Candid Conversations with Taina Martinez-Laing, MSW, NYCPS | Rising Together: Empowering Peer Leadership and Community Impact
Members-Only
April 24 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Join us for a one-hour Candid Conversations event exclusively for CBHL members, focused on advancing peer support, advocacy, and leadership. This engaging session is designed to inspire, empower, and connect behavioral health leaders who are dedicated to creating meaningful change in their communities.
Led by Taina Martinez-Laing, MSW, NYCPS, an accomplished peer leader and CBHL board member, this conversation will explore essential strategies for thriving in peer leadership roles that require both professional expertise and deep personal resilience.
Participants will gain valuable insights into sustainable leadership practices tailored to the unique challenges of behavioral health and peer support. The discussion will also cover strategies for navigating systemic change, managing complex systems, and prioritizing self-care as a leader.
This intimate gathering offers CBHL members the opportunity to deepen their commitment to peer leadership, community integration, and professional growth. Through collaborative dialogue, participants will explore how community-centered approaches can strengthen organizations and open pathways for ongoing learning and leadership development.
Taina Martinez, MSW, NYCPS, has been employed at Baltic Street Wellness Solutions (formerly Baltic Street AEH, Inc.) since 2002 and was appointed as the new CEO as of September 2020. Taina brings over 20 years of peer supervision, advocacy, and vocational services to individuals with mental health and substance use/misuse diagnoses. Taina is passionate about advocacy that addresses equality and service disparities in low socioeconomic communities. She believes in the power of peer specialists and the integration of peer advocates in all areas of recovery and support. Taina often states, “Peer advocacy supports are integral to all social determinants of health! We cannot allow social or health policies to be written without the inclusion of the peer perspective and insight.”
Taina participates on several committees and boards across New York State; she is the Treasurer of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS)), is President of the New York State Peer Certification Board, is a member of the Institute for the Development of Human Arts (IDHA) board, a member of WCNY-IPA, and is a professional participant in developing and overviewing the exam of the MHA National Certified Peer Specialist. Taina graduated from Stony Brook University with her MSW, is a New York State Certified Peer Specialist and is looking forward to pursuing her Ph.D. in researching transgenerational trauma and the links of systematic oppression within the mental health and justice system.
What are CBHL Candid Conversations?
CBHL Candid Conversations provide an informal platform for connecting and networking with other CBHL members, fostering an environment where we can learn from one another’s experiences. Led by a CBHL member or partner, these sessions are designed to facilitate the exchange of valuable leadership insights, skills, and support. Occurring at least once a month, Candid Conversations are open to all CBHL members.
The purpose of CBHL Candid Conversations is to:
- Network and Collaborate: Meet and engage with fellow CBHL colleagues in an informal, small group environment that encourages collaboration and the building of meaningful connections
- Learn and Innovate: Acquire new skills and exchange fresh ideas with experienced leaders in a supportive and trusting environment, fostering personal and professional growth
- Showcase Success: Highlight successful member programs or best and promising practices that demonstrate potential for scaling and broader application.
