Detroit- Peer Leadership Summit: Mapping Your Leadership Compass

This dynamic and engaging training will begin with a powerful keynote delivered by nationally recognized leaders in peer support, setting the stage for a day of learning, collaboration, and leadership development.

Through interactive activities, guided discussions, and small-group exercises, participants will explore their unique leadership strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and practice applying leadership skills in real-world peer support settings. Working alongside fellow peers, participants will role model effective leadership strategies that promote collaboration, advocacy, and positive systems change.

Together, participants will develop a shared vision for strengthening and advancing Michigan’s peer workforce. By the end of the training, each participant will leave with an actionable leadership plan that outlines concrete next steps for using their skills, experience, and influence to make a meaningful impact within their organizations, communities, and the broader peer support movement across Michigan.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify leadership behaviors that build trust and credibility.
• Create an actionable plan for continuous leadership growth.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, mutual support, and shared leadership.
• Craft and communicate a clear mission that inspires hope.

Trainers:

Dr. Jonathan P. Edwards is a social scientist, public health professional, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Peer Specialist, Certified Personal Medicine Coach, and serves on the faculty of Columbia University School of Social Work and as a clinical instructor at Yale School of Medicine Program for Recovery and Community Health. He led the largest peer support workforce within the New York City Hospital system and significantly contributed to the development of the peer support workforce. Dr. Edwards has published research on job satisfaction and supervision practices; contributed to the development of National Practice Guidelines for Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors; presented research and practice nationally and internationally; served on a technical expert panel to develop National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification, as well as a national recovery research agenda. He has received several awards and has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and co-edited the recently published “What It Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors.”  

Justin Volpe, Senior Peer Support Coordinator, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) is an international consultant, advocate, and peer specialist based out of Miami, FL. He has presented and trained mental health facilities and other organizations on trauma-informed care practices and used his life experiences as lessons to what appropriate care should look like from a community level. Previously before his role with NASMHPD, Justin worked as a Jail Diversion Peer Liaison for the 11th Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project for 14 years. He has worked as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist in Florida since 2008 and has extensive work experience in the community. Justin has supervised and coordinated thousands of engagements with participants with serious mental health and co-occurring issues in the criminal justice system. He has assisted in training 4,000 Miami Dade Law Enforcement Officers in Crisis Intervention Team training. His passion for this work is based on bringing systems together locally and nationally while reducing stigma and advocating for the persons served. Justin has been in two PBS documentaries, The Definition of Insanity (2020) with his experience with the Jail Diversion Program and the Ken Burns Documentary: “Hiding in Plain Sight” (2022) on youth mental health. He was published in the Washington Post in 2015 and has many other news appearances and published articles on his recovery journey.

Eligible for 6 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Continuing Education credits.

Coffee and lunch will be served at this training.

Registration: Please register below (on this site) using a credit or debit card, which is the quickest way to confirm your attendance.

ONLY if you need to pay by check, please email registration@mipeers.org for a form.

Cancellation Policy: Registrations may be transferred to another employee of the same agency upon written request to registration@mipeers.org. Cancellations must be received in writing at least 12 days prior to the date of the training. Failure to cancel registration within the allotted time will result in registration fees being forfeited. For questions, e-mail registration@mipeers.org.

Attendance Policy: You must attend the entire training. If you are more than 10 minutes late you will not be allowed to attend as part of the CE requirements. Breaks are built into the training schedule. Participants who miss more than 10 minutes of the training outside of scheduled breaks will not receive CE credit. Attendees must follow the training guidelines.