Open to opportunities

Dennis Dwyer

@dennisdwyer

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Peer Specialist and outreach worker delivering employment support through trauma-informed, collaborative care.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to support people through trauma-informed, peer-based collaboration—handling outreach and employment counseling, facilitating groups, and coordinating with partners to drive real follow-through and stability.

I’m a New York Certified Peer Specialist (provisional) and outreach worker who’s spent the last year working directly with New Yorkers facing housing loss, unemployment, and economic hardship. My approach is grounded in a peer model built on collaboration—meeting people where they are and building the plan together.

Through the HTH Peer Training Program (Community Access), I completed 20-week classroom training in evidence-based peer support, therapeutic communication, and trauma-informed care. I’m trained in motivational interviewing, recovery and wellness planning, treatment adherence support, and peer support group facilitation.

In my outreach work, I responded to health and behavioral health crises among unhoused individuals, assessing unfamiliar and volatile situations in real time and coordinating care and follow-up with EMS, hospitals, and shelter providers. I also maintained case records and progress notes with day-to-day reporting in Excel and Google Workspace, using HMIS and StreetSmart.

Alongside peer support, I bring 10 years of writing and editing practice—coaching resume and cover letters for job seekers—and I’ve run end-to-end client work including intake, scheduling, invoicing, and tracking in Google Workspace. Earlier, I led 25+ staff and high-volume front-of-house operations in NYC hospitality, and I built community operations as Head of Community Primary LLC for 200+ members.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Writing Consultant & Editor-at-Large

Current

Self Employed

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 6 months)

Coaches first-time authors one-on-one through long projects, including pacing, narrative voice development, and keeping work moving when clients stall. Runs an end-to-end solo practice with intake, scheduling, invoicing, business development, and client tracking in Google Workspace.

Narrative Development Pacing Intake Scheduling Invoicing Business Development Google Workspace

Outreach Worker

Goddard Riverside Community Center

Dec 2025 - Jun 2026 (6 months)

Responded to health and behavioral health crises among unhoused individuals, assessing situations on the street and coordinating next steps with EMS, hospitals, and shelter providers. Maintained case records and progress notes across HMIS, StreetSmart, and internal databases, with reporting in Excel and Google Workspace.

Crisis Response Behavioral Health Support Case Management Progress Notes Shelter Provider Coordination HMIS Excel Google Workspace Reporting

Community Volunteer

FACES NY

Jan 2023 - Jan 2024 (1 year)

Served vulnerable populations by providing resume and cover letter coaching and job placement support. Coordinated with local retailers and clothing banks to secure professional attire for clients preparing for employment opportunities.

Employment Support Client Advocacy Food and Clothing Bank Coordination

Hospitality & Operations Leadership

RH Rooftop

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023 (5 years)

Led front-of-house operations and team scheduling, training, and daily operational reporting. Managed floor operations and completed venue administrative workflow tasks.

Team Leadership Scheduling Operations Reporting Floor Management Administrative Operations

Hospitality & Operations Leadership

Pastis

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023 (5 years)

Led front-of-house operations and team scheduling, training, and daily operational reporting. Managed floor operations and completed venue administrative workflow tasks.

Team Leadership Scheduling Operations Reporting Floor Management Administrative Operations

Hospitality & Operations Leadership

Greywind Restaurant & Bakery

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023 (5 years)

Led front-of-house operations and team scheduling, training, and daily operational reporting. Managed floor operations and completed venue administrative workflow tasks.

Team Leadership Scheduling Operations Reporting Floor Management Administrative Operations

Hospitality & Operations Leadership

OST Cafe

Jan 2018 - Jan 2023 (5 years)

Led front-of-house operations and team scheduling, training, and daily operational reporting. Managed floor operations and completed venue administrative workflow tasks.

Team Leadership Scheduling Operations Reporting Floor Management Administrative Operations

Head of Community Primary LLC

Community Primary LLC

Jan 2016 - Jan 2018 (2 years)

Curated and built a shared workspace community focused on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs, handling operations, community engagement, and event production. Managed a team of 10 and was responsible for maintaining member experience for 200+ members, including opening an in-house cafe and community center and building scalable operations for a 75K sq. ft. expansion.

Community Building Operations Management Community Engagement Event Production Team Management Member Experience Management Customer Base Building Scalability

New York Peer Specialist (Provisional)

NYS OMH

Completed a 20-week classroom peer training program in evidence-based peer support, therapeutic communication, and trauma-informed care. Trained in motivational interviewing, recovery and wellness planning, treatment adherence support, and peer support group facilitation.

Peer Support Trauma Informed Care Motivational Interviewing Wellness Planning

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

The New School

Bachelor of Arts, Creative Writing

Activities and societies: Community volunteer at FACES NY (2023–2024), providing resume and cover letter coaching and job placement support; coordinated with retailers and clothing banks to secure professional attire for clients.

Earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a focus on Creative Writing, aligned with community engagement and vocational support.