Dr. Chekesha Ellis
CPRS & Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership and Business
Dr. Chekesha L. Ellis is an award-winning advocate, author, and national speaker dedicated to advancing addiction recovery and mental health awareness. In August 2024, she was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Christian Leadership and Business from Good Life Christian University in recognition of her exceptional leadership and impact. She also received the nation’s highest honor for community service—the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from The Biden Administration—for her tireless advocacy and life-changing contributions.
As the founder of KayosToClarity, LLC, Dr. Ellis leads initiatives that provide direct support, education, and outreach to individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders. Her mission is deeply personal: following a knee surgery, she endured a decade-long struggle with opioid addiction before beginning her recovery journey in 2010. That lived experience fuels her passion for breaking stigma, amplifying awareness, and offering hope to those navigating similar battles.
Her story of resilience has captured national and international attention. She has been featured in prominent outlets such as The New Jersey Star Ledger, Bucks County Courier Times, Burlington County Times, and Jersey’s Best Magazine. She has partnered with influential organizations including the Wendy Williams Hunter Foundation, Cochlear Americas, and Mind Blowing Magazine. Her advocacy also extends to podcasts like Sober Curious, The Numinous, and Sober as a Mother, where she contributes to global conversations about addiction recovery and healing.
Dr. Ellis’s visibility in media continues to grow. She was highlighted on 6ABC’s Philly Proud and featured on PHL17’s The Phillier. In 2023, she delivered a powerful TEDx talk sharing her experience as a deaf mother, her journey with bilateral cochlear implants, and the life-changing moment of hearing her son’s voice for the first time.
Her achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as a “Woman of Excellence” by iHeart Media and WDAS Radio. Beyond her advocacy and public speaking, Dr. Ellis is a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, using her expertise and personal testimony to guide others in their own recovery process.
She is also the author of A Life of Kayos: Resilience and Recovery – A Path to Hearing Again, a compelling memoir that intertwines her journey through addiction, recovery, deafness, and renewed purpose. Through her book, public platforms, and organizational work, Dr. Ellis continues to inspire audiences with her unwavering message: that healing happens in community, and every story of recovery carries the power to change lives.
Join us for a powerful session with Dr. Chekesha Lakenya Ellis, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and advocate who uniquely bridges substance use recovery and disability. Having lost her hearing due to opioid toxicity and regained it through cochlear implants, Dr. Ellis offers an authentic perspective on the challenges faced by Deaf, hard of hearing, and disabled individuals in recovery—especially within Black and Brown communities often marginalized by traditional models.
Through storytelling and advocacy, Dr. Ellis invites participants to critically examine systemic barriers like ableism and stigma that hinder access to equitable peer recovery support. She will share practical strategies for embedding accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed care into peer programs.
Attendees will gain:
Insight into the intersection of disability and recovery among marginalized groups
Tools to foster inclusivity and leadership for peers with disabilities
Frameworks for culturally competent, accessible peer services
A renewed commitment to centering diverse voices as vital to healing and empowerment
This interactive session challenges peer specialists, program leaders, and policymakers to co-create recovery spaces where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. It’s a call to honor lived experience as a source of leadership and change—ensuring recovery truly includes all.
Dr. Chekesha Ellis
CPRS & Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership and Business
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wellness Center
Workshop