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Carol Cruz (she/her/hers) is a woman in long-term recovery since 1994, and a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist/Coach. She is the founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit R.E.A.C.H. OUT Project and the owner of Carol Cruz Coaching, located in Connecticut. Carol is a Connecticut Organizer for the Recovery Advocacy Project and Co-chair for the Inclusivity Caucus, a new initiative launched at Mobilize Recovery 2020, to increase the presence of members who identify as BIPOC and LGTBQQIA+. The Inclusivity Caucus commitment is to build bridges and intentional safe spaces to end racial and discriminatory injustice and mobilize toward ensuring equitable access to addiction recovery support where resources are lacking for marginalized communities.

Originally from McLean, Virginia, Julie Funkhouser is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Recovery Connection LLC, a transitional living program for women that struggle with substance use and desire a new way to live. She moved to Winchester in April of 2008 seeking help for her substance use disorder after several trips to treatment and following a near fatal overdose, and has remained clean and sober ever since. After entering recovery from both addiction and bulimia, Julie uncovered a strong passion in the field. 

Julie returned to school and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Shenandoah University, receiving the Dean’s Award for her 4.0 GPA. For the next three years, Julie worked at a local community mental health center operating the Quality Assurance department as well as facilitating substance abuse groups. She received training and became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the state of Virginia. Julie is currently pursuing her certification to become a Substance Abuse Counselor through the Virginia Board of Counseling. Her company, The Recovery Connection, has obtained licensure through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and has recently expanded services to provide ASAM 3.1 residential treatment and non-clinical transitional living. Passionate about serving the underserved, she and partner Meredith Speir work with Virginia Medicaid to provide quality care. Their hope is to grow and open more facilities providing various levels of care across the state. 

Julie works closely with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition to collaborate in community efforts to combat the drug epidemic and to end the stigma of addiction. She also works with The Chris Atwood Foundation as part of their Addiction Advocacy initiative, and is a DBHDS Certified REVIVE! Naloxone Trainer. 

Driven in response to tragedy, Julie is heavily involved in advocacy for mental health and substance use on the local, state, and federal levels in honor of her late husband Danny who died as a result of addiction and co-occurring mental illness on September 11, 2018, after a period of long-term recovery. Julie works regularly with legislators to improve the current system, successfully passing SB 903 (commonly referred to as “Danny’s Bill”) in the 2020 General Session which will provide greater consistency across the state of Virginia in how substance use related emergencies are handled in the Emergency Departments and hospitals. The bill was passed unanimously in both chambers. Julie intends to continue her efforts indefinitely across all levels of government in hopes of continued improvements to the current mental health system, specifically at the crisis level. 

Julie has participated in model state law and federal drafting of legislation through the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Legislative Analysis for Public Policy Association (LAPPA), and has participated in ONDCP Director James Carroll’s Roundtable event “Recovery at Work” at the White House to kick off September’s National Recovery Month. 

Julie now resides in Stephens City, Virginia with her two small children, Rylee (age 6) and Tyler (age 3), and is dedicated to giving her late husband Danny a voice, as well as all those lost and those still suffering, so he can continue helping those in need through her business and her advocacy. 

My name is Ana Maria Hernandez, and I am the Field Director of Recovery Advocacy Project- Nevada. Even though I am not a person in long term recovery myself, I am very much a part of the recovery community. Through a degree in political science and years of experience working in community organizing, I have developed skills that help me fight for social justice and try to create change on a systemic level. I've been practicing advocacy for most of my life, and today I do the work that I do because I want to give back to the community that has helped me back to wellness after a period of chaos and uncertainty.   

Vanessa Durcolz, I am a Certified Addictions Peer Recovery Coach, level 2 (CAPRC II). My recovery date is December 12, 2018. I am a fulltime, professional, mother, community advocate, volunteer, and student at Indiana Wesleyan University. I have an associates degree in Human Services with an Addictions Certificate from Ivy Tech. I am  currently working hard to obtain my undergraduate degree in Addictions Counseling. I spend most of my time collaborating in partnership with the local domestic violence shelter in Terre Haute, providing wrap around services related to substance misuse and dependence, relationships and trauma, mental health, and family support. 

Carol is a woman in long term recovery for over 23 years.  She is also the Co-Founder of The McShin Foundation in Richmond, VA.  With over 25 years of Federal legislative experience in Washington, Ms. McDaid provides clients with public affairs consulting on issues that span the breadth of health care, including behavioral health, Medicare, Medicaid, and private sector reimbursement issues.
Ms. McDaid served as a strategist and advisor to the Parity NOW Coalition, which was influential in passage of the 2008 “Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.”  This landmark legislation requires insurers to treat addiction, mental, and physical health problems equally.

Aaron Kucharski is a person in long term recovery since September 6th 2003.  He is a trainer and organizer with RAP and has been speaking out on recovery issues since 2006