“Mission Drift” – June 2024 Supervisor Community of Practice
June 2024 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
“Mission Drift”
with April Luderus & Cai Saint Logan
Thursday, June 20th, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Facilitator:
- April Luderus
April Luderus is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and Parent Peer in Wisconsin and serves as Wraparound Advocacy and Engagement Program Director for Peer Specialists Limited (PSL), a peer-run, peer-led agency that provides Parent Peer Specialist services to the families under the Wraparound umbrella in Milwaukee.April established the non-profit, Alcami (pronounced alchemy) Project in March 2023, driven by a commitment to support women in Milwaukee overcoming challenges related to substance abuse. In June 2024, Alcami Project opened Grace House to house women from marginalized communities desiring recovery, targeting pregnant and postpartum women. April is passionate and committed to using her lived experience to walk alongside those who desire it.Before beginning work as a Certified Peer Specialist and Recovery Navigator with Wisconsin Community Services in April of 2022, April was a teacher of high/middle school students with special needs and Library Media Specialist for grades K-8 in Milwaukee Public Schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications specializing in Multi-Cultural Communication from UW-Milwaukee. She is a mother of 5, grandmother of 10 and a member of a cultivated support system in the community.
- Cai Saint Logan
The act of recovery is woven into all aspects of my life. I am a peer specialist and CPS training facilitator. I have been working in advocacy, social work, and harm reduction for over 15 years. I collaborate with people striving toward wellness who experience a range of challenges due to trauma, oppression, and marginalization. From substance use and mental health difficulties to incarceration and housing insecurity, the people I work with show great courage in the face of daunting circumstances and a society that often cares too little.As a person of deeply held convictions, humility, service, and empathy are as vital to me as my next breath. I have always been attracted to work that aligns with my personal values. The fact that my personal history is rooted within the communities and the peoples I serve makes this work all the more essential to who I am.I started out in the recovery world in a leadership role where I directed the Wisconsin Walk for Recovery (now Milwaukee Walks for Recovery) for three years, increasing participation in the walk significantly over the course of my tenure. From there, I delved into advocacy work, using my personal journey as a gender diverse person to provide guidance and education on various topics affecting LGBTQ+ people. During the ensuing years, I earned my bachelor’s degree, certification as a peer specialist, peer specialist training facilitator, and opiate impacted family support specialist.
Over the last several years I have worked as a peer specialist in many capacities, at a shelter for women and children, for Milwaukee County Crisis Services, and with Outreach Community Health Center’s targeted case management team. I practice peer support from the understanding that empathy, inner-calmness, cultural reverence, and compassionate boundaries are powerful forces that support healing and connection.
As of late, I have been studying the finer points of grant writing and contract administration as I prepare myself to once again step into leadership roles. I am considering various avenues to use my knowledge and experience to continue to serve my communities. As my journey carries on, all I know for sure is that I must never stop putting people first. As long as we sincerely value ourselves and each other, potential knows no bounds.
Description:
Our “Mission Drift” workshop explores how to balance idealism with the challenging realities of working in systemic environments. As peer specialists, we act as catalysts for change, bringing essential and fresh perspectives to places that may not fully recognize or value our unique approach, which emphasizes individual-focused care and uplifting marginalized voices. We’ll discuss how initial enthusiasm can sometimes fade when faced with the complexities of the workplace. This workshop will delve into self-care, maintaining our integrity, and developing strategies for peer specialists to effectively navigate these dynamics. Our goal is for each participant to leave equipped with the tools to succeed without compromising their core values.
Feedback Survey/CEH Information:
We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Thursday, July 11th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on July 18th, 2024. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
