Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is honored to share information about the new Celia Brown Youth and Young Adult Legacy Leadership Award, which recognizes and supports the next generation of leaders working to advance behavioral health equity, wellness, recovery, and community inclusion across New York State.
Celia Brown was a trailblazing advocate whose impact on the peer movement in New York and around the world continues to be felt today. As one of New York’s first Peer Specialists, a psychiatric survivor, educator, organizer, and leader, Celia helped shape the development of peer support services, recovery-oriented practices, peer workforce development, and rights-based approaches that continue to transform behavioral health systems. Her leadership helped elevate the voices of people with lived experience and demonstrated the power of peer support, self-determination, and meaningful community inclusion.
This award is a fitting tribute to Celia’s legacy and an exciting opportunity to support young leaders who are working to create positive change in their communities. Two awards of $2,500 will be presented annually on Celia’s birthday, August 11, to youth and young adults from New York State who are advancing behavioral health equity and wellness through leadership, advocacy, community engagement, and innovative projects.
We strongly encourage eligible youth and young adults to apply and help carry forward Celia’s vision of a world where lived experience, recovery, and peer leadership are recognized as powerful forces for change.
Please note that the application deadline is June 30th. We encourage interested applicants to learn more and submit their applications soon.