Speakers

Keynote Speakers

T-Kea Blackman

T-Kea Blackman, MPS, CPRS, RPS, is a nationally recognized and award-winning peer recovery specialist, social entrepreneur, speaker, and author. As a suicide attempt and loss survivor, she has turned her lived experience into a powerful force for change, inspiring hope, challenging stigma, and advancing equity in mental health.

She is the co-founder of Black People Die By Suicide Too, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention within the Black community, and founder of the Mental Health Empowerment Agency, a consulting firm specializing in community wellness. A certified instructor in Mental Health First Aid. WRAP, and Whole Health Action Management (WHAM), T-Kea was also among Maryland’s first trainers for The Trevor Project. Currently, she is an instructor and PhD student at the University of Maryland College Park, focusing on Black suicide prevention.

Alison Malmon

Alison Malmon is the founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, and a sought-after mental health expert. Alison formed the organization in 2003 as a 21-year-old, following the suicide of her brother and only sibling Brian. Wanting to end the silence that caused her brother to suffer alone and ultimately take his own life, Alison created a group on her campus at the University of Pennsylvania to promote open dialogue around mental health.

Since then, Active Minds has grown into the country’s foremost mental health organization for students and young adults, with award-winning programs and a vibrant network of campus chapters located at more than 550 colleges, universities, and high schools nationwide.

Workshop Presenters

Glenda Camper

Glenda Camper is a dedicated Peer Recovery Specialist from Cambridge, Maryland, with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She has been actively working in the recovery and peer support field since 2019, supporting individuals impacted by substance use, justice involvement, and systemic barriers to stability. Glenda brings a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to her work, with a strong focus on self-advocacy, reentry support, employment readiness, and community reintegration. Her experience includes mentoring peers, supporting workforce pathways, and helping individuals navigate changing social systems, technology, and access to resources.

Glenda is especially passionate about empowering justice-involved individuals and those in recovery to leverage lived experience as an asset while building sustainable careers and healthy support networks. She is committed to advancing equitable, recovery-oriented solutions through collaboration and advocacy.

Sal Corbin

Sal Corbin worked for 15 years in academia as a Psychology Professor before transitioning to nonprofit work. He has done workforce development training and program management as a Training Coordinator for the Behavioral Health System of Baltimore.

He is now Board Chair and Facilitator for the DC Peace Team in bystander intervention, community safety, restorative justice and trauma informed care. His vision is to help others build and maintain healthy relationships with conflict transformation as the primary focus. He holds degrees in Clinical (M.S.) and Educational (PhD) Psychology.

Christina Hawkins

Christina Hawkins is the Statewide Peer Support Manager and a person in long-term recovery. Her journey began while incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, where she joined the first CCAR cohort and became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Separated from her daughter during that time, she gained a deep understanding of the challenges mothers face and the importance of behavioral health support.

After her release, she joined the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in 2021, growing the peer program to 26 staff statewide. Christina is passionate about recovery, supporting peers, and helping others navigate systems with empathy and hope.

Dianne Jones

My name is Dianne Jones, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker in Maryland. Born and raised in Baltimore, I currently serve as a Case Manager in the child welfare system, supporting children and families as they navigate complex challenges. I previously worked in peer support at On Our Own of Howard County, empowering individuals through recovery-focused services.

I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Morgan State University. I am committed to helping individuals recognize their strengths and find their voices as they pursue growth and resilience.

Meredith Lawler

Meredith Lawler is Special Assistant to the Director of Innovation, Research, and Development at the Maryland Department of Health. Meredith is responsible for alignment of federal Medicaid policies at the state level and implementation of new programs.

She is currently implementing provisions mandated by the H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has worked on a variety of project areas including unwinding of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), Maryland’s 2025 section 1115 demonstration extension, and benefits expansions including gender affirming care, biomarkers, and mobile integrated health. Meredith holds an MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine (2021) and a BA from College of the Holy Cross (2016).

Jessica Maranto

Jessica Maranto serves as the Statewide Parent Advocate Supervisor for the Parental Defense Division at The Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Her work is profoundly informed by her invaluable lived experience, having navigated the child welfare system, institutions, and recovery centers. Drawing upon this personal journey, she provides empathetic guidance, advocacy, hope, and resilience to the parents and peers she serves. Ms. Maranto's efforts empower and encourage the community, fostering a more equitable environment for families.

Anne Pack

Anne Pack is Co-Founder and Director of Advocacy of PREPARE. After nearly two decades as a mechanic and maintenance worker, she found her voice as an advocate in 2017 while incarcerated at MCIW, where she created a program for survivors of domestic violence, trained for her CPRS and supported other women in the parole process, prompting the collaboration that became PREPARE.

Since her release in 2022, PREPARE has scaled across the state, promoting collaborative change and offering access to education about the parole process, guidance through the parole and reentry journey, and connections to peer support and navigation after release.

Heather Raley

Heather Raley, LCPC, is a licensed counselor in Maryland and a Senior Behavioral Health Consultant with Mosaic Group. She partners with a range of healthcare settings—including emergency departments, OB units, outpatient OBGYN practices, primary care, and college health centers—to implement protocols that identify and address risky substance use. Her work focuses on training peer recovery coaches, providers, nurses, medical assistants, and other healthcare staff to strengthen care and improve support for patients using drugs or alcohol.

Eric J. Thomas

Eric J. Thomas is a psychotherapist and social scientist dedicated to connecting humanity through healing and personal development, with expertise in Mental Health, Education, and Business.

A proud Detroit native, Eric has delivered keynotes at Howard University, Michigan State University, and beyond, addressing Social Work, Leadership, and Black Social Justice. He has spoken for the AARP, National Alliance to End Homelessness, the United Way, and TEDx.

He holds a BBA, a Masters in Social Work, and advanced CBT training from the Beck Institute. Eric is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Principal Consultant of the Sozo Group.

Barry Wright

Barry Wright (he/him) is an improviser, teacher, and technology professional. He is a co-founder of Highwire Improv and currently serves as President of the Board. He has trained in improv since 2017, including at Highwire Improv, Baltimore Improv Group, Hoopla Impro, and in numerous online workshops. He performs with many ensembles and is a frequent teacher with Highwire.

He volunteers with the Maryland Department of Commerce, Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures, StarTUp Towson, was a 2018 Bowe Fellow with the Baltimore World Trade Center Institute, and has been a featured speaker at Duke University, Loyola University, Product School, and the Trust and Safety Collective.

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