Emily Newton is a young woman in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. As a student, she returned on campus to the Rutgers Recovery House where she led, advocated, and built relationships. She has found purpose in advocating for recovery spaces to become increasingly more inclusive and accessible, particularly for youth. Emily…

Awardee Representative: Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC Representative Organization: On The Mark Consulting Representative Title: International Speaker, Trainer, and Consultant Online Museum bio: The purpose of the Online Museum is to serve as a single location where individuals who are interested in information about addictions, treatment, and recovery among African Americans can be found. The site…

Phil Valentine is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). He has been integral to this Recovery Community Organization since January 1999. As an accomplished author, facilitator, and presenter, Phil is widely recognized as a new recovery advocacy movement leader. Phil is known to carry the message of recovery through storytelling,…

The Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force in the U.S. House of Representatives has been a leading voice in Congress with their efforts to make the most progress possible on critical issues impacting families across the nation. Every September, the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force recognizes National Recovery…

Awardee Organization: SAMHSA Awardee Title: Senior Advisor for Recovery Currently serving as the Senior Advisor for Recovery at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dona Dmitrovic supports recovery initiatives across the agency. In her previous role, she served as the Director of the Center for Substance…

Awardee: Tom Coderre Awardee Organization: SAMHSA Awardee Title: Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use With decades of public, private, and non-profit service, Mr. Coderre is the first person in recovery to lead SAMHSA. Mr. Coderre’s career has been significantly influenced by his personal journey and a philosophy that acknowledges the essential…

Maj. John G. Donovan, M.Ed., C.P.R.S., U.S. Army, Ret. Maj. John G. Donovan is a person in long-term recovery with over 44 years of recovery time.  He is passionate about recovery and lectures frequently to audiences on substance use disorder and recovery therefrom.  He blogs on recovery; he is a certified peer recovery specialist; and…