Our Mission:
To empower individuals with lived experience to use their voices to educate, inspire, and lead—creating meaningful change in the recovery community.
Our Vision:
• A system where peer voices are central, not secondary
• Communities where individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered
• A future where stigma is replaced with understanding and connection
• A recovery movement led by those who live it every day. We believe recovery is not just possible, it is powerful.
Our History:
Recovery Innovations for Pursuing Peer Leadership and Empowerment, Inc. (RIPPLE) began as a grassroots effort among individuals in Connecticut in 2016. Before the organization had a formal name, its founders were already active in advocacy spaces across the state, supporting one another, attending events, and building connections within the recovery community. Over time, this informal network evolved into a more organized collective grounded in the belief that people with lived experience play a critical role in shaping a more effective, compassionate, and responsive behavioral health system.
RIPPLE was formally incorporated in 2020 as a nonprofit organization, with its federal 501(c)(3) status approved later that same year and backdated to its founding date in April 2020. From its inception, the organization positioned itself as a peer-led, community-based initiative serving individuals across Connecticut. Its mission centers on empowering peers to use their voices, share their experiences, and become leaders in advocacy, education, and system transformation.
The development of RIPPLE has been closely tied to broader changes in the mental health and addiction services system. As traditional systems have struggled to meet growing demand, peer support has emerged as an increasingly recognized and effective approach to recovery. RIPPLE was created in response to this shift, with a focus on promoting peer-led innovation, improving access to resources, and strengthening collaboration between service providers and those receiving care. The organization has emphasized that meaningful reform must include the voices and leadership of those with lived experience. This is captured in one of the guiding philosophies of the peer recovery community: “Nothing about us without us.”
Since its founding, RIPPLE has continued to grow as a platform for advocacy, connection, and resource-sharing throughout Connecticut. Through its online presence, community initiatives, and peer-driven programming, the organization has worked to reduce stigma, expand access to support, and foster a sense of community among individuals navigating recovery. While remaining rooted in its original values of mutual support and empowerment, RIPPLE continues to evolve—bringing new ideas, new voices, and a renewed commitment to strengthening peer leadership across the state.
