We Know What We Need: On Crisis, Resistance & Survival

Presented by: Nze Okoronta In this talk for the peer support workforce, we will explore how survivors and peer supporters navigate crisis—individually, interpersonally, and collectively. Together, we'll reflect on the wisdom born from lived experience, examine the tensions of co-optation and burnout, and reconnect with the radical roots of our movement. Grounded in resistance and resilience, this session serves as a call to action to affirm our inherent power to survive, support one another, and shape responses to distress that honor dignity, autonomy, and community care. Learning Objectives: - Reflect on the role of lived experience in shaping effective and compassionate peer support. - Reconnect with the radical roots of peer support as a form of resistance and resilience. - Identify 2-3 strategies to uphold dignity, autonomy, and community care in responses to distress.