After many years of being a huge fan of the work CHR does in the community I grew up in, and after the past year as the CHR MSW intern, I am thrilled to step into my role as Special Projects Coordinator.
The journey that led me to this work has been both brutal and beautiful. Brutal because I have lost beloved friends to the war on drugs, experienced the cruelty of our so-called “criminal justice” system, and felt the desperation and stigma that come with being a person who uses drugs in our society. The journey was also beautiful because I have witnessed the incredible strength and resilience of people who use drugs, been held and kept alive by my community when systems failed me, and learned that through connection and compassion, so many possibilities can emerge.
As I step into this role, I am committed to continuing our mission of improving the lives of people who use drugs in rural communities. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this amazing team, who have already taught me so much about what it means to keep each other safe.