Currently the Program Director of the Recovery Network and Peer Training for MHA-Westchester, Dwayne Mayes has worked in the Mental Health Peer service sector since 1998. Formerly the Director of Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Dwayne Mayes has climbed from “the bottom of the totem pole” to achieve tremendous success both personally and professionally and is absolute proof that recovery is real.

Dwayne has presented his ideas of Recovery based Integrated Treatment internationally, as a participant in the MeetTheXperts Symposiums in the Netherlands in 2013 and 2014, and is a recipient of the 2008 Robin Hood Foundation Heroes Award.

Dwayne’s previous experience was with the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education for the CUNY Youth Transition Demonstration Project. Dwayne was the Senior Benefits Advisor for the project and collaborated with the SSA Regional Office, NY District Office, local Bronx County Field Offices, along with national and statewide agencies. He was a leader on the team directing the Social Security Administration’s New York WORKS research project where he provided benefits counseling, caseload review and liaising with community partners, including VESID, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, OMH, Health and Hospital’s Corporation, and other state and national agencies involved in Mental Health Advocacy.