Our Vision
“Pioneering hope and wellness through shared journeys.” |
Our Mission
“The Central Mass Recovery Learning Community supports
self-determined paths of recovery. Through assertive outreach,
we connect with a diverse network of people, who share the
experience of emotional extreme states that interfere with
wellness. We accept each other, as individuals, while inspiring
mutual empowerment and self-advocacy.” |
The
Recovery Learning Community is comprised entirely of people
with lived experiences.
Staff Biographies |
Brenda Vezina-Jodaitis, LSW, CPS
Executive Coordinator
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My name is Brenda and I am primarily responsible
for the Direction of the RLC and creating a system
for our movement in the community to be expanding,
widespread and thriving.
I am available for consultation on multiple topics
such as peer and staff development opportunities,
Strategic Planning, Program Coordination, Leadership,
Contracts and Budgets with DMH and other funders and
overall oversight and support to this community. I
can help with mediation, training opportunities, recommendations,
Grievances and Complaints regarding our system, Housing
issues, HIV/AIDS issues and other personal and Legislative
Advocacy Activities.
I love Southwestern art and decor and music!
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Donna Macomber-Cassidy, CPRP
Program Coordinator
(Picture to come)
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I’m Donna M-C and I am the Program Coordinator at
the Central Mass RLC.
I am a Certified Psych Rehab Practitioner (CPRP),
and have been working at the CMRLC since October,
2010. I am the go-to person for Common Ground, Edit
U, Financial Literacy, and the Hearing Voices Network.
I will soon be adding WRAP facilitator to this list.
I have general oversight of the 91 Stafford Street
location, statistical reporting, our monthly newsletter
and calendar, and staff supervision.
I enjoy sewing, reading, crossword puzzles, Renaissance
Faires and really bad monster movies.
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Mike Whitney, CPS
Peer Support Supervisor
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I'm Mike Whitney and one of my biggest duties at
the RLC is working with my fellow Peer Support Workers
to ensure the finest possible support services to
our Peers.
My passion is for helping others discover their gifts
and use them to their fullest, as others have done
for me--and still do! I love exploring learning and
creativity in all its forms, so I work in our Art
Gallery and Drum Circle as well as exploring training
and employment options with other Peers.
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Mike MacInnis, C.R.O., CPT
Chief Relations Officer
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Mike MacInnis, aka "Mac" works for the
CMRLC as our Chief Relations Officer. Mac works with
local and state agencies, as well as peer run organizations
and media doing outreach as well as "partnering
up" our organizations for events. He assists
the director in day to day operations. Mac has completed
CPS and Peer Facilitator trainings as well as facilitator
training for "The Parenting Journey".
A nationally certified personal trainer through the
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a nationally
certified nutrition and wellness coach through the
American Council on Exercise (ACE), he embraces a
healthy lifestyle and loves to pass on tips to any
and all inquiries. A father of three children, "Mac"
loves life and all it has to offer.
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Joyce LaFortune, URM/T, FEP/T
Office Manager
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My name is Joyce and I am the Office Manager, making
sure all runs smoothly.I also facilatate groups on Alternative
Health and love sharing these as added tools in Recovery.
My passion is LIFE!
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Aroldo
Ferreira
Diversity Specialist
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Hello I am Aroldo. I am a Peer Worker at the RLC. I
am responsible to bring Peer Support to different communities,
such as the Latino, Brazilian, Vietnamese, young adult,
GLBTQ and others. I love people’s cultures, and I have
as a priority to understand different cultures, believes
and habits, so I can help diversity groups with mutual
support.
I am happy and outgoing. I strive to keep up the good
mood in the groups and throughout the community.
I am also a dreamer. I believe that everybody can get
better, and that Peer Support is extremely beneficial.
That is why I am proud to be a Peer Facilitator and
a WRAP teacher.
I can help people with Peer Support, training opportunities,
advocacy activities and translations in Portuguese in
English or Spanish.
I believe in the power of optimism, kindness and happiness. |
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Brief History of the Recovery
Learning Community |
In
the fall of 2006, several Central Mass area peers were at
a training for Peer Support Specialist Certification in Wachusett,
MA. The Transformation Center convened these folks to see
if they were interested in starting a “Guiding Council”
of Central Mass peers to work on a funding proposal for the
Central Mass Recovery Learning Community (CMRLC). These pioneers,
with the help of Marcia Webster from the Transformation Center,
convened meetings at the library and at Alternatives Unlimited,
Inc. to come up with plans. The Guiding Council interviewed
various partners that were established non-profit organizations
that could help them. They chose to work with Alternatives
Unlimited, Inc. and the Transformation Center (then called
M-Power). Marcia Webster, the Transformation Center, the Central
Mass Guiding Council and other peers wrote a proposal to the
Department of Mental Health (DMH) to fund the CMRLC. The CMRLC’s
proposal was approved by DMH in May 2007. In July 2007, the
site was chosen for the CMRLC’s Resource Connection
Center (RCC), at 91 Stafford Street, Worcester, MA. The RCC
was officially opened to the public in September 2007. |
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