Ellie Masson: 

Why are you nominating this individual?

"Ellie is a passionate & dedicated young leader in the mental health & substance use disorder landscape in NH, who has worked tirelessly in her role at Recovery Friendly Workplace to bring forward training opportunities & resources to NH's business sector. Ellie is highly collaborative in her work, engaging with community partners across behavioral health in the state to give business owners the resources & support they need to foster a supportive environment that encourages the success of their employees in recovery. While Ellie works statewide, she has done extensive work in Strafford & Rockingham County to strengthen SUD and mental health recovery efforts. Notably, Ellie led & advised the City of Somersworth in becoming recovery-friendly and works closely with the Dover Mental Health Alliance. Ellie's strong relationship building skills, educational background, & knowledge of behavioral health resources in NH has led to her quickly becoming a "go-to" resource for community partners and NH businesses alike."

Biography:

Ellie Masson currently works as a Recovery Friendly Workplace Advisor at New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative. In this role, she is also a member of the Dover Mental Health Alliance, the Rochester Mental Health Alliance, the Strafford County Addiction Task Force, and the Greater Portsmouth Recovery Coalition. Before she joined Recovery Friendly Workplace in January 2024, Ellie held roles in criminal justice reform, restorative justice, community engagement and social change communications. Her passion for transforming the justice system began during her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Richmond. She then pursued a Master of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire to gain a deeper understanding of systemic changes that can be made to reduce mass incarceration. Here, she studied progressive drug policy and narrative change, while working as a fellow with NH Listens. Ellie also teaches yoga at Shilo Farm in Eliot, ME and volunteers with the Affirming Spaces Project.