Dwayne Mayes has climbed from "the bottom of the totem pole" to achieve tremendous success both personally and professionally and is absolute proof that recovery is real. Dwayne holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from CUNY’s Hunter College. He also holds certifications from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations’ Program on Employment and Disability and from Cornell’s Employment and Disability Institute’s Work Incentive and Utilization Series. Dwaynes’ certifications from the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation are “Choosing, Getting and Keeping Employment” and “Evidence Based Supported Employment.” From the Workforce Professionals Training Institute, Dwayne earned the certificate “Working with Employers: Skills and Strategies for Job Developers.” He is also a Certified Community Work Incentives Coordinator within the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) of the Social Security Administration. Dwayne participated in the 2005 SSA-ODISP Benefit Planning discussion panel and was a presenter at the 2006 National Disability Rights Network annual conference, as well as at the 2008 SSA Ticket-To-Work Summit.

Dwayne's most recent experience was with the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education for the CUNY Youth Transition Demonstration Project. Dwayne was the Senior Benefits Advisor for the project and collaborated with the SSA Regional Office, NY District Office, local Bronx County Field Offices, and national and statewide agencies involved in other benefits/work incentives services. Previously, he was a leader on the team directing the Social Security Administration’s New York WORKS research project where he provided benefits counseling, caseload review and liaising with community partners, including VESID, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, OMH, Health and Hospital’s Corporation, and other state and national agencies involved in Mental Health Advocacy. He is currently the Director of the Howie T. Harp Advocacy/Peer Specialist Training Center.