Izzy moved to the Phoenix area from Southern California, where they grew up. Izzy began learning about harm reduction during their time in undergrad when they did their capstone project on understanding health disparities and access to healthcare, and heard people’s stories about how they find ways of caring for themselves and one another when they are barred from accessing institutional resources. Izzy went on to work with a local Harm Reduction organization to better understand experiences of overdose in the community, and what resources are needed to help keep people safe. During graduate school, Izzy continued to work with the local Harm Reductionists to create a community photovoice project, where the Harm Reductionists took photos of their daily experiences of community care and came together to build collages and share their stories. Izzy then moved to Phoenix to live with her partner (and reunite their cats) and began working on a mobile care team to connect people to medical and behavioral health services who may otherwise not be able to get into clinics or be treated with respect. Izzy started a weekly art workshop at the clinic in Central Phoenix, offering a space to relax and create to people who are unhoused and accessing the clinic’s meal and shower resources. Izzy is passionate about harm reduction as public health, community care, resistance, and a way for people to have agency in their own health and lives. Izzy is so excited for the opportunity to continue learning from and working with the SPW team and community.
