I’m Vanessa Williams, a Black woman whose life has been shaped by resilience and healing. Years ago, I faced the deep challenges of mental illness, addiction and homelessness. Those experiences could have broken me, but instead they taught me that healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about courage, community, and showing up for yourself one day at a time. For over 14 years, I’ve dedicated my life to walking alongside others in their journeys as a Certified Peer & Recovery Support Specialist, trainer, and Life Coach. I’ve managed two 24/7 Warm Lines, supported teams of Peer Specialists, and created Elevate Recovery, LLC, to keep justice, equity, trauma-informed care, and peer values at the center of recovery work.