Tonia was introduced to advocacy in 2012 through an organization which supported families impacted by substance use and became passionate about giving a voice to others through storytelling. She volunteered as a Team Leader before accepting a position with the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, Inc. (NCAAR) in 2018. Tonia is currently the Community Coordinator at NCAAR and works in Government Affairs and Family Advocacy with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. In 2015, she was trained as a National Parent Coach through the Partnership to End Addiction and a Certified Recovery Coach through Full Recovery. She completed the New Jersey Peer Specialist training in 2018, works to educate families, and participates in statewide meetings to advocate for individuals who use or have used substances. Tonia lost her son Rory on July 9, 2021 after years of struggling with a co-occurring disorder that resulted in discrimination and barriers that kept him from getting well.