From Exploration to Purpose: Celebrating Richard “Rick” Dorsey’s CPRS Certification

At Voices of Hope Maryland, we believe some of the most powerful leaders in recovery are the ones who have done the hard work of facing themselves, healing out loud, and choosing to turn that healing into service. Richard “Rick” Dorsey is one of those people.

Before entering the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist program, Rick describes himself as being in a season of exploration—trying to understand who he was, where he belonged, and what purpose his life was meant to serve. That season was not empty. It was the beginning of something deeper. What may have started as a search for clarity became the foundation for a calling.

Rick shared that, at first, becoming a CPRS felt like “something to give my recovery a title.” But over time, it became much more than that. It became part of his mission.

That shift says a lot about who Rick is. He did not walk into this journey just looking for credentials. He walked into it searching for meaning. And in the process, he found a path that allowed his lived experience, his growth, and his heart for people to come together in a real and powerful way.

His experience in the program was deeply personal and transformative. Rick described it as eye-opening. He shared that the program helped him identify areas of his life in addiction that he had not yet forgiven. More importantly, it helped him begin extending grace to himself and to others. That kind of growth matters. It is one thing to learn the technical side of peer work. It is another thing entirely to do the inner work that makes peer support real, honest, and healing.

That inner growth is part of what makes Rick such a strong fit for this work.

Even before entering the program, Rick recognized one of his greatest strengths as the ability to connect and engage with people on a personal level. That kind of presence cannot be faked. People know when they are being seen. They know when someone is speaking from experience, not just from theory. Rick brings that authentic connection with him, and it is one of the qualities that makes him impactful in peer support.

As he moved through the program, he also gained new tools to strengthen that natural ability, including motivational interviewing—an essential skill that helps peers support people with empathy, respect, and collaboration rather than pressure or judgment.

Rick’s journey through certification was also backed by steady action and commitment. After returning to the Harford team in 2025, he continued building on the work he had already started.

What makes his accomplishment even more meaningful is that Rick was already putting his growth into motion while working in the field. As one of VoH’s approved facilitators, his professional development and involvement in co-facilitating trainings is evidence that his journey has not just been about completing requirements, but about stepping up and giving back.

Today, we celebrate Rick not only for achieving his certification, but for everything that achievement represents: growth, self-reflection, grace, resilience, and purpose.

Rick’s story is a reminder that recovery is not just about leaving old chapters behind. It is also about discovering what those chapters prepared you to do next. For Rick, that next chapter is rooted in service, connection, and the kind of lived-experience leadership that helps others believe change is possible.

Rick, we are proud of you. Your journey reflects the heart of peer support, and your certification is a well-earned milestone. Congratulations on becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Your story matters, your work matters, and the people you serve are better because of the path you chose to walk.

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