The NYAPRS Board of Directors is very proud to honor the extraordinary achievements of this year’s 2023 Awardees. As you’ll see below, we are recognizing the lifechanging contributions that these 18 champions have made, either over a lifetime or the last few years, to advance the recovery, rights, dignity and quality of life of members of our community and to advance social, racial, gender and disability justice and criminal justice reforms.
We will be honoring 2 separate groups of our outstanding awardees at our 2023 NYAPRS Annual Awards Ceremony, to be held at our NYAPRS Annual Conference site, the Villa Roma in Callicoon, NY at 2 separate times:
-
Tuesday September 26 from 2:45-3:30 pm
-
Wednesday September 27, from 2:00-2:45 pm
You can register to attend part or all of the conference at
Register for the Conference Book Hotel
See the attached conference program schedule and also look for more details regarding the contributions that our honorees have made and the specific time that they will be receiving their awards.
—————————-
NYAPRS 2023 Award Honorees
Brendan Nugent Empowerment Award
To honor outstanding efforts to promote the empowerment of your peers across New York State
Dr. Jonathan P. Edwards, Program Consultant for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment, NYC, New York
Doug Hovey: CEO, Independent Living, Newburgh, NY
Gita Enders, Gita Enders, Director of Peer Services, NYC Health + Hospitals, New York City New York
Frances Olivero Advocacy in Action Award
To honor inspirational community leadership in advocacy
Veronica Weider, formerly Director, Creative Wellness Opportunities at the MHA of Rochester
Beverly Carthens, Director of Peer Services, H+H Kings County Hospital, NYC, New York
Sally Zinman Lifetime Achievement Award
To honor extraordinary leadership in advancing the recovery and rights of people with mental health and trauma-related challenges across our state and nation
Paolo del Vecchio, Director, SAMHSA Office of Recovery
Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice; former Director of Legal Policy and Advocacy, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Laura van Tosh, Global Mental Health Peer Network
Robert Myers, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Division of Community Program Management and Managed Care, NYS Office of Mental Health (retired).
Kathy Lynch, former Recipient Affairs Specialist for Western NY
Public Policy Leadership Award
To honor an extraordinary record of public service on behalf of New Yorkers with psychiatric disabilities
David Wollner, former OMH, DOH and Senate health and policy expert
Marty Smith Memorial Award
To honor outstanding contributions to the advancement of best practice recovery and peer run services across New York
Steve Miccio, CEO, People USA, Poughkeepsie, NY
Doug Meyer, Director of Programs, MHA of Essex County, Westport, NY
Baltic Street AEH Inc., Brooklyn, NY
Kirsten Vincent Leadership Award
To honor a NYAPRS Board member who has made inspiring and exemplary contributions to advance the recovery, rights, and dignity of New Yorkers with mental health, substance use and trauma-related challenges.
Helen ‘Skip’ Skipper, NYAPRS NYC Regional Coordinator; Founder, NYC Justice Peer Initiative
Public Education Award
To honor exemplary efforts to educate the public about the public policy priorities of New Yorkers with mental health and trauma-related challenges
Maya Kaufman, NY Health Care Reporter, Politico, Albany, NY
Celia Brown Justice for all Champion Award
To honor inspiring contributions to advancing social justice, compassion, and recovery for people with mental health, substance use, and trauma-related challenges
Dr. Chyrell Bellamy, Director, Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health
Chacku Mathai, Project Director, Center for Practice Innovations