Board of Directors
Jessica graduated from Humboldt State in May of 2018 with her Master’s in Public Sociology. After HACHR founder Brandie Wilson spoke in one of her classes, Jessica realized the ways in which she could personally relate to Harm Reduction because of her experience with intergenerational substance use. Jessica immediately saw the ways in which using Harm Reduction could not only prevent the spread of diseases and unnecessary loss of life, but also treat people who use drugs with the dignity, autonomy and respect they deserve. Jessica was the executive director at HACHR from 2019-2020, helping navigate the program through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured that services were considered essential and remained open. She currently works as the capacity building manager at National Harm Reduction Coalition, supporting new and existing harm reduction and syringe services programs in rural communities across the state. Jessica loves direct services, cats, roller derby, and summer days at the river.
Jessica Smith (she/her), Board Chair
My name is Jarrett, and I have been part of the HACHR Board since 2020. I originally hail from San Francisco of which played as the backdrop to my formative years of my early life. I also have deep roots here in Northern California, and had the great opportunity to live in various parts of our state’s gorgeous North Coast. Although I did spend a good chunk of my life in the bustling metropolitan space of the Bay Area, the Redwood forests of rural California always held a sacred space in my heart. I have many fond memories of hiking the Lost Coast trail as a kid, swimming the Eel in the summers, and seeking to put sand under foot to find solace on its sandy shores and epic coast lines. This beautiful Redwood kingdom is a part of me. It’s within that love of this area that I recognize that this land that we all benefit from needs compassionate stewarding to honor those that lived here before me, and insure it will be enjoyed by those who come after me. Building community is how I decided to do my part in that stewardship. To me, HACHR is about building community. It’s about bringing all the people in our community into the circle, without judgment, and without penalty. I have an unflinching belief that supporting each other, providing space to heal and grow strong together is always worth the investment. The values of HACHR’s dedication to Harm Reduction principles of meeting people where they are at, is the fertile ground on which the building of resilient and healthy community can grow and thrive.
Jarrett Nicholson (he/him)
Lasara is a writer, Witch, activist, and gritty academic. Having grown up in the wilds of Mendocino County. They currently reside in Ukiah, CA, with/in the ancestral and contemporary lands of the Pomo people. Lasara is a Harm Reductionist from way back, having entered into harm reduction work in the shadow of the dawning AIDS epidemic. They are a sex worker advocate and decriminalization activist, having worked in the sex industry for decades. Lasara is a former Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction Executive Director. They also served as the HIV and HCV Testing to Treatment program coordinator. While ED, Lasara helped grow the Bright Heart MAT program into a robust programmatic element. Having hired diverse team members, they hold a strong focus on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Lasara holds a MSW and ASW and currently works in MAT at a harm-reduction based opioid treatment center in Ukiah. They are a Harm Reductionist, social justice activist, and co-conspirator for our collective liberation.
Lasara Firefox Allen (they/them)
Ashlie is an Associate Clinical Social Worker who works in community health care as a therapist. She became involved with Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction in 2018, while in her graduate program with Ohio State University. During her internship she was amazed at the wonderful community that worked hard to deliver harm reductions services, and providing a safe, judgment free place of acceptance. Coming to understand that Harm Reduction provides daily ways to keep people safe allowed Ashlie to see what this could mean on a larger scope. Once Ashlie graduated with her Masters in Social Work, she wanted to continue on assisting HACHR and applied for the board. She is now in her second term and hopes to continue on in the future.