Deanna Allen joined the SRP team in 2017 as a volunteer. Deanna came to SRP with an extensive list of qualifications. But her qualifications are not what make her a dynamic member of the team. When you meet Deanna chances are you will feel her highly energetic personality, connect with her passion to see lives and whole communities transformed, and even possibly be overwhelmed by the need to get involved. Deanna says she is a “woman in life-long “discovery” which she was only able to pursue by beginning her recovery journey almost three decades ago”. Deanna’s combined lived experience of trauma, mental health, substance use, domestic violence and much more blend together creating a welcoming, understanding, inclusive, non-judgmental facilitator, peer, mentor, and life coach. She utilizes the same philosophy in her leadership and administration over the organization and its amazing staff and volunteers.
Deanna brings to the team statewide, regional, and national community development skills, leadership strength, quality assurance, technical assistance and consulting in various areas. Deanna has been a motivational and inspirational speaker for decades advocating for community awareness, barrier reduction, addressing stigmatization and marginalization. Deanna would tell you she is addicted to seeing lives transformed and has no preference how folks get to that point. Before the term Multiple Pathways of Recovery existed, Deanna was known to say “it doesn’t matter how you got into recovery, or what you’re recovering from. I’m just glad you’re here”.