Rod Rushing is a Certified Addictions Specialist, a Certified Core CCAR Recovery Coach Trainer, a CHOICES Core Trainer, a Colorado Credentialed Peer & Family Support Specialist, and a community organizer with over 16 years of experience mentoring and supporting people as well as discovering new applications of peer to peer support.

   Rod works to strengthen access and remove barriers to recovery support systems and facilitate people’s reintegration into wellness/recovery.

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Rica Rodriguez-Hernandez has over 17 years in the case management and advocacy field working with individuals from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Rica is a fierce activist who sits on many community advisory boards as well as board of directors of organizations both locally and nationally. She is a certified trainer in peer recovery coaching and is a fearless grassroots organizer in the Denver area.

   As a part-time program coordinator in the Promotores De Esperanza program at EmbarkPCA, Rica aims to promote racial/ethnic health equity through the provision of culturally and linguistically competent services, designed to minimize barriers in the Latinx communities.

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Corinthiah Brown is the founder and Director of The Don’t Look Back Center and RAHAB Sober Living. After many years working as a counselor she learned that having a safe, trauma informed place to live, is necessary to overcome barriers to recovery. She opened House of RAHAB transitional sober living home for women and transwomen, in September of 2018.

   Corinthiah collaborates with re-entry, probation, human services and self referrals to support the process of rebuilding lives one woman at a time.

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Marcus Weaver's passion is educating and teaching life skills to people experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and returning citizens.

   Marcus has created a curriculum that connects his past trials and tribulations to the struggles of today. Through his work at The Community Outreach Services Center located in Five Points, Marcus facilitates vocational workshops with an emphasis on interviewing skills, identifying obstacles/barriers, and vocational training to help ensure a successful and warm return to the community; he also helps individuals maintain housing and move into self-sufficiency.

   In his spare time, Marcus serves on community boards, lends his voice to social issues, volunteers at his local dog park, and works with survivors of mass shootings.

 

Allison Harden, MS, CPFS, NCPRSS, CEO Beyond Betty

   Allison has lived experience with addiction recovery which includes a foundation from the Twelve Step program of recovery. She has built a supportive community, found peace and ease, and is called to be of service to others as a private recovery coach. In 2019, Allison received the National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist Credential (NCPRSS) through NAADAC.

   Her work experience in treatment includes representing the Betty Ford Center and CeDAR in community outreach positions. She is married and has two adult children and loves yoga, all types of music, golf, and camping in nature every chance she gets.

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Noel Chavez (he,his,el) has worked in the field of community development for over 15 years. As someone who identifies as Latinx and Queer, Noel believes deeply in the power of community to heal and mobilize groups for transformation and liberation.

   Noel works as a Community Case Manager at Vivent Health and facilitates two weekly virtual support groups in Spanish for EmbarkPCA; CHARLA VIH+ and CONOCETE LGBTQ+ under the Promotores de Esperanza program.

   Noel enjoys baking and trying new recipes, taking care of his platitas, and beautiful hikes outdoors, especially when he gets to see the Rocky Mountains.

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Jim Leingang, BA CDP WSCGCII, identifies as a person in long term recovery. He serves as a passionate advocate for the development of a stronger continuum of care in the behavioral health field. He is the Founder of Harmony Recovery Support Services in Olympia, WA.

   Jim believes that Recovery Coaches and Peer Support Specialists can be instrumental in providing additional support to people -- once they become willing to pursue a recovery journey.

   Currently, Jim offers CCAR Recovery Coach training programs for organizations and tribal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest region and nationally, with partnerships he has developed across the country.

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Meghann Perry, CARC, RCP, is a Creator, Facilitator, Storyteller, Teaching Artist and Recovery Coach Professional. She's a CCAR Recovery Coach Academy facilitator and creator of the Recovery Storytelling workshop series, that combines the art and science of recovery coaching with the performing arts, for both youth and adults.

   She is also the Co-Director of the New Plays Department at Improbable Players, creating theater and storytelling experiences grounded in community engagement, social justice and public health issues. She is a loud, proud recovery advocate.

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Erik Borrell is a person with lived experience in both substance use disorder and justice system involvement. He is an Army veteran and has been a certified Recovery Coach since 2018. He became a Recovery Coach Trainer in 2019.

   Erik was inspired after attending CCAR’s RCA through the Peer Coach Academy, and founded the first Recovery Community Organization in Western Colorado. He believes that recovery is a personal journey that is unique to the individual.

   Erik is chairman of the Mesa County Jail Ministry, a member of Faith in Action, and Warrior at Heart. He recently joined Grand Valley Task Force Criminal Justice Group, working to address bias within the Justice system.

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Chanel Berumen is a Colorado Native. She loves going to concerts, playing video games, and being out in nature to explore new places. If Chanel could be any animal, she’d be a unicorn. Her favorite character from a book is the Rainbow Fish because he shares his sparkles with all the other fish so everyone can shine.

   When she’s not working one of her four jobs, she spends time with her boyfriend, 2 cats and Great Dane. Her dream is to one day own a BnB and act as a guide to the hordes of tourists that flock to our lovely state every year.

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Christopher DeWinter is a graphic designer, webmaster, author, and maker. He has been helping Rod to promote recovery in Colorado since 2015. 

   Outside EmbarkPCA, Christopher teaches yoga and designs jewelry and other unique gift items that he calls “Jewels of Meaning”. He lives in San Francisco, CA, with his husband, and their Chihuahua Diego, who is barking and wagging his tail right now. 

   Christopher has been happily sober since 2016, and believes the best path to recovery is the one you discover for yourself.

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