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Recovery Empowerment
Specialists

Our Director of Programs, Tacoma Area Supervisor, and 11 Recovery Empowerment Specialists — each with lived experience — providing the authentic peer support that transforms recovery into lasting, whole-life healing.

What is a Recovery
Empowerment Specialist?

A Recovery Empowerment Specialist (RES) is a trained peer support professional with their own lived experience in recovery. Their unique perspective — born from genuine understanding, not textbooks — is what makes their support extraordinary. They don't just understand recovery in theory. They've lived it.

13
Team Members
100%
Lived Experience
24/7
Peer Access
2
Offices — Seattle & Tacoma
Leadership
JV
Director of Programs

Jeremy Vargas

Jeremy Vargas serves as the Director of Programs for Hope and Chance Integrated Health, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across all Recovery Empowerment Specialist programs. With deep roots in the recovery community and a passion for systems-level change, Jeremy ensures that every RES team member is equipped, supported, and empowered to deliver exceptional peer support. He bridges the clinical and community dimensions of recovery, driving program quality, team cohesion, and mission alignment across both the Seattle and Tacoma offices.

Regional Leadership — Tacoma
KA
Tacoma Area RES Supervisor

Kyambadde Andrew

Kyambadde Andrew oversees all Recovery Empowerment Specialist activities in the Tacoma area, providing day-to-day leadership, team coordination, and quality assurance for Hope and Chance's South Puget Sound operations. His cross-cultural competency and deep community connections ensure that individuals in Tacoma receive culturally responsive, community-rooted peer support that meets them exactly where they are.

Recovery Empowerment Specialists
AL
RES

Abigail Luputa

Women in Early Recovery

Abigail specializes in supporting women in early recovery, creating safe, non-judgmental spaces where women feel genuinely seen. Her peer support is rooted in empathy, lived understanding, and an unwavering belief in every person's capacity to heal.

AK
RES

Alvin Kwaku

Accountability Coaching

Alvin brings structure and encouragement to accountability coaching. He helps clients build the daily habits and mindset shifts that transform recovery from a daily struggle into a sustainable, empowered way of life.

BB
RES

Babil Brain

Peer Support Specialist

Babil brings warmth, authenticity, and deep personal commitment to every peer support relationship. His ability to meet people where they are — without judgment — creates the trust and safety that meaningful recovery work requires.

CD
RES

Carlos Dingana

Community Integration

Carlos specializes in bridging clients with Washington State's broader support ecosystem, ensuring that no one navigates recovery in isolation or without access to the community resources available to them.

JG
RES

Jeremiah Gacheru

Peer Support & Recovery Mentorship

Jeremiah combines compassionate listening with practical guidance, helping individuals navigate both the emotional and logistical dimensions of recovery. His mentorship style is grounded, consistent, and profoundly encouraging.

KK
RES

Kelvin Kwaku

Emotional Regulation & Crisis Support

Kelvin is trained in emotional regulation techniques and crisis de-escalation. His calm, grounded presence is a stabilizing force for clients navigating the most challenging moments in their recovery journey.

KM
RES

Kesney Masuha

Non-Judgmental Peer Support

Kesney creates a uniquely safe, shame-free space for individuals who have experienced judgment and stigma around their struggles. His approach opens doors that many thought were permanently closed.

LN
RES

Levy Nyirenda

Recovery & Wellness Support

Levy's approach to peer support blends personal resilience with genuine encouragement. He walks alongside clients through the full arc of recovery — celebrating milestones, addressing setbacks, and consistently reinforcing each person's inherent strength.

MR
RES

Madyson Ridenour

Recovery Navigation

Madyson specializes in practical recovery navigation — helping clients manage appointments, paperwork, and systems that can feel overwhelming. She advocates fiercely and effectively for every person she supports.

MT
RES

Mwila Taonga

Cross-Cultural Peer Support

Mwila brings cross-cultural sensitivity and deep cultural competency to her work, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds receive support that truly resonates with their lived experience and values.

RM
RES

Richard Mvinda

Male Peer Support & Systemic Barriers

Richard specializes in supporting men in recovery, particularly in addressing systemic and social barriers that disproportionately impact men of color. His advocacy ensures every client has an experienced voice in their corner.

In Recovery and Want to Give Back?

We are actively looking for individuals in long-term recovery who want to use their lived experience to help others. Being a Recovery Empowerment Specialist is one of the most meaningful career paths in the recovery community.

No prior professional experience required — your lived experience is your most important qualification. We provide full training, certification support, and a genuinely caring team environment.

Apply to Join Our Team

What We Look For

  • Personal experience in recovery (required)
  • Genuine passion for supporting others
  • Strong communication and listening skills
  • Reliability, consistency, and personal accountability
  • Non-judgmental, compassionate approach
  • Washington State residency

Ready to Take the
First Step?

Our team is available to listen and connect you with the right support. Every conversation is confidential.