Join us at Alternatives 2019, where you will experience a variety of perspectives and viewpoints, gain valuable expertise and resources, develop leadership skills, and create lifelong peer and provider partnerships.

 

At each Alternatives Conference, awards are given to people who have contributed to our movement for social justice. You are invited to honor peer leaders in your community by sending nominations for these awards by May 3, 2019. To read more complete descriptions of each award and make your nomination(s), click here.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a peer advocate who has made outstanding contributions to the movement for social justice throughout their career.  

 

The Judi Chamberlin Joy in Advocacy Award is given in memory of Judi Chamberlin (1944-2010), a co-founder of the National Empowerment Center and author of the groundbreaking book On Our Own. This award recognizes an individual who has made enormous achievements in bringing hope to those with lived experience and advancing the field of disability rights advocacy. 

 

Howie the Harp (1953-1995) was an early leader of the peer community who created peace with his music and was a longtime advocate for the arts in the peer community. In Howie’s memory, we honor an artist who has made a contribution in any of a variety of art forms that are personally transforming and/or that lead to political or social change.

 

The Cookie Gant and Bill Compton LGBTQIA+ Leadership Award recognizes leadership in a journey to make it safe to be out, proud, and diverse. It recognizes a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer peer who has contributed to LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the mental health consumer and survivor community.

Esperanza Isaac-Perez was a nationally and internationally recognized Latina leader. This award is presented to a peer of color who has done exceptional work in the creation and expansion of diverse, culturally responsive communities. 

 

 

To nominate a peer in any of these categories, please send their bio and a description of how you think they have made a difference. For the nomination form, click here.