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.

Karim Chapman

Karim Chapman comes to VPS with more than ten years of experience at the grass roots and advocacy levels of building and developing programs among our most vulnerable populations. As a lead mentor for Community Connections for Youth (CCFY), Karim was a member of a team that identified young men and women living in and around New York, Harlem, that had direct or indirect issues with violence resulting in court involvement or circumstances with law enforcement.

Previously, he managed and supervised a team of credible messengers that dealt with at-risk youth around gun violence, mediation, life choices, and hospital and shooting responses. Karim founded Life Intervention Team (LIT) in New York, an organization created to intervene in lives of at-risk youth by bringing them through different life experiences that helped cultivate their lives and mind set through education, civic engagement, economic development, team building activities, and mental health education.

Most recently Karim developed and ran the newly formed Crisis Peer Services program for Community Care Network in Rutland. His skill set and lived experience make him a perfect fit for VPS where he can continue his passion for widening the safety net through viable community-based services and advocacy projects for the peer network.

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.

Katie Wilson

Katie Wilson is a passionate advocate for communities and the environment. For seven years, Katie facilitated WRAP groups with all different sorts of people and learned a tremendous amount about herself, her wellness, and got to see all different approaches to hope, personal responsibility, education, self-advocacy, and support. As a systems thinker, Katie serves as the Director of Operations for Copeland Center. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her spouse, young daughter, and 2 cats.

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.

Rene Rose

Bio pending.

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.

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.

J Helms

Pathways Vermont

J Helms is a psychiatric survivor, advocate, educator, and writer. J works with Pathways Vermont as a Training Institute Associate. 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. They've facilitated trainings and workshops on various topics including psych survivor allyship, trans 101 and trans allyship, LGBTQ+ youth and homelessness, and conversations about suicide.

Alex Ferguson

Pathways Vermont

Alexander is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He has a background in sound & audio engineering. After having attended college in NYC, he spent time traveling around the country learning about different communities. Moved back to Vermont in 2013 and began volunteering with Pathways. He has been facilitating the IPS training for the past five years. Alexander is currently the Team Lead at the Pathways VT Community center.

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.

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.