Description

In this powerful episode of KCRC, host Tristan Seikel sits down with Aary Renee and Jesse Alalawi to discuss the intersecting issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and the importance of recovery. Renee and Alalawi share their personal journeys of overcoming struggles and expecting them to disappear, only to then find underlying mental health issues that needed to be addressed. They also touch on the unique challenges that the LGBTQIA+ community faces due to societal expectations and norms, and the lack of resources available for marginalized communities. 

Renee is a capital Q Queer certified peer counselor at Peer Seattle and a trans advocate/educator with more than four years of recovery. Alalawi is a program manager at Peer Seattle, overseeing government grants focused on housing and employment for LGBTQIA+ communities, among those, the TGNC and BIPOC communities.

This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and the urgent need for tailored support and resources. This insightful conversation sheds light on the complexities of recovery within the LGBTQIA+ community: the need for representation, the impact of non-affirming policies, and the importance of diversifying staff to create safer, more inclusive spaces. 

Resources from the episode: 

1. Connect with Aary Renee on LinkedIn. 
2. Peer Seattle cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing peer emotional support and development services to the LGBTQ community impacted by addiction, mental health, and/or HIV. For a full list of programs and services, visit their website.
3. Peer Seattle hosts five peer groups that are trans-specific and/or facilitated by the TGNC community, including Trans Is Beautiful (Sundays and Thursdays), Sunset (Tuesdays), Bipolar Opposites (Fridays), Pride in Recovery (Thursdays), and Be Present: A PTSD Support Group (Thursdays). For a full list of programs, times, and locations (in-person and virtual), visit the schedule on their website.
4. Aary and Jesse act as independent advocates/educators to offer training for other nonprofits on various levels, ranging from strategic planning for leadership to how to support the TGNC community as a volunteer. For more information, contact Aary and Jesse. 
5. Connect with show host Tristan Seikel on LinkedIn. 
6. Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do here. To become a volunteer, a member, an advocate, or an event guest, visit their website.
7. The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do here. Want to find a way to get involved? Click here to become a member, volunteer, or donate to help change hearts and minds around mental health and substance use disorder in Washington state. 
8. If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the Washington Recovery Helplinefor resources and a 24-hour helpline.

King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you. 

Connect with King County Recovery Coalition online, on Facebook (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition), or on YouTube (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition).

If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at heather@kcrecovery.org.