Hi ,

This year has been a lot, hasn’t it? The harm reduction community knew that outside help might not make its way to us. But we’ve always been inventive: we’ve shared resources; we’ve found ways to stay afloat; and together, we’ve grieved the loss of our friends, family, and neighbors.

Like many of you, I cast my ballot and participated in the electoral process yesterday, but to be honest, it gave me very little relief. Over the next few days and weeks, political pundits and experts will be pulling apart the details of this election, but the hard truth is, no matter what the results are after the votes have been tallied, the work for our communities doesn’t end. In fact it can’t end. Everyday we’re faced with data signaling that overdose, hepatitis C and HIV rates are rising and direct service programs are making decisions about where to spend precious resources.

At this moment, it’s more important than ever that we break down the barriers that have kept us isolated in our neighborhoods and build up innovative solutions to embrace as we step into this new normal. For Alyshia and I, the mandate is clear — as NHRC’s policy and advocacy team it’s our job to provide the resources you need to produce more effective campaigns, but we need your help.

Starting in January, across the country, legislative campaigns will begin again. Elected officials will decide which programs receive funding and we will make the case for why harm reduction matters. In the world that I’m envisioning, those of us who are typically erased from the conversation will band together and create policies that prioritize those most impacted in our communities. We refuse to fight over leftover scraps that do little to comprehensively support people who use drugs and address our day-to-day needs.

“You have to act as if it were possible to
radically transform the world.
And you have to do it all the time.”
– Angela Davis

Join us today to add your name to the NHRC Policy and Advocacy network

This year has tested our resilience in so many ways. By joining our network, you add your name to a list of folks who are committed to ensuring our communities get the resources they need despite the challenges we’ve faced this year. Alyshia and I would like to extend our deepest gratitude for all of the ways in which you continue to show up for our harm reduction community, because we understand that the election is just one aspect of building a movement of folks committed to change. But it's not over.

Check in with yourself. Check in with your family and friends. Take a break and enjoy something that you love. But remember, the work to ensure that people who use drugs and/or people who trade sex is not finished.

In many ways, it’s just begun.

In community,





The NHRC Policy + Advocacy Team



National Harm Reduction Coalition
243 Fifth Avenue
Box 529
New York, NY 10016
United States
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