Peer Workforce Development Initiative

Hilary Melton

Chair

Hilary is the founding Executive Director of Pathways Vermont. She has 20 plus years experience managing non-profit programs including the first Housing First project under Dr. Sam Tsemberis in New York City in 1992. Hilary is passionate about human rights, social justice and building solutions that are research based, effective, and efficient. She is a published poet, and writes a monthly blog.

Dan Towle

Co-Chair

Dan Towle is a mental health advocate, with a primary focus on promoting the benefits and practice of peer support, and peer support worker as an operator on Pathways Vermont’s Support Line. Since retiring from a career in finance and consulting in financial services industry and moving to VT in 2015, Dan has discovered the revolutionary therapeutic and socially connective power of those with mental health conditions mutually and symbiotically helping each other. Over the last 5 years he has tapped this power as a volunteer representing a voice of lived experience in such roles as a: 1). NAMI VT Connections peer support group trainer and facilitator and head of its Central VT Affiliate; 2). Member of DMH’s Adult State Program Standing Committee and VT’s SAMSHA Block Grant Planning Committee; 3). Member of DMH’s 10 Year Mental Health System of Care Plan Think Tank. Dan can be found year-round recreating in VT’s mountains, forests and waterways.

Walt Wade

Walt Wade has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and 40 years working in the community. He has certifications as a Vermont State Recovery Coach, for people with substance abuse issues, he is also a Vermont State Recovery Coach to work with Family and Friends that are affected by the life of people with substance abuse issues.

Walt loves to help people, he is an avid Basketball fan, He has a great sense of humor that can change the mood of the room.

Walt has spent most of his life making changes in his life and helping others make changes in theirs. Walt has spent his life dealing with addiction and mental health issues. As of March 13, 2023, Walt will have 41 years of sobriety. During this time he has worked a 12-step program while helping a great many others learn how to work their 12-step program to develop a positive road to recovery.

Gloria Van Den Berg

Gloria van den Berg is the founding Executive Director for Alyssum Inc. Alyssum is a residential peer-run crisis respite and hospital diversion service funded by the State of Vermont. Alyssum opened its doors to guests in November of 2011 and has proved to be a successful program. Ms van den Berg has been involved in a state-wide effort to improve the quality of services offered to individuals in need for the past 10 years. Ms. van den Berg has a history of building small businesses. She is a mother of three young adults and has been a Vermont resident and farmer for the past 30 years. She enjoys being outdoors, riding horses, meditation, gardening and transformation.

Amey Dettmer

mey Dettmer is a Certified Peer Specialist and Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator, born and raised in rural Pennsylvania. Amey is currently the Program Manager of Doors to Wellbeing National Consumer Technical Assistance Center, a program of the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. Previously, Amey has been employed as a CPS supervisor and CPS providing direct peer support in her community. As a mental health advocate in her local area, she has been filmed for public service announcements and featured on the front page of her local newspaper, giving voice to the importance of peer support and the possibilities of recovery and wellness. Amey is a person who credits her own wellness to the connection, mutual learning, and understanding that began in her life once she was introduced to like-minded peer supporters, wanting to impact changes within our mental health system. Amey became actively involved in youth leadership initiatives nationwide, participating in National Youth Advisory Councils, creating youth-developed and youth-led peer support curriculums, implementing a National Youth Convergence, and Co-chairing the International Association of Peer Supporters (INAPS) Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Committee. In December of 2018, Amey was awarded the “Disruptive Innovator Award” as INAPS recognized her for her leadership, honoring her as a young adult who has made a significant transformative contribution to the field of Peer Support through leadership, programming, and activism.

Ken Russell

Ken Russell grew up in Brandon Vermont, one of seven children. After attending Otter Valley UHS he headed to California for college where he studied studio art and English. He worked as a teacher, cook and carpenter and worked in video production before becoming involved with the American Civil Liberties Union where he advocated on behalf of the homeless, on racial profiling, and on prison reform and abolition in the California Legislative arena. In 2006 he returned to the east coast and received a masters at the Kennedy School of Government and returned to Vermont to start a family. He worked for Speaker of the House Gaye Symington and for candidates for statewide office and in community development for the city of Montpelier. He also has worked in journalism and property development. Recently he has worked to end homelessness in Central Vermont through his work as Chair of the Montpelier Homelessness Task Force. He lives with his partner Rhonda and their three children in East Montpelier and began work as Executive Director of Another Way at the end of August. He hopes to bring renewed vitality and activism to Another Way and find a strong balance between the need of psychiatric survivors and the unhoused population.

Leslie Nelson

Leslie Nelson works at Howard Center as the START Team Leader, a position which allows her to continue to work with individuals in crisis and distress. In addition to her work with the START Team Leslie’s a recognized trainer and consultant in Dialogical Network Approaches and Intentional Peer Support. She is often asked to speak about her personal experience of negotiating trauma, addiction, love, and daily life.

Malaika Puffer

Malaika Puffer (she/her) manages peer support services at HCRS, informed by her extensive experience receiving services and connection to the psychiatric survivor/mad pride movement. She is a trainer of Intentional Peer Support and A Harm Reduction Approach to Psych Drugs. Outside of work, Malaika is a co-founder of The Hive Mutual Support Network in Brattleboro where she lives with her partner.

Tara Miller

Bio pending.

Will Eberle

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Will Eberle, MPA (he, him), a person in co-curing recovery, is the Executive Director of Recovery Vermont and the Vermont Association of Mental Health and Addiction Recovery. Will has overcome trauma, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, mental health crises, and addiction. He models neuroplasticity and resilience in his life and work.

In this role, Will is honored to have the opportunity to grow and support the state-wide network of partners that provide tools for all Vermonters to enjoy recovery, health, and happiness. He anchors his own recovery in trail-running, knitting, music, and human connection. Will is a collaborative leader who is deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. He has made reducing the tragic, untimely, deaths of dearly loved Vermonters from suicide, overdose, and social isolation a top priority of his tenure.

Will supports all paths to recovery. He believes recovery is possible for everyone, no matter what they have been through, so long as we extend judgement-free compassion and empathy to people living with trauma, mental health and substance use challenges and provide a rich and diverse array of recovery resources and options to all Vermonters.

J Helms

Pathways Vermont

J Helms (they/them) works with Pathways Vermont as Director of Training & Advocacy. They have previously worked as a service coordinator in Pathways' Housing First program and a peer advocate at a designated agency. J is a certified IPS Organizational Trainer, Alternatives to Suicide group facilitator, and Hearing Voices group facilitator. Through Pathways Vermont Training Institute and Vermont's Peer Workforce Development Initiative, they develop and facilitate trainings and workshops on various topics including Pathways Vermont's Relationship-First Practice, Housing First, Intentional Peer Support, Harm Reduction, Person-Centered Service Planning & Provision, Conversations About Suicide, and Mad Movement Histories.

Lindsay Mesa

Pathways Vermont

Lindsay has over 7 years of experience leading Housing First programs at Pathways Vermont. Prior to that, Lindsay worked with people experiencing homelessness in New York City in shelters and soup kitchens throughout the city. Lindsay holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from New York University. She currently serves as the Director of Housing First Programs at Pathways Vermont and looks forward to ending homelessness in the state.

Alex Ferguson

Pathways Vermont

Alexander Ferguson (he/him) is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He has worked in Vermont’s peer support and community based services for ten years. Previously he was Team Lead at the Pathways Community Center & Pathways Vermont’s Support Line. He is a statewide trainer for Intentional Peer Support. Alexander currently facilitates a weekly BIPOC affinity space & Hearing Voices Support Group. He is currently Pathways Vermont’s Training Coordinator.

Calvin Moen

Western Mass Recovery Learning Community

Calvin Moen is a psychiatric survivor, advocate, educator, writer, editor, and performer. He is currently the Greenfield coordinator for the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community and a co-founder and organizer of the Brattleboro-based Hive Mutual Support Network.

Rebeka Lawrence-Gomez

Pathways Vermont

Rebeka has been with Pathways Vermont since its inception in 2009. She is committed to human rights, opportunities for all, and individual choice. Prior to her work with Pathways she taught as a Peace Corps volunteer in Batangas, Philippines and worked with Disability Rights Vermont.

Malaika Puffer

Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Vermont

Malaika (she/her) manages peer support services at HCRS, informed by her extensive experience receiving services and connection to the psychiatric survivor/mad pride movement. She is a trainer of Intentional Peer Support and A Harm Reduction Approach to Psych Drugs. Outside of work, Malaika is a co-founder of The Hive Mutual Support Network in Brattleboro where she lives with her partner.