Teri Hairston is a women in long-term recovery. She is a recovery advocate, fiction writer and poet. Her writing accomplishments include: 2005 winner of the Salem College Rondthaler Award in both poetry and fiction. She uses writing as a means to nurture inner healing from substance use and mental health disorders and conducts workshops for women's groups encouraging them to do the same. As a poet and performance artist Teri has hosted a number of open mic sessions at the Central Public Library for their monthly poetry gatherings She has also written and performed a poem titled "Survival" for Vigils for Healing, a community group that has sacred ceremonies to clean the sites of violent homicides in the area. Teri was a featured speaker and panelist with SOAR (Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships) at a statewide training conference in Greensboro, North Carolina. Teri is currently compiling poems for her first poetry book, as well as working on a fiction novel.

Shirley Hart is a non-voting member of the ad hoc Community Advisory Committee. She is a person in long-term recovery and a mother of six adult children with one deceased at the age of 7-year-old and 2 adopt children and a grateful grandmother of one year old Khloe. Today, I am the Executive Director of Tia Hart Community Recovery Center in Raeford, NC. I am now a positive and familiar face to many varied audiences and have been involved with the Certified Peer Support initiative since 2009. My interest in peer support grew from my own recovery journey and I remain continually involved in creating resources for the local recovery community and advancing the movement forward. I am an active public speaker, advocating for those who are under-served to have fulfilled lives through self-direction. I find it an honor to help others connect to themselves, to their communities and to meaning and purpose in life through individual and group supports. Telling my story has freed me from the past but most importantly has helped me tremendously in giving back to my community. My story has helped my family, countless friends and the community realize that there is hope and help for all in healing from the effect of the deadly disease of Addiction.

Originally from New York City, and after graduating with a degree in Social Science, Margie went to work for Xerox Corporation. She has a natural ability to connect with people and takes pride in advocating and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is apparent in her approach to her current profession as a Real Estate Broker. Margie is also passionate about addition recovery. She has learned experience through a family member in recovery. Margie is a Certified Recovery Coach and Peer Support Specialist. She is planning on pursuing her Masters in a related field and hopes she can impact the lives of those in recovery and their families.