Howie the Harp Alumna: Linda Parrish-Phillips
Our Howie the Harp Advocacy Center (HTH) is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the nation’s foremost training and workforce development academy for peers with a complete renovation of the center and curricula enhancements.
New smart classroom technology, an expanded computer lab and library, and a series of new e-courses are all a part of how we’re scaling up enrollment and preparing for the next quarter century.
We recently caught up alumna Linda Parrish-Phillips to learn about the career she has built from her HTH foundation.
July 11, 1997 was my first day at the internship I got through Howie the Harp. I still remember the exact date, because it’s the day my life changed. I began as an intern at Pathways to Housing, and then I got promoted to housing specialist. That turned into a 18-year career, during which I have helped a lot of people access housing.
I will never forget the man I helped to finally accept housing after he’d been sleeping under a bridge on the street for 20 years. His new apartment was beautiful, but he wasn’t used to sleeping in a bed, and so I helped him practice sitting on the bed during my visits just so he could get acclimated to his new home. That’s me as a peer. I can understand someone else’s pain.
When I was ready for a new job, Howie the Harp connected me to Anthem / Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, where I now work as a wellness recovery specialist in housing. In this role, I’ve engaged members during their hospital stays and assisted with their discharge planning and coordinating housing resources, and I advise them before they talk to their different doctors. Mostly, I try to offer empathy and help them find strength to believe that they can achieve their goals. I listen and try to show that someone cares about them and their happiness.
I was so nervous when I first started this job at Anthem, but they were excited to have me. They actually wanted to learn from me. They appreciated my knowledge and had me provide trainings for other staff. All these years later, I still carry Howie the Harp with me and stay in touch with the staff. The program provided a very caring and nurturing environment, and helped me celebrate me.
About Community Access
Community Access’ mission is to expand opportunities for people living with mental health concerns to recover from trauma and discrimination through affordable housing, training, advocacy and healing-focused services. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives.
