Past Speakers

December 17 6:30pm

Research from the Center of Excellence at MGH
Speakers: Valeria Chambers, Anne Whitman, and Sandra Whitney-Sarles

January 21 6:30pm

Sam Botsford will be talking about his recovery story, including his graduation from law school (it only took him ten years!), and his current role as a student in Social Work school. He will also talk about his work as a peer specialist at the Boston Resource Center. In addition, Sam will review his time at NAMI Massachusetts and the experiences of his different roles within the organization. Finally, Sam will discuss his personal life, including being a husband and father with a mental health condition.

Heidi Lee is an artist, mother, and teacher who lives with the
challenges of PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. She is a Certified Peer
Support Specialist-Housing Navigator for Boston Health Care for the
Homeless Program. She will talking about her experience as a parent
with mental health challenges as well.

February 18 6:30pm

Speaker: Sandra Whitney-Sarles

Sandi will be telling her recovery story and how work has played a major role in that process; see bio.

March 18 6:30pm

Speaker: Karen Gromis

Karen Gromis will talk about her recovery and the Saturday, May 22, 2021 Walk which again will be virtual.

April 15 6:30pm

Speaker: Melissa Talal

Melissa Talal, who is orginally from California and Texas, will tell her recovery story. Melissa will initially talk about the early years of her illness being encapsulated with multiple hospital stays although always doing something. At her sickest, however, she was able to intern at the Mexican Consulate in San Antonio and took graduate classes in Spanish linguistics. At that time she never thought she would get off disability and work full time.

Melissa will talk about her road to recovery. She moved to the Boston area in 2000 after living on Gould Farm for 10 months.Then she got in a long term relationship with her partner and adopted two cats, Lulu and Turbo and they were instrumental in her recovery. She was able to get a job at a movie theatre for many years but really wanted to work as a peer specialist. She has now been working as a peer bridger and peer specialist for over three years the Northeast Recovery Learning Community. She is currently in graduate school at Northeastern where she is pursuing a master's in global studies/international relations. Dreams achieved!

May 20 6:30pm

Facilitator: Sandi Whitney-Sarles

I will be facilitating a listening group for up to 10 peer participants. The listening group will focus on taking time to hear the ways an RLC currently meets the needs of peers and how it may improve in the future. We are hoping to hear how to develop a more vibrant and diverse community. We would also like to hear how creativity can foster hope, health and expression.

July 15 :

Yuka Gordon

Her first mental health episode hit when she was a college student. She chose not to get any treatments (proper treatments were not available).

Yuka learned it is common to see a psychiatrist in the U.S. and decided to do so. Medications were working to make her feel better for a while, however, she felt she is not quite feeling well enough. When she lost a job and parents for a short period, she hit the bottom. She struggled to find good medications for several years.

When she found BRC this was one of turning points in her life. She became a community member, then, volunteer, per diem peer specialist, quality management and operation director (MBRLC & SERLC), co director (MBRLC) and Director MBRLC.

August, 2021: Julie Anne Entwhistle

Julie Anne Entwistle is a Certified Peer Specialist and Program Coordinator for the Hope Center. Julie Anne is dedicated to creating a trauma-informed space where individuals from all backgrounds can find their own peer support
community. She will be speaking in particular of the power of trauma-informed group peer support to create change within the mental health system and support individuals in finding recovery.