Our story, our mission
Discover the heart behind The BRIM Legacy Foundation, INC. Learn about our unwavering commitment to recovery and how our personal experiences drive our mission to support those struggling with substance use.
Shantell Dyess, RCP - Executive Director
Shantell is a Recovery Coach Professional (RCP), advocate, and mother of five who transformed profound personal tragedy into a movement for family healing. After stepping into recovery in 2016, Shantell endured the tragic loss of numerous loved ones to addiction, including the fathers of her three oldest children, Brad and Ryan, and her friend Misty. Driven by her lived experience and her children's journey through grief, Shantell now leads an initiative to help parents overcome substance use before lives are lost, while establishing dedicated support networks for children impacted by addiction and loss.
Michelle Pepin-Deputy Director
Michelle Pepin is a person in long-term recovery and a passionate harm reduction advocate who transformed her own recovery journey and the tragic loss of her son, Ian, into a life-saving mission. Following Ian's death from fentanyl poisoning on April 20, 2018, Michelle channeled her grief into direct community action. As a certified Peer Support Specialist, she delivers compassionate, non-judgmental support to individuals navigating substance use—providing essential overdose prevention supplies, direct outreach, and critical pathways to care. Beyond her direct work in the field, she actively educates the public and works to dissolve the stigma surrounding addiction, ensuring other families receive the support, dignity, and resources needed to prevent future losses.
DaShawn Peterson - Chief Operating Officer
DaShawn Peterson is a dedicated Recovery Coach and a person in long-term recovery who turned her personal path through addiction into a life-changing support system for others. Having navigated the complex realities of substance use within her own family, DaShawn brings deep empathy, lived experience, and genuine understanding to her work. She works tirelessly to guide individuals and families through the challenges of addiction, empowering them with the tools, mentorship, and encouragement needed to achieve sustainable recovery and build a fulfilling life.