Charisse Donielle Donald Parker is a native of Jackson, AL.  She is the mother of five children and the grateful grandmother of two boys.  She is an Alabama Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Recovery Support Specialist, CPS Trainer, APPR Facilitator, NAMI IOOV and Connections Support Group Facilitator. 

Charisse previously served as the Adult Peer Services Team Leader for JBS Mental Health Authority and is the current Chair of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) Advisory Council.  She is passionate about the power of peer support.  With personal experiences of her own with drug addiction, mental health challenges, and homelessness, Charisse is committed to meeting people where they are and supporting them through recovery possibilities because of her faith and own recovery journey.  Her mantra is “RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE – I AM PROOF.”  As the Program Director of the Alabama Warm Line, she continues the work of transformation and recovery as she and a peer-operated team of compassionate listeners connect with individuals feeling stressed, alone, overwhelmed, or who just need someone to talk to. Charisse remains grateful as she strives to “Stop Stigma and Start Supporting” individuals throughout Alabama who have suffered in silence while empathetically encouraging others to do the same. 

Leigh was attending a day program at NWAMHC in 2003 when she was asked to assist other members of the program who wanted to earn their GED.  This played a major role in her recovery as it gave her a purpose in life and led to volunteering as a day program instructor.  In 2004, she became a full-time employee of the agency and has worked there for the past 18 years as a child and adult case manager, day treatment coordinator, internal advocate, Certified Peer Specialist and Peer Support Coordinator.  Recently, Leigh reduced her hours at the mental health center so that she could pursue an exciting new opportunity as the Peer Programs Coordinator for NAMI Alabama. She also serves as the Support Group Supervisor for Wings Across Alabama where she develops the curriculum for CPS support groups across the state.  She loves meeting and working with so many amazing people throughout the state. Leigh and her husband celebrated their 20th anniversary in November of 2021, and they have three amazing children.   They also have a 14 yr. old mini shih tzu, Chloe Lou, who is their baby. Leigh has a B.S. degree in Education from the University of Montevallo and is currently pursuing her Master’sdegree.   She enjoys reading, working as an amateur party planner, watching Shark Week and the Westminster Dog Show, and attending Mississippi State sporting events.  Her favorite thing to do is “making memories” with her family and friends.

Ann joined the Alabama Warm Line in 2018 as the Warm Line Coordinator. She had moved to Fairhope Alabama from Virginia in 2017 where she had worked as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for 7 years and received numerous certifications. Most of her peer work consisted of answering their hot line/warm line and facilitating various training programs. Ann was also President of the Board of Directors of VOCAL (Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership). In her life before peer support, Ann had more than 25 years experience in nonprofit and corporate settings. She was also married twice, widowed and divorced and has a daughter, son-in-law and grandson. She lives in Fairhope with her dog Happy.

Mary was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She studied at UAB Special Studies Program and earned numerous certifications from 1996 to 2010, and she studied at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. Mary is a Certified Minister, and she retired from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013. She was previously employed with JBS Mental Health Care as a Peer Specialist and Family Peer Specialist with Nova Program. And if that wasn’t enough, she was also a seasonal tax preparer. Mary is a NAMI In Our Own Voice speaker and NAMI Family-to-Family graduate. Most recently, she was a Respect Initiative grad earning her APPR certification in February 2019 (the first class that Audrey Tripp taught). Diagnoses include Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Borderline Personal.iy Disorder

Mary is a published author through Books-A-Million, enjoys reading, writing, learning, helping others and family, and she has two children.

Originally a small town girl now living in a big ole city. Alum of the University of Alabama. Roll Tide! A few times throughout high school and college I studied abroad. All amazing experiences. The last time I went abroad I became very ill. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I also have depression, anxiety and PNES. It’s a daily battle but I’m a fighter. I love to cook and bake, do nerdy things, listen to music especially Taylor Swift, spend time with those I love, traveling and doing creative things. 

As soon as Gaije knew peer support was a thing that existed in the world, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. She began working at JBS Mental Health Authority in 2018, and became a Certified Peer Specialist the same year. In 2019 she began facilitating Advances Planning and Preparation for Recovery groups through Wings. In April of 2022 she became a Warm Line Specialist. She has a BS in psychology from Birmingham-Southern College, and currently lives in Birmingham with her husband, and her Siberian Husky, Stella Bennett.

Richard became a Certified Recovery Support Specialist in 2021. He is a member of a 12 step program since 2010. He became aware of his mental illness in 2003 when he became clean and sober. He loves to help people and work with others that suffer from mental illness, alcoholism, and addiction. He is a people person and loves human interaction. In his spare time he likes walking his two dogs, playing with his two cats, surfing the internet, and watching college football. He has been with Wings Across Alabama since May 2022.

Brian is a transplant from Cincinnati, Ohio. Brian, who was born with a physical disability, has been a very vocal
advocate for disability rights, providing a unique perspective. As a Certified Peer Specialist, Brian remains excited about providing an authentic peer voice in his various positions in the peer world. In his newest role as a Warm Line Specialist, he feels it has afforded him both the opportunity and platform to continue to be the change he seeks while modeling how that change can be hindered but NEVER prevented!

Kendra joined Wings Across Alabama as a Warm Line Peer Specialist in December 2022. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Master’s Degree in Rhetoric and Composition and is currently enrolled in Chaplaincy Training at Upaya Zen Center. She is also a yoga and meditation teacher. Spiritual practice has been a guiding force in her mental health recovery from depression, anxiety, and obesity. She has served in settings ranging from a homeless shelter to street ministry and seeks to meet all people exactly where they are with an open heart. She enjoys camping and outdoor activities, live music, and spending time with her dogs, Pippa and Tiki.