What an incredible day!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 PSAND Summit. We are so grateful to our attendees, presenters, guests, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who helped make the day possible.

There is something special about bringing peers together. You could feel the energy in the room—the conversations, laughter, learning, encouragement, and connections happening throughout the day. Peer support truly is a community, and PSAND is grateful for the opportunity to bring that community together for a day of learning, connection, and celebration.

 

Throughout the Summit, we asked attendees to answer one question:

 

What is at the Heart of Peer Support?

 

Our wall quickly filled with words like Hope. Connection. Belonging. Mutuality. Support. Trust. Those responses beautifully captured what makes this profession different—and echoed a theme from our opening keynote: as peer support continues to grow and evolve, we must protect the heart of peer support while strengthening the profession.

 

Executive Director Andrea Hochhalter opened the Summit with “Advancing Peer Support Together,” a look at the progress of peer support in North Dakota and the opportunities ahead. The message was one of optimism and shared responsibility: the future of peer support in North Dakota is bright, and all of us have a role in shaping what comes next.

 

We are especially grateful to our Summit presenters. Preparing and delivering a session takes considerable time and effort, and our speakers brought not only their professional knowledge but also real-life experience, lessons learned, and expertise in specialty areas. Their willingness to share gives peers opportunities to expand their knowledge, explore new topics, discover resources, and ultimately strengthen the support they provide in their own communities.

 

We also had the privilege of recognizing four individuals and organizations whose contributions have made a difference to peer support in North Dakota: The Ridge, Champion of Peer Support; Spirit White Shield, Advocate of Hope; Mary Thomason, Peer Support Pioneer; and David Van Lith, Visionary Peer. Their recognition was an important part of a day devoted not only to learning, but to celebrating the people helping move peer support forward.

 

Most of all, thank you to every person who showed up, participated, shared, connected, and contributed to the energy in the room. The Summit reminded us that peer support is more than a profession—it is a community.

 

We are proud that PSAND gets to help bring that community together.

 

Hope. Connection. Belonging. Possibility.

That is the heart of peer support—and together, we will continue to shape its future in North Dakota.