Angelo Lagares is the Founding Director of LARA, the first internationally recognized Latino advocacy non-profit organization. The focus of LARA is to reduce health disparities, improve policies, and increase recovery support services that are culturally and linguistically responsive. LARA works with people in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders and other behavioral health challenges.
In addition, he is an International Addiction and Prevention Specialist and a consultant on Culturally Responsive Recovery Support Services. He has created his own curriculum, focusing on cultural elements when building recovery communities. He has presented this curriculum at a variety of universities including Recovery Research Institute at Harvard University. He is a bilingual Certified Recovery Coach and Certified Recovery Support Specialist. He has trained with Boston University Public Health and CASA for The Joined Together program.