When Vanessa says she cares about the participants, you don’t doubt it for a second. She has the relationships and the stories to back her up. The sincerity of her care is felt by participants, and evident in the outpouring of positive feedback reflected back from the community.
I sat down to speak with Vanessa about her work as CHR’s Outreach Coordinator, and, as of recently, Peer Support and Testing Coordinator. Right away, I sensed something was wrong because she seemed upset. Earlier that morning, CHR learned two of its participants had unexpectedly passed away. And of course Vanessa knew them both well and had personal anecdotes to share about each.
When asked what harm reduction means to her, Vanessa says, “it’s so much more than just giving out syringes. They [the participants] just want someone who cares about them and understands them, and who shows no judgment. We understand what they’re going through and what their needs are. The first thing I do is give people a hug. Because how often are they getting a hug? It’s so important.”
Vanessa Lopez joined Cochise Harm Reduction in 2022, turning a one-person operation into a two person outreach program. The fentanyl overdose crisis was peaking, and CHR founder, Lu Funk and Vanessa did their best to flood the Bisbee area with naloxone and sterile syringes. Vanessa is amazed at where CHR is at today, with its 5 person full time staff, multiple part-time contract workers, and cadre of volunteers.
“Seeing how much CHR has grown is surreal. It’s so beautiful. I never thought we would be where we are today. Like wow, we are doing big things!”
In just about a year, CHR has grown from two employees working out of a storage unit, to an enormous office space, a mobile outreach program operating 5 separate routes across the county, a peer support resource center in Old Bisbee, and a “meals on wheels” food delivery program on track to serve over 13,500 meals in 2024.
Vanessa is excited to move into her new Peer Support and Testing Coordinator position. While continuing to work one day of outreach a week, Vanessa also runs the newly opened Old Bisbee Resource Center, providing peer support every Thursday from office space donated to CHR by the City of Bisbee. The rest of the week she meets participants wherever they are, taking them to appointments, helping them complete paperwork, and providing whatever other support is needed. The best part about her role, she says, is “helping people get out of prison. How many people I’ve been able to help with diversion programs. ‘If you get locked up,’ people will say, ‘call Vanessa!’”
In addition to having personal experience with the justice system, and having completed her peer support certification, Vanessa earned an additional forensic certificate which enables her to help people through all stages of their involvement with the criminal justice system. Providing this specialized support to people who are struggling is incredibly rewarding for Vanessa. She regularly attends court hearings with participants, advocates on their behalf, arranges video visits for the incarcerated and their family members, and facilitates enrollment into treatment centers and other prison diversion programs.
Peer support and outreach work is obviously a vocation for Vanessa–and one for which she is gifted. While wrapping up our conversation, I asked Vanessa if she was going to take it easy for the rest of the day, given the sad news. I should have known better, though. Despite it being her day off from doing outreach, she tells me she is going out to the park where participants often gather. The sad news would be making the rounds and she wanted to be there for anyone struggling, and of course, to give out hugs.