Kaeden's Story

Peer Specialist Workforce Development Coordinator​

Kaeden Watford (He/Him) is the Peer Specialist Workforce Development Coordinator for the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative (WIPSEI). He is a black trans man, son, dad, partner, and friend. Due to the harm that has been caused to him throughout his life by various systems he has developed a passion for harm reduction, community, and healing. It is important to him to use his seat at the table to advocate for equity and inclusive spaces for marginalized and historically oppressed communities. His journey began while still being a resident in the Wisconsin prison system and he has been determined to create safe spaces for collective healing in the communities that he belongs to ever since.

Kaeden’s lived experience with substance use and mental health makes him uniquely qualified. Intentionality, vulnerability, advocacy, and compassion are values that he keeps centered wherever his path has taken him. With these values held centered in his heart he is able to stay curious and willing to be with people wherever they are at. Believing that people are inherently worthy and deserving he is able to empower folks to be self-determined and autonomous in their own lives. Having had his right of choice and bodily autonomy stripped from him in both medical and carceral systems he is moved to contribute to folks feeling safe to use their own voices to receive what all human beings deserve.

He is a Certified Peer Specialist, a Certified Peer Specialist Trainer, a trained Doula, and a facilitator for Alternatives to Suicide. Kaeden previously gave direct support while working for Safe Communities, where he offered peer support to folks with substance use and mental health experiences, and currently still works as the Opioid Overdose Prevention Specialist at OutReach LGBTQIA+ Community Center in Madison, Wisconsin giving harm reduction supplies, narcan trainings, and peer support to the community.