Roots of Recovery: Reclaiming Human Connection in the Age Of AI

Dive into real talk on how AI impacts human bonds and how we can reconnect as a community. Roots of Recovery 2026: Reclaiming Human Connection in the Age of AINovember 5–6, 2026 | BRIC Arts | Brooklyn, New York As technology continues to evolve, one question becomes increasingly important: How do we move forward without losing the human connections that make recovery, healing, and belonging possible? Join Baltic Street Wellness Solutions for our 4th Annual Symposium, Roots of Recovery 2026, a transformative two-day gathering bringing together thought leaders, mental health professionals, peer advocates, researchers, community changemakers, and innovators to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, mental wellness, and human connection. As AI and automation reshape how we live, work, communicate, and deliver services, this year's symposium challenges us to look beyond technological advancement and consider something equally important: the people behind the systems, the relationships behind recovery, and the communities that make healing possible. Rooted in the principles of peer support, lived experience, dignity, equity, and mutuality, Roots of Recovery 2026 creates a space for meaningful dialogue, innovative thinking, and practical solutions to some of today's most pressing mental health challenges. Meet Our Featured Keynote Speaker Nev Jones, PhD — Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Keynote: "The Peer Movement and AI in the Struggle for a Just Mental Health System" Dr. Nev Jones brings a powerful perspective on mental health systems, lived experience, research, and social justice. Her keynote will examine the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for the mental health field, including its potential to transform services while raising critical questions about equity, autonomy, and the role of human relationships. Through the lens of the peer movement, Dr. Jones will challenge us to consider how technological innovation can advance recovery without compromising the voices, rights, and experiences of the people these systems are intended to serve. Featured Fireside Conversations — November 5, 2026 The Human Connection: Beyond the Algorithm Featuring Tricia Lee Riley and Taina B. Martinez, MSW Join Tricia Lee Riley, entrepreneur and real estate leader, and Taina B. Martinez, MSW, Chief Executive Officer of Baltic Street Wellness Solutions, for a compelling conversation exploring the importance of trust, empathy, and authentic relationships in an increasingly digital world. Bringing perspectives from entrepreneurship, leadership, mental health, and community service, this discussion will explore how human connection remains essential across industries, even as artificial intelligence transforms the way we do business and support one another. Academia Meets the Frontline Featuring Dr. Jonathan Edwards, Dr. Robert Ashford, and Andre Middleton What happens when research, lived experience, and frontline advocacy come together? This dynamic fireside conversation brings together three distinct perspectives to explore how academic research, peer support, recovery advocacy, and real-world experiences can collectively shape the future of mental health. Together, they will examine how innovation, community wisdom, and relationship-centered approaches can strengthen mental health systems while ensuring that the voices of individuals with lived experience remain central to progress. Explore Our Interactive Workshops and Meet the Facilitators Across two days, attendees will have opportunities to participate in engaging workshops led by experienced professionals, peer advocates, educators, and community leaders. Our workshop lineup includes: • Healing the Helper: Building Resilient Peer Leaders Through Wellness, Recovery, and Connection — Liana Rivers. Exploring burnout prevention, compassion fatigue, wellness, and sustainable peer leadership. • From Isolation to Connection: Emotional Awareness, Belonging, and Human Connection in the Age of AI — Bryant Pugh. Examining emotional awareness, loneliness, and strategies for rebuilding authentic human relationships. • NYS Mental Health and AI Policy — James Norton and Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz. Exploring emerging AI policies, youth mental health, digital protections, and the importance of advocacy in technology governance. • Peer Support and Building Authentic Friendships in the Current Technological Landscape — Jay Culkin. Examining friendship, digital boundaries, mutuality, and meaningful connection in a technology-driven society. • G.A.I.N. — A User-Built A.I. Health Navigator — Steve Coe and Christina Sparrock. Introducing a lived-experience-informed approach to using artificial intelligence to improve access to community resources and recovery supports. • Finding Belonging Through Creative Expression — Tiana Adler, Sophia DePorto, and Vernon Young. Exploring how art, storytelling, music, and creative expression strengthen identity, connection, and recovery. • Unmasking Mental Health: Finding Strength in Superheroes — Simcha Weinstein. Using superhero narratives to explore mental health, resilience, social isolation, and belonging among young people and communities. • How a Recovery Nonprofit Learned Where AI Belongs — and Where It Doesn't — Ted St. John. Exploring practical lessons on using AI responsibly while protecting organizational values, lived experience, and human-centered care. • The Human Side of Health: Virtual Theatre for Human Connection — Sharece Sellem-Hannah, MS, and David Hannah, MS. Demonstrating how virtual theatre and storytelling can build empathy, challenge stigma, and strengthen meaningful connections. • Peer Care Network — Jeanette Vega-Brown and Shakira Paige. Exploring parent-led peer support, shared caregiving, family well-being, and community networks that promote stronger relationships between families and service systems. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) — Approval Pending An opportunity for professional development and continued learning! Roots of Recovery 2026 is seeking Continuing Education Credit (CEU) approval through the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB). For New York Certified Peer Specialists and other professionals committed to recovery-oriented services, this symposium provides an opportunity to strengthen professional knowledge, explore innovative practices, and engage directly with leaders shaping the future of peer support and mental health. Through expert presentations, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking discussions, participants will explore practical approaches to ethical technology integration, peer leadership, emotional wellness, social connection, and person-centered recovery. Important CEU Information: • NYPSCB CEU approval is currently pending. • Approved credit hours and eligible sessions will be announced once confirmation is received. • Attendance and participation requirements for obtaining credits will be communicated to registrants. • CEU credits are not guaranteed until formal approval is granted. Whether you are maintaining your professional certification, expanding your knowledge, or strengthening your skills as a peer support professional, Roots of Recovery 2026 is an opportunity to invest in your growth while helping advance the future of recovery. More Than a Symposium — A Conversation About Our Collective Future Roots of Recovery 2026 is more than a gathering of professionals.