Kristina Padilla is world-renowned as a national speaker, author, educator, and advisor, advocating the principle of “living out loud.” They foster safer environments nationwide by conducting 2S/LGBTQIA+ educational talks and training sessions globally. They are also the Vice President of Education and Strategic Development for CCAPP and NBHAP. Mx. Padilla has a Bachelor’s Degree in…

Rhonda L. Johnson, a native Washingtonian, serves as the CEO, Recovery Coach, and Certified Peer Specialist Consultant at Now Hope 2 Reality, LLC, a Certified Business Enterprise in Washington, DC. Rhonda is a proud mother of six adult children, three of whom are by marriage, and is blessed with 13 grandchildren, as well as her…

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…

Jessica currently leads various projects that aim to bring awareness to substance use disorder and end the stigma surrounding it within her employment at Serve You Rx. She is the creator and founder of the Overdose Aid Kits, an Employer and Community-Placed Opioid Overdose Prevention Project, providing life saving medication to those who are at…

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 Abuse Prevention where Dona provided executive leadership for federal…