My name is Lynda Clarke I am a Peer Recovery Support Specialist, with Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia. I work with Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health peers. I have been working with peers with SUD and MH for 13 years. I have been with SAARA of Virginia for (2) two years and (11) eleven months as an employee. Before I became an employee at SAARA of Virginia, I volunteered at SAARA for (5) five years. I've had the privilege of helping many organizations as a volunteer. I enjoy assisting other peers in finding other pathways in dealing with SUD and MH challenges.

I became a CPMC because it offers another way to help peers realize that medication is not the only medicine and with CPMC I will be able to help peers lose some of their self doubt. CPMC has taught me this is another way to empower peers self esteem and educate peers too in the participation in their daily lives.