Social Justice in Action Award

This award honors a member of the community who demonstrates commitment to and
advocacy for advancing diversity, inclusion, and social justice

Dominique Christian, MSW, CPS, CPPS

Dominique Christian, MSW ’21 is a Black wellness advocate, peer support leader, and founder of
Sondercove Wellness, a community-based organization dedicated to expanding culturally
grounded mental health and substance use recovery support. With more than a decade of
experience working alongside individuals and families navigating housing instability,
trauma, and systemic barriers, Dominique’s work centers on restoring dignity, autonomy,
and community connection for those too often overlooked by traditional systems of care.

Beyond her direct service work, Dominique contributes to advancing peer support and
culturally responsive care through training, writing, and advocacy. She collaborates with
organizations across Wisconsin and nationally to strengthen peer support practices,
facilitates professional development for service providers, and mentors emerging peer
specialists while challenging traditional systems to center lived experience and community
wisdom. Dominique is also the author of Beyond the Noise of Societal Demands, a work that
explores how individuals reclaim their voices and identities amid societal expectations and
systemic pressure. Through both her writing and her leadership, Dominique challenges
deficit-based narratives and elevates the strength, resilience, and expertise of people living
in recovery. An alumna of the University of Wisconsin Madison, she continues to contribute
to conversations that advance equity, cultural humility, and community accountability in
the fields of mental health, recovery, and peer support.