Know Your Rights: Harm Reduction and Mutual Aid
Justice Initiatives at BPL is partnering with community organizations and agencies to produce a series of Know Your Rights workshops. This event in the series will focus on strategies of harm reduction and mutual aid. Mutual aid and harm reduction are two community based approaches designed to address the harms associated with drug use. As such, they represent a paradigm shift from the current system of prohibition based in pathology and punishment to one based in compassion and care. This workshop will provide a valuable opportunity for individuals to learn from each other and to explore new strategies for supporting recovery and promoting the health and well-being among people who use drugs.
The event will be livestreamed here and on the BPL YouTube channel. There will be a slideshow presentation followed by a discussion, with the Q&A session at the end of the workshop. You will be able to post your questions in the livestream chat.
Partner:
St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction is the longest continuous-running syringe exchange in the United States. St. Ann's meet drug users where they are: on the streets & actively engaged in high-risk lifestyles or within the center, where they seek comprehensive healing services.
Presenters:
Emory Alexander currently serves as the Outreach and Women’s Services Manager at St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction, where she oversees all aspects of the Agency’s outreach and targeted women efforts. Prior to joining SACHR, Emory worked in coordination with the Transit Homeless Outreach Team at BRC, where she worked with a diverse range of people in need, supporting their journey with housing insecurity. Her expertise in developing data-driven outreach strategies has helped her clients achieve significant growth and access the services they need. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology and an MPH from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In her free time, Emory enjoys watching pro wrestling and traveling with her fiance.
Jerry Otero serves as the Drug User Health Hub Coordinator at St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction, where he is responsible for developing and executing supportive services for substance users to drive growth and awareness. Before joining SACHR, Jerry worked alongside a number of organizations bringing his unique brand of harm reduction including Youth Policy Manager at Drug Policy Alliance, Assistant Director of Helpline and Family Services at the Partnership to End Addiction and as Supervisor of Drug Education Programs for NYC High Schools. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts/Psychology from The City College of New York, and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University. AKA Mista Oh, Jerry is the founder and chief troublemaker at Cre8tive YouTHink, a social justice creative arts youth development organization. When he is not fighting the good fight, he enjoys djing, making art and attending concerts.
