Daisy M. Hernandez, MSW, LCSW, MBA, earned her Master of Social Work as a fellow of the Integrated Behavioral Health Fellowship from Westfield State University.

Daisy has dedicated her clinical social work career to community mental and behavioral health organizations within under-served communities. Her professional experience spans the entire spectrum of substance use disorder (prevention through recovery).

As a native of Puerto Rico, Daisy has leveraged her lived experience, bilingualism and education to support and advance racial justice and empower individuals who are over-represented in behavioral health and social services as a result of discrimination and prejudice as well as negative impacts of social determinants of health, including re-entry.

Daurice began her career in the non-profit world, and, for over 30 years, she has embraced a deep commitment to working with the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals, families, and children in our communities. She has had the opportunity to work in several substance abuse and mental health treatment programs as a clinician, supervisor, and administrator. Currently, Daurice is the Executive Director of Bay State Community Services (BSCS), a nonprofit human services agency that provides 80 programs in 17 locations throughout the Greater South Shore Area which are staffed by dedicated and passionate BSCS team members.
Daurice and the entire BSCS team have been true to the agency’s longstanding mission to understand the needs of the people we serve, to listen carefully, and to develop supports and programming that is respectful, effective, and responsive to the needs of our community. The BSCS continuum of support includes over 21 peer recovery support services, residential care for youth, prevention services, community justice programs and multiple community-based family treatment services as well as outpatient clinical services.

Isabel-Kai Fisher is a Project Coordinator at C4 Innovations with lived experience of substance misuse and mental health recovery. From 2018-2021, they were involved in developing and implementing collegiate prevention and recovery programs, as well as supporting students in these programs. After graduating college with a B.A. in Media Studies, Isabel-Kai began working at C4 Innovations and supporting multiple teams across projects. Currently, they are providing administration support and promoting products and resources for the New England MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center) team, as well as working with C4 Innovation’s Fee-for-service team with a focus on the logistics of our online learning opportunities, and providing coordination support for the REC (Recovery Education Collaborative.)

Jeffrey is a dedicated advocate, community leader, and experienced facilitator in the field of recovery. With 8 years of substance-free living, he brings personal experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs of recovery. He has been actively involved with BSAS for the past 3 years, participating in various required trainings, events, and seminars.

As a facilitator for Torchlight Recovery, Bro Jeffrey plays a crucial role in delivering impactful trainings to recovery coaches and peer support workers. With a commitment to creating inclusive and safe spaces, Bro Jeffrey guides participants in understanding the importance of cultural humility, promoting diversity, and fostering inclusive practices within the recovery community. His facilitation style is characterized by empathy, active listening, and a deep respect for individual experiences. Through his engaging and interactive approach, he creates an environment that encourages open dialogue, self-reflection, and skill-building.

Bro Jeffrey serves as the Torchlight Recovery Engagement team supervisor, where he plays a vital role in connecting the community with valuable resources in real-time. He is committed to making a positive impact on both the youth and the community, serving as a shining example of resilience and sacrifice.

Bro Jeffrey's dedication extends beyond his professional responsibilities. He is a loving husband and father of four children, and his personal journey has shaped his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. He is an Entrepreneur and Business owner, the Assistant Director of Torchlight Security, and actively involved in the 10,000 Fearless Peacemakers and other community initiatives. Through his leadership, facilitation skills, and unwavering commitment to the recovery community, Bro Jeffrey strives to empower individuals and communities to achieve sustainable wellness and transformation.

Jillian O’Brien is an advocate, an attorney, and a woman in long term recovery. As Program Director, Jill leverages her strategic thinking and organizational skills to synchronize and mobilize the many moving parts of the Recovery Education Collaborative (REC). After 10 years running her own company as a corporate attorney, Jill moved into the non-profit world. She became firmly rooted in her love for peer support work during her time at Turning Point Recovery Support Center and A New Way Recovery Support Center Support Center. She has worked for several years in various settings that integrate recovery coaches and peer workers including her roles as Program Manager for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) at Bay State Community Services and as Director of Operations for Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR).

Jill is passionate about providing high-quality training experiences for the recovery community, building leadership for the next generation of the Recovery Movement, and supporting parents in recovery. She believes that knowledge is power, and sees educating others as one of her pathways to recovery.

Kristen Paquette, MPH, is the CEO of C4 Innovations. She is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience directing C4 programs, operations, and business development. Kristen’s primary areas of expertise include substance use prevention and recovery supports for youth and adults, as well as best practices in adult learning, dissemination, and workforce development for individuals serving systematically marginalized populations. As part of her role, Kristen provides planning, implementation, product development, and training and technical assistance support to various federal, state, and private initiatives aiming to improve access to recovery, housing stability, and overall well-being. She also co-led the development of Project Amp, an innovative prevention and early intervention model for adolescents at risk of substance use, which is being delivered by young adult, near-age peers with lived experience of recovery from substance use and related challenges. Kristen has been supporting the REC team during launch planning and will continue to support activities related to technical assistance, dissemination, and evaluation.

A person in long term recovery, Maryanne Frangules cofounded MOAR, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery in 1991 with Leroy Kelly. It began as a grassroots movement to highlight the addiction clinician profession, and then into being a collective voice for individuals, families, and friends building awareness of the value of the addiction recovery process. Maryanne has been Executive Director of Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery since 1999, when it first received grant funding from

MA Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and SAMHSA, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration via The New England School for Addiction Studies to form NEAAR, New England Alliance for Addiction Recovery, a 6state consortium of recovery community support programs. NEAAR is no longer an entity, but MOAR is alive and well. On the national level, she served 8 years on the board of Faces and Voices of Recovery. She proudly participated in their Public Policy Committee. Maryanne has received recognition on the state and national level. She was very proud to have MOAR be a SAMHSA National Recovery Month Planning Partner for many years, and now partners with Faces and Voices of Recovery. That being said – MOAR has spearheaded a statewide Recovery Month event for 32 years. She has mentored many recovery community members to use their voice to know their rights. Maryanne really feels the pulse of recovery from her experience with the RIZE Together in Recovery Project as well as assisting with The Recovery Toolkit! Knowing Our Rights includes the right to choose any of the multiple pathways of recovery. MOAR has served on many government commissions, Maryanne strongly believes that faces- who are visible; voices – who are vocal; will only prove that recovery is valuable to our communities.

Noel, a Latino man in long term recovery, has been working in the recovery community since 2015. Noel has worked as a House Manager, Recovery Treatment Coordinator, Recovery Coach, and Recovery Coach Supervisor. In these roles, Noel has experience in facilitating meetings, trainings, and leading presentations about recovery to the community. Currently, Noel is the Southeast Regional Coordinator for (MOAR) Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery.