The Baltic Navigator: September 2026 Newsletter

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions | Monthly Newsletter Your Source for Community News, Events, and Updates

The Baltic Navigator

Baltic Navigator

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is delighted to bring you the inaugural edition of our bi-monthly newsletter!

In the ever-changing landscape of the mental health field, our nonprofit organization remains at the forefront of high–quality person-centered support. Our peer-led programs continue to expand, broadening our reach to hundreds of individuals embarking on their wellness and recovery journeys.

The Baltic Navigator is tailored to the many New Yorkers we serve, as well as our outstanding community partners who share our mission of providing unwavering advocacy and holistic support to eliminate barriers to mental health and social care. Each newsletter edition will showcase program announcements and events around our agency. We will also weigh in on any changes and developments that take place regarding pay equity and equitable retirement options for peer support workers who are so crucial to the mental health field.

We’ll proudly spotlight the dedicated staff of Baltic Street Wellness Solutions who are at the heart of our mission to transform lives and increase health equity for underserved communities across New York City. The lived experiences of our staff and program participants inspire us every day, and we hope to inspire YOU with their stories of resilience, empowerment, and hope!

A Message from Our CEO

Dear Friends, What a busy spring and summer it has been at Baltic Street Wellness Solutions! As my team and I attend an array of mental health conferences around the country, it is clear that our work is more important than ever. Many people are struggling to cope with rising costs of living and this daunting Age of Al. People are feeling anxious, unsettled, and overwhelmed. As peer support specialists, we have an essential role to play to help New Yorkers navigate their journey and remove obstacles that are negatively impacting their mental health. This is especially true when it comes to pending changes to the New York State Medicaid system that many of our participants rely on for healthcare, food, housing, and more. We’ll soon be rolling out an engaging campaign to help our participants stay one step ahead and ease any uncertainty surrounding the 2027 Medicaid changes During these challenging times, our entire Baltic Street team is reaffirming our commitment to the New Yorkers we serve. Our message is uniform: “We are here for you, we support you, and we will help to get your questions answered.” No one should feel alone, and we have made it our mission to make sure that no one does.

Our organization always strives to foster community connections and on no day was that more apparent than during our inaugural Father’s Day Appreciation Fishing Trip on June 13. Fifty of our dedicated staff, families, and community partners set sail from Sheepshead Bay for a memorable day of bonding with the father figures and loved ones in our lives. While we organized the event as a fundraiser to help support our exemplary peer-led behavioral health services, the day was more about connection and togetherness and to recognize Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. It was truly heartwarming witnessing a day filled with special moments and watching dads get their (much-deserved) day in the sun. Thank you to all who attended!

In June, we were honored to be recognized by our community partner, RiseWell Community Services, at their 2026 Community Partner Awards in Manhattan. Seeing our work in the spotlight fills me with pride. I am so grateful for the amazing team I have and for the dozens of peer advocates who help carry out our mission every day. Many thanks to RiseWell for this meaningful award.

For the first time in our history, Baltic Street participated in the legendary Pride March in Manhattan on June 28. Being a part of such a momentous event had tremendous meaning for us all. Our agency has always been committed to providing a safe, welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community where individuals can share experiences and embrace their self- expression. Our self-expression and passion were on full display during the Pride March, as we rode our beautiful Baltic Street float, uplifted our voices, and showcased the diversity and inclusion that comprises our city and our agency. I couldn’t be more proud.

As I lead this organization, I remain committed to our incredible peer support team. Thank you to everyone who attended our Town Hall in July (which you’ll read more about in this newsletter), and to every individual who continues to support our mission and make sure that every voice is heard. Baltic Street Board Member Angela Marie Cerio was one of the pioneers of the peer movement. It is with a heavy heart that I announce her unfortunate passing, a tremendous loss to our Baltic Street family and to the entire peer workforce. Angela was a firm believer in the importance of including individuals in decisions about their own lives, and always advocated for dignity, equality, and equity for all. She reminded us that our work is about justice. Angela knew the power of sharing lived experience, a practice that we proudly demonstrate each day as we work together to carry on the incredible legacy and countless paths of hope that Angela leaves behind. Rest in Power, Angela. Thank you for your unwavering commitment, courage, and dedication. Together, we will make sure that your vision and impact live on for many more years to come.

Sincerely, Taina B. Martinez CEO Baltic Street Wellness Solutions

**Baltic Street Celebrates PRIDE**

On Sunday, June 28th, forty-five members of our amazing team participated in the New York City Pride Parade! Joss Mota, Program Director of our Bronx & Brooklyn HomeWORKS Supported Housing Programs, served as emcee on our very own float, while everyone danced to the music of our fabulous DJ and distributed festive beads to parade attendees. Baltic Street Board Member Cecelia Hoskins, NYCPS, was among our many revelers who distributed the colorful beads, showing her support for Baltic Street and New York’s LGBTQIA+ population.

Baltic Street CEO Taina B. Martinez expressed her appreciation for Cecelia and her fellow Board members, many of who watched the event online.

“The Board was absolutely ecstatic. We’re so grateful for their support and their enthusiasm,”

Taina said, while adding, “Shout-out to our DJ and to Joss, who had the entire avenue rocking with pride!”

Chief Strategy Officer Mark Clarke also took part in the festivities, noting the significance of the event for the organization. “This year was Baltic Street’s first time participating in the Pride Parade.

It was so important for us to be there, to demonstrate our support for the LGBTQIA+ community which we have exhibited since the start of our mission,” Mark pointed out.

For Mark and all of our parade participants, the event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate life, love, and community. Mark said, “We hope to continue to provide supports to LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers through education, employment, advocacy efforts and by remaining a safe space where individuals can come together to uplift their voices and embrace their self-expression.”

Baltic Street’s legislative priorities included:

Treatment Not Jail (TNJ): Advancing alternatives to incarceration for individuals with mental health and substance use concerns.

Daniel’s Law: Reforming crisis response with health professionals leading interventions instead of law enforcement.

Solutions-Based Programming Presentations: Highlighting effective person-centered alternatives to coercive inpatient and assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) orders.

7.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for our peer workforce.

Increased support for INSET (Intensive & Sustained Engagement Teams), a voluntary peer-operated outreach and support innovation created in New York State in 2018. Baltic Street continues to operate the only INSET program in New York City, voluntarily engaging and supporting people with significant mental health needs and histories of repeated hospitalizations who may meet the criteria for coercive Kendra’s Law-related court orders (AOT) More funding is needed for INSET programs, both at Baltic and throughout the city and state. Currently, there are 1,643 individuals in New York City who are under AOT orders. In addition, there are many more people who fit the criteria for these orders. We have a waiting list for our INSET services, as we are the only INSET program in the five boroughs, and our five certified peers are not enough to meet the demand.

Providing participants with persistent, empathetic engagement and sustained involvement in trusted and reliable relationships with peers having similar histories, INSET encourages recovery by increasing personal agency, self-determination, and shared decision-making. INSET has also been proven to reduce hospitalizations, incarcerations, and homelessness.

We were proud to be among the about 400 advocates who attended Legislative Day. A week later, the advocacy continued as the INSET team members joined Baltic Street Chief Strategy Officer Mark Clarke for a follow-up press conference in Albany.

Closer to home, the dedicated INSET team attended the “Peers Not Police” rally at City Hall on March 24, led by Correct Crisis Intervention Today (CCIT). As one team member commented, “So many individuals are wrongfully jailed because of their mental health diagnoses. Instead of receiving the help they need, they’re being punished for it. As a voice for the underdogs, we acknowledge that many of us needed someone to help us navigate systems at some point. So why not give back to the communities that helped us?”

Baltic Street Holds Town Hall Meeting

On Thursday, July 2nd, Baltic Street’s Peer Advocates gathered together at the Isaac Brown Healing Arts & Community Center to take part in an informative Town Hall where they learned about the latest benefits available to them, including health insurance, life insurance policies, and the organization’s generous retirement plan.

For staff experiencing health challenges or who are in a high-risk population, the opportunity to sign up for life insurance struck a chord, as they appreciated access to such a valuable resource. “Baltic Street gives our Peers more opportunities to meet their challenges while helping them to prepare for the future,” pointed out Christopher Rogers, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Baltic Street. CEO Taina B. Martinez and Chief Strategy Officers Mark Clarke and Modupe Mujota brought staff up-to-date on the latest news at Baltic Street, including our participation in the New York City Pride Parade, our inaugural Father’s Day fishing tip, and more. Taina announced Baltic Street’s Employee of the Month for June, Miya Jackson (congratulations, Miya!), praising Miya’s stellar work performance and ongoing dedication to the people she serves as a HomeWORKS Housing Specialist and Chair of our Pride Committee.

Taina encouraged Directors and Managers to nominate their own team members so outstanding staff can get the recognition they deserve. “For people showing up in ways that go beyond your daily job, we see you and we honor you,” Taina said. She also pointed out that along with the recognition comes a $250 check and the opportunity to be considered for Employee of the Year – with an even bigger prize!

Other celebratory announcements included the promotion of two longtime members of the Baltic Street team. Yasmin Perez was named Director of Operations (effective July 2nd) and Monique Hodges was appointed Director of Advocacy Services, the position formerly held by Yasmin. Prior to her new role (also effective July 2nd), Monique served as Senior Manager of Advocacy Services. Congratulations to Yasmin and Monique on their well-deserved promotions!

Commenting on the successful Town Hall meeting, Mark called the event a milestone for the organization and away to let staff know Baltic Street is here for them. “We want to ensure that the peer workforce is supported through healthcare and retirement plans, while making them aware of all the offerings that are available to them. With all these supports at their finger tips, we want to help them turn peer jobs into peer careers,” Mark said. Healthy retirement for peer workers is a focus of Taina and Baltic Street’s advocacy efforts.

Read the full newsletter

Download the complete newsletter (PDF): https://balticstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Baltic8294_Sept2026Newsletter_FINAL.pdf