In June, some of Telecare’s Orange County peer professionals came together to share their recovery journey during a panel workshop titled Resilience & Recovery: PTSD, Grief, and Loss. Hosted virtually by Lei Portugal Calloway, Peer Team Lead at Orange County AOT, the workshop was part of the 27th Annual Mental Health Association (MHA) of Orange County’s Meeting of the Minds Mental Health Conference held June 17-18.

Lei, who serves on the MHA Planning Committee along with her husband, David Calloway, Mental Health Rehab Specialist at Orange County STEPS, is a prominent advocate for peer professionals and mental health awareness. Having previously been a speaker at several mental health conferences including SHARE!, National Association of Peer Supporters and Meeting of the Minds, Lei is passionate about supporting others in sharing their stories and was excited when her workshop proposal for Telecare peers to present was accepted by MHA.

A special thank you and shout out to our OC Peer Rock Stars who shared their story with the 400+ attendees: Jana Pyne, Family Peer Recovery Coach at Home First FSP; Lori Fischer, Peer Recovery Coach at Orange County AOT; Nichole (Nikki) Wilson, Peer Recovery Coach at Telecare’s Co-Occurring Residential on the Be Well campus; and Jude Martinez, Peer Recovery Coach at TAO Central (who was unable to present at the last minute and is still a Rock Star).

Watch the recorded video below as our Peer Rock Stars bravely represent Telecare, their programs — and themselves — by telling their stories as heroes.

Look out next year for information on the in-person Meeting of the Minds 2022, which will be held on April 15th, 2022 at the Anaheim Marriott. And another huge thank you and “job well done” to Jana, Lori and Nikki for taking part in Meeting of the Minds 2021 and using their impactful peer voices to inspire, educate and reduce stigma of mental illness in our community.