Presenter: Heather Mroch, BA, Certified Peer Specialist, Parent Peer Specialist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Facilitator/Trainer, Consultant, PEERspective Wellness and PEER Ashtanga, PEERspective Training and Support Services, LLC.
Yoga is more that physical poses! Come find ways to explore the landscape of the imagination through a simple, accessible peer led yoga practice and discover how to translate the principles of yoga and peer support into your work and life to improve wellness.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will have a simple yoga practice to walk away with to support decision making and discernment.
- Participants will get a basic understanding and 'how to' on leveraging lived experience to support flexibility - even if one is not working in a peer role.
- Participants will have a clear understanding of the role of a peer worker, as well as, a broader definition of what yoga is in practice.
Presenter Biography: Heather is a Master Generalist. They are a Certified Peer Specialist and Certified Parent Peer Specialist. Heather has lived experience with mental health, substance use, trauma, and navigating neurodiversity in their family. The foundation of Heather's approach is guided by the values of access, inclusion and justice. Heather is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and provides 1:1 and group practice as a peer provider in the Milwaukee County Comprehensive Community Service Network. Heather’s path has included utilizing services in residential and outpatient substance use treatment programs, shelter placement, inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, engaging in various legal processes in the court system, as well as, formal and informal mental health and trauma services, navigating access and accommodation needs as a student and employee and supporting others navigating these systems as a supervisors and peer. Heather works as an independent contractor providing peer services, yoga and wellness programming, consulting and training. http://peerspectivewellness.ppcbrands.com/
Presenter: Cassandra (Cassie) Walker, LCSW, CCTP, Founder and Owner of Intersections Center for Complex Healing PLLC and Host of the Woke Mental Wellness Project
Many times, we are supporting people and ourselves through difficult events and emotions so it can be hard to connect with our joy. This session will discuss ways that we can care for ourselves and our communities through joy and play while avoiding the pitfalls of toxic positivity and overemphasis on capitalistic joy. We will address the interactions of capitalism, colonialism, somatics, self-care, play, and joy. Come ready to engage with both discussion and play!
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn how to explore their personal and professional relationship to joy.
- Participants will be able give example of “capitalistic joy” versus “liberatory joy.”
- Participant will be able to integrate aspects of joy and play into their work with peers.
Presenter Biography: Cassie is a Black Queer Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Therapist, Activist, Writer, and Gamer. They are a Liberatory Decolonial healer, certified NARM Therapist, and certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Provider. They are also a former Certified Recovery Support Specialist and person living with Complex Trauma and Bipolar Disorder. They present a diverse array of intersectional topics related to race, gender, sexuality, BDSM and Kink, mental health, liberation, and decolonization. Cassie provides therapy to adults, relationships, and groups and they specialize in the intersections of trauma, Identity, and mental wellness. Cassie is the founder and owner of Intersections Center for Complex Healing PLLC and host of the Woke Mental Wellness Podcast
Presenter: Lynn McLaughlin, Peer, Trainer, Advocate, Consultant, Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative and Karen Iverson Riggers, Peer, Trainer, Advocate, Consultant, Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative
In this workshop, participants will learn how emotional expression and emotional wellness are the key components missing in suicide prevention, mental health and wellness programs. They will deepen their understanding on why all emotions are important to our human experience, and the many ways that we avoid being with our emotions. Participants will be introduced to The Change Triangle—a tool that helps move past our defenses and connect with the emotional body inside each of us.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will understand what emotional wellness is.
- Participants will understand why all emotions—even the most painful—have value.
- Participants will understand the defenses we use against feeling emotions and utilizing the change triangle tool.
Presenter Biography: Lynn McLaughlin is an entrepreneur, author, peer, trainer, connector and consultant. Her life experience, education, and training in emotional wellness, peer support and trauma make her an exceptional leader, direct service provider and trainer. Lynn has a vibrant passion for life and deep empathy for the stories of others, which shows up in all facets of her work. She received her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Marian University. Lynn is an Emotions Education 101 trainer, Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist trainer, as well as a lead trainer of Emotional CPR for the State of Wisconsin.
Karen Iverson Riggers is a writer, survivor, advocate, entrepreneur, and community volunteer. She owns her own nonprofit consulting practice. She was most recently the founding director of Iris Place, the first peer run respite in the state of Wisconsin. Her almost 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector includes working with organizations such as LEAVEN, Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance, Rise Together, African Heritage Inc, NAMI Fox Valley, United Way Fox Cities, Harbor House Domestic Abuse Shelter, etc. to name a few. In 2013, she was awarded NAMI Wisconsin’s Peer of the Year and was recently recognized by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce as a “Future 15” young professional. Karen is a Certified Peer Specialist, an Emotions Education 101 trainer, as well as a lead trainer of Emotional CPR for the State of Wisconsin.
Presenter: Tim Saubers, Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council Chair, Disability Rights Wisconsin
This session will offer people an opportunity to connect with the PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC) in order to learn more about the work Disability Rights Wisconsin is doing to support people with lived experience around the state. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to share feedback and input regarding what they'd like to see the PAC work on learn more about how they can participate on the council.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to articulate the purpose of the PAIMI Advisory Council.
- Participants will have an understanding of the work the PAIMI Advisory Council does.
- Participants will have the opportunity to share input on where they'd like to see the PAIMI Advisory Council focus its work.
Presenter Biography: Tim Saubers is a person with lived experience with both mental health and substance use recovery. He has been a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist since 2016 and has experience in direct service and supervisory roles, as well as managing the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative for several years. He serves as the chair of Disability Rights Wisconsin Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council and in his professional role as the Program Coordinator for Workforce Development at the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence.
Presenter: Katerina Klawes, Educator, CCOA & Marquette University
Each year over 10,000 bills are introduced in the legislature. Learn from a bill author and community organizer how to advocate for better mental health and addiction recovery and prevention policies. The session will include how to contact elected officials, who to contact, how to assess legislative policy, and how to use your experiences and voice to make an impact and create change.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will gain tools to understand and assess legislative policy and be able to define local, state, and national issues.
- Participants will practice and learn how to contact decision-makers.
- Participants will use community organizing tools to involve and inspire others.
- Participants will learn and demonstrate how to use lived experiences to help enact change.
Presenter Biography: Kat Klawes is an educator and activist. She is a bill author and has worked in the fields of education and non-profit. She is a member of the State of Wisconsin Recovery Task Force and has worked as a Survivor Advocate and done crisis intervention work. Her work focuses on diversity in education, mental health supports, and sexual assault survivor supports.