson, and Prizes

David Granier
12:30 pm
Lunch

3:15 pm
Spilling the Tea with Cathan Tautfest and Performing Artist Spencer Lajoye

Pat Tucker
4:15 pm
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

Eric Paul
4:25 pm
Closing and Door Prizes

10:00 am
Healing the Divide: Building Bridges Through Compassionate Listening

Presenter: Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams
7:30 am
Networking

Opportunity to connect and network.

Speaker Names
8:00 am
Land Acknowledgment, Opening Blessing by Blake Shelafoe from the Duwamish Tribe and Welcome by Health Care Authority

Blake Shelafoe
8:30 am
Deepening the Conversation about Race, Racism, and Recovery in Peer Support with Chacku Mathai

Roberto Dansie
9:20 am
Poet in Residence - Greg Frankson (He/Him)

Greg Frankson
10:00 am
To affinity and beyond! JEDI (Justive, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) within peer support

Presenter: Evelyn Clark

Evelyn Clark
10:00 am
Decoding Compassion: Empathy, Sympathy, and Apathy

Presenter: Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen

Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen
10:00 am
Creative Approaches to Creating a Community

Presenter: Jordan Canevari and Marrie Smith

Jordan Canevari and Marrie Smith
10:00 am
The Success of Peers Working in Crisis Services

Presenter: Steve Miccio

Steve Miccio
10:00 am
Coffee with Cathan

Presenter: Cathan Tautfest

Cathan Tautfest
10:00 am
WRAP-ing at Western State Hospital

Presenter: Jenna Cooke and Prima Perez

Jenna Cooke and Prima Perez
10:00 am
Celebrating Our Unique Identities! Embracing Cultural Considerations for CPC's Supporting BIPOC Youth and Families

Presenter: Krystal Livingston and LaTonya Rogers

10:00 am
Recovery Leadership, Language, and Culture

Presenters: Ellen Healion

1:30 pm
Personal Wellness- It starts with you!

Presenters: Karen Kelly

Karen Kelly
1:30 pm
The Transformative Power of Voice

Presenters: Greg Frankson

Greg Frankson
1:30 pm
Breaking Barriers for Youth and Young Adult Peers in a Culturally Relevant Environment

Presenters: Carolyn Cox and Gabriel Hamilton

Carolyn Cox and Gabriel Hamilton
1:30 pm
Utilizing DBT Skills in the Peer Role

Presenters: Sarah Jensen

Sarah Jensen
1:30 pm
Destigmatizing Sexual Health in Recovery

Presenter: Tanya Moore

Tanya Moore
1:30 pm
Pathways for Peer Policy

Presenter: Laura Van Tosh

Laura Van Tosh
1:30 pm
Apple Health and Homes-A Prescription for Housing

Presenters: Melodie J. Pazolt and Kimberly Castle

Melodie J. Pazolt and Kimberly Castle
1:30 pm
Transcending Barriers: Strategic Planning for TGNC Representation in Peer Organizations

Presenter: Jessica Alalawi and Aary Gariss

1:30 pm
Mamela (Mah-MEH-lah.) Hela hem mamela (HAY-lah HEM ma-MEH-lah)

Presenters: Roslynn Watson

7:30 am
Networking

Great time to connect with peers and build community.

8:00 am
Opening in a good way with Heyoka Winyan/Katie Pratt and Welcome by Health Care Authority

Presenters: Heyoka Winyan/Katie Pratt & The Health Care Authority

8:30 am
The Intersectionalities of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice with Helen 'Skip' Skipper, and Performing Artist Shanelle Berry aka Shady B

Presenter: Helen 'Skip' Skipper & Shanelle Berry aka Shady B

9:20 am
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

11:30 am
We are ALL Harm Reductionists: Meeting people where they’re at with pragmatism and radical compassion with Meghan Hetfield, and Changing the game with Peer Support in Juvenile Rehabilitation with Joshua Smith

12:30 pm
Lunch

3:15 pm
Award Celebration and Prizes

4:00 pm
Greg Frankson (He/Him) - Creative Poetic Summary

4:30 pm
Closing and Door Prizes

9:45 am
Overcoming Your Roadblocks to Compassion

Presenter: Joe Saladino

9:45 am
Peer Programs in Prision- Shining a light in

Presenter: Stephanie Lane and Prima Perez

9:45 am
Compassionate Co-Caregiving

Presenter: Sarah Jensen and Nelson Rascon

9:45 am
Your Racism/Bias Isn't Compassionate

Presenter: Bianca Andrews and Chelsey Moore

10:00 am
Documentation; The Golden Thread

Presenter: Ellen Healion

10:00 am
Poetry for Self-Care, Engagement, and Community Building

Presenters: Marie Marchand

10:00 am
Peer Resilience at Work

Presenter: Julia Bradley and Lauri Bush

10:00 am
The Journey into Conscious Healing: Unlocking the Power Within

Presenter: Naomi Herrera

10:00 am
What does Support look like in PSH?

Presenter: Pat Tucker

1:30 pm
Neuroplaciticy, Mindfulness, and Compassion

Presenter: Allyssa Jomei and Sarah Jensen

1:30 pm
How to provide support in individual placement and support (ISP)

Presenter: Pat Tucker

1:30 pm
WA 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Response Buildout and Role of Peers

Presenter: Bipasha Mukherjee

1:30 pm
TBA

Presenter: TBA

1:30 pm
LGBTQ+ Parents and Children of LGBTQ+

Presenter: Bryan Jeffers-Atkins-Ibarra

1:30 pm
Invisible Barriers: Internal Bias in Peer Work

Presenter: Cinthia Marcellus

1:30 pm
Keep F**ing Going: The Unstoppable Power

Presenter: Joshua Smith

1:30 pm
We Are Family! How Can We Support You?

Presenters: Janice Schultz, Krystal Livingston, and Kristie Lund

1:30 pm
TBA

Presenters: TBA

Full Schedule
New Register now for the 2021 Peer Pathways Conference!