Carlos Alvarez (He/Him)

As someone who identifies as a social justice educator, the ability to serve as a Training Instructor for the California Association of Peer Supporters (CAPS) Academy on behalf of Project Return Peer Support Network (PRPSN) is an honor. Since education afforded me an opportunity to choose an alternative path from anyone in my life, I value it with the utmost importance. I truly believe that life is education and education is life. 

With that said, my passion for training peers so they may be able to become Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists(CMPSS) is holistic nature. The reason being that I infuse my professional experiences and expertise as a former public-school teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to help promote a quality educational experience. Specifically, I aim to reverence the individual academic and socioemotional needs of each peer all while helping to cultivate a community of learners based on mutual respect. 

Moreover, I choose to work in the field of peer support because I wholeheartedly believe in the power it possesses to transform our world. Depression forced me to stop teaching in the public school system. And it almost broke me. Then, after immense amounts of inner work, seeking guidance and counsel from others, and receiving assistance from the Department of Rehabilitation (DoR), I found myself applying to be admitted as a student for the May 2024 PM Cohort. It was such a transformative experience that it sparked new life into my being. Now, as both a CAPS Academy alumni and Training Instructor, I seek further our mission and breathe life into our classroom each day. Ultimately, my greatest hope is that our students and alumni can take the “CAPS Experience” with them each day and breathe life into others.