Peer Empowerment Video Library
The creation of the Peer Empowerment Video Library was funded by a federal grant received from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration in 2021 and has been an ongoing project by Wings Across Alabama to meet peers where they are, particularly in rural areas.
Peer Empowerment Videos aim to elevate the stories and lived experiences of peers. The positive impact of sharing one’s story extends beyond the storyteller and benefits others who have the opportunity to review and resonate with the experiences of others with similar lived experiences, as well as providing testimonies of consumers of mental health services to law and policy-makers in the State of Alabama. This model of “for us, by us” lifts up the voices and perspectives of peers and effectively articulates the services and policy needs of people living with mental health conditions.
Would you like to add your personal story to the Peer Empowerment Video Library? Email your completed video to peers@wingsacrossal.org.
Ashley
Ashley resides in Northwest Alabama. The artist and activist tells her mental health story through the RESPECT Initiative of Alabama. Her afghans have been featured in galleries in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta. For more information about Ashley’s afghans, email her at ashley106601@gmail.com.
Christina
Christina is a Certified Recovery Support Specialist and Certified Peer Specialist with a proud military background in the U.S. Navy. As a devoted mother and grandmother to five children and grandchildren, she has transformed her life from hardship to healing, turning pain into purpose.
Navigating through adversity, trauma, substance use, and mental health challenges, Christina has emerged stronger—standing firmly on the brighter side of life. Her lived experience fuels her passion for helping others, especially fellow veterans, find hope and healing. By drawing from her past, she lights the way forward, inspiring others to reclaim their present and build a future rooted in resilience and renewal.
Fred
Fred is a law professor at the University of Alabama and co-author of the book Weapon of Choice: Fighting Gun Violence While Respecting Gun Rights. His proposal to allow individuals to protect themselves against impulsive suicide by suspending their own ability to purchase firearms has been enacted in three states (UT, VA, & WA) and featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Professor Vars is currently working on a book about mental health policy centered on stories of people with mental health challenges empowering one another.
Please visit www.donnaslaw.org for more information.
Grettayetta
Grettayetta is a motivational speaker and mental health support guru located in Central Alabama.
Kate
Kate resides in the Birmingham area. When she was a junior in college she was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. From there her life became a rollercoaster of physical and mental health challenges. She struggles with depression and anxiety and still struggles with Crohn’s but she’s doing better than she ever was
Kay has an extensive background as a peer specialist, having worked with a wide range of clients in different settings. Her passion for her role as a Certified Peer Specialist began after seeing the impact it had on her own life and the lives of those around her. She has since dedicated her career to helping others overcome their struggles and lead fulfilling lives. Kay enjoys upcycling and repurposing furniture. She went on to open a dog rescue, Journey 4 Paws. Kay has 17 years of animal rescue experience and has had dogs as emotional support animals (ESA’s) since childhood. Helping others find ESA’s for rescue is her specialty. Check out Journey 4 Paws for more information: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=journey%204%20paws
Kendra resides in Southern Alabama and is a Certified Peer Specialist for both Adults and Youth. She is also an APPR facilitator, NAMI Connection trained facilitator and RESPECT Iniative Speaker. She is Co-chair of the PAIMI Advisory Council. She is also a yoga and meditation instructor and a chaplain.
Kimberly
Kimberly resides in North Alabama. She graduated from Oakwood University in 2023. She has published three books and continues to share her story to support others in their mental health journey through her writing.
Check out her books on Amazon:
Surviving Life’s Storms Victoriously
Poems that Transform and Inform
Poems that Bring World Healing
You can contact Kimberly at kimisawriter@gmail.com.
Lisa
After experiencing the deaths of family and friends who were not able to find the door to their own serenity, Lisa came to realize that she must do everything in her power to stem the tide of loss. In 2019, Lisa pulled together a network or support to establish Door To Serenity as an Alabama non-profit and has not looked back. Today, there are three residential facilities in Mobile, AL, with more living opportunities on the horizon. Her goals for Door to Serenity continue to grow with the never-ending need for services. Lisa and her wife, Laurye, continue to invest their lives heavily in the service of others through the auspices of Door To Serenity. It is a mission of modern activism, a quest to win over hate, and a labor of love. Please check out Door to Serenity’s website: https://www.doortoserenity.org/
Maggie
Maggie has been a Certified Peer Specialist since August 2023 and currently works at Wings as a Rural Outreach Volunteer. She is proud to say she is a Navy Veteran with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science that has allowed her to become skilled at encouraging others to see their strengths vs their limitations. In her spare time she enjoys the outdoors with her 2 Boston Terriers that bring much joy to her daily.
Mary
Mary was born and raised in Central 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. Mary is a NAMI In Our Own Voice speaker and NAMI Family-to-Family graduate. She is also a RESPECT Initiative speaker.
Neal
Neal has been in recovery since 2019. He trained to become a presenter for NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentation that same year. Since then, he has become involved with NAMI and has become a NAMI Peer-to-Peer facilitator as well as a NAMI Connection Recovery Support group facilitator. He is also a member of the NAMI Peer Leadership Council. Neal became a Certified Peer Specialist in 2022 and, in that same year, became a Respect Initiative graduate. As the Education Coordinator for Wings Across Alabama, Neal has been active in various CPS programs throughout the state, and his newest role as the facilitator of the Music as a Recovery tool support group online gives him the opportunity to combine two aspects of his recovery that have helped propel him to where he is today. His love for the individuals Wings serves is apparent as he continues to embrace them as a part of his recovery journey and vice versa.
Noah
Noah resides in North-Central Alabama. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, motivational speaker, and extreme sports enthusiast. He was injured during the the war in Iraq, losing his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee.
His book Living with No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier was released in August 2016.
Please visit Noah’s website to learn more or to book a speaking engagement.
Ron
Ron resides in south Alabama and retired from active duty in 2019, after serving just over 29 years in the United States Navy. The majority of his career was spent as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician with multiple combat and non-combat deployments. He as a Veteran Certified Peer Specialist and serves on the Homeless Outreach Team. He enjoys spending time with his sons.
Sydni
Sydni lives in Central Alabama. She resided in a mental health facility from 2018-2022 and is now living her life as a peer who has overcome mental health challenges. She uses those challenges to help others. She is living her truth, sharing light & hope with others.
TaShonda
Tashonda lives in Southwest Alabama and is a person in Long term recovery. Her recovery date is 03/10/2015. She has had many struggles in life, but has also had many lessons. Both of those have made her the person that she is proud to be today. Her story was once her biggest secret. Now it is her biggest accomplishment. We Do Recover and do it OUTLOUD!
Wayne
Wayne resides in south Alabama and continues his recovery journey.
This project made possible through grant funding received from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.