about
Who we are
The National Black Harm Reduction Network is rooted in the history and brilliance of Black-led movements that have always reimagined what freedom, self-determination, and equity means for Black folks.
We are a unified coalition of Black harm reductionists, advocates, and stakeholders working to advance harm reduction principles in Black communities.
We formed to preserve the history and legacy of Black harm reduction work while elevating and shaping the current and future national discourse around Black harm reduction.
What We Do
Advocacy + Policy
Be the national voice that advocates for Black-centered federal & state public health, criminal legal system, and drug policies.
Subject Matter Expertise
Provide technical assistance on substance use and intersecting issues to community-based organizations and government entities.
Network Building
Support regional networks of Black-led & Black-centered harm reduction initiatives.
Technical Assistance
Provide supportive, sustainable mentorship, workforce development, and TA to Black harm reductionists.
Our Mission
The National Black Harm Reduction Network is dedicated to advancing harm reduction principles that optimize health and wellness for Black people who are disproportionately harmed by public health initiatives, the criminal legal system, and drug policies.
Our Vision
We believe that simply avoiding or reducing the effects of structural racism — manifesting as criminalizing substance use and mental illness — stops short of our mandate as Black harm reductionists. Reducing harm isn’t enough — it must be eliminated.
meet the team
Executive DIRECTOR
Executive Director | National Black Harm Reduction Network
Board Member | New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board (OSFAB)
Tracie M. Gardner is a public health advocate with over 30 years of experience in public policy and the nonprofit sector. Her work focuses on substance use and the disproportionate impact of the War on Drugs on Black communities in the U.S. As Senior Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the Legal Action Center, she led efforts to advance health equity and criminal justice reform. She is the Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network.
Tracie M. GardneR
BOARD MEMBERS
BRE AZANEDO
BOARD SECRETARY
Black Lives Matter Paterson Harm Reduction
New Jersey
Bre Azanedo is an Afro-Latina educator and activist with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from William Paterson University. Her work focuses on raising awareness, providing resources, and educating communities on safer sex practices, harm reduction, and HIV prevention methods. As the Harm Reduction program manager for Black Lives Matter Paterson, she identifies barriers and develops initiatives to help participants overcome them. Bre's approach centers on meeting people where they are, walking beside them, and helping them amplify their voices through genuine relationship-building. She is committed to breaking down HIV stigma and increasing education in Black and Latino communities.
MARK JENKINS
BOARD CHAIR
Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance
Connecticut
Mark Jenkins is a service-connected, disabled veteran of the United States Air Force and Founder/Executive Director of the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance. With 24 years in harm reduction and public health, he has developed innovative prevention strategies for vulnerable populations across Connecticut. His work in the state's most challenged neighborhoods has given him unique insight into drug trends, associated risks, and effective public health responses. As a respected voice in the field, Mark has presented nationally and internationally on best practices for working with people who use drugs, building extensive networks that connect street-level communities with service providers.
SHREETA WALDON
BOARD TREASURER
Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition
Kentucky
Shreeta Waldon, MA, LCADC is a harm reduction advocate with over 17 years of experience in substance use prevention and social services. Her work focuses on meeting individuals where they are in their recovery journey and ensuring communities have access to necessary resources. As Executive Director of Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition, one of the first grassroots harm reduction agencies in Kentucky, she leads efforts to create people-centered policies. She brings a revolutionary spirit and commitment to dismantling oppressive systems through prevention and access rather than prosecution and punishment.
TINA REYNOLDS
BOARD MEMBER
Women on the Rise Telling HerStory (WORTH)
New York
Tina Reynolds is the Co-Founder and Chair of WORTH (Women On the Rise Telling HerStory). WORTH (Women On the Rise Telling HerStory) is an advocacy/consultant group composed of currently & formerly incarcerated women, who have the expertise and understanding to engage, navigate and challenge policy and perceptions concerning incarcerated women.
MARGARET BORDEAUX
BOARD MEMBER
The Bellwether Collaborative for Health Justice
North Carolina
Margaret Bordeaux is a health and justice advocate whose personal and professional experiences empower her to speak compassionately for those marginalized by social status, drug use, and criminal legal involvement. Her work centers on Black and brown women and girls, advancing gender-responsive and culturally sensitive approaches to substance use and legal system reform. With a multidisciplinary background spanning sociology, public health, and healthcare administration, she focuses on community-driven wellness, healthcare services for justice-involved populations, and supporting people who use drugs as they navigate complex healthcare systems. As an empowered thinker and collaborator, Margaret excels in developing innovative strategies that transform systems from within.
TAMIKA SPELLMAN
BOARD MEMBER
Grammy's Place
Alabama
Tamika Spellman is a bold, outspoken advocate with over three decades of experience fighting for the rights of marginalized communities. Her work focuses on drug user policy, sex worker rights, and policy reform, with particular emphasis on creating meaningful change for transgender individuals facing multiple systemic barriers. She has played a pivotal role in policy victories, including legislation to decriminalize drug paraphernalia in Washington, D.C. As founder of Grammy's Place in Birmingham, Alabama—a non-traditional safe house for Black transgender women who may be substance users and/or engaging in sex work—she continues her mission of providing practical, community-based solutions through direct action and lived experience.
TERRELL JONES
BOARD MEMBER
On Point NYC
New York
Terrell Jones is the Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager at Onpoint NYC with over 19 years in the harm reduction field. A former drug user who experienced incarceration due to drug laws that disproportionately impact people of color, he transformed his personal challenges into a powerful advocacy career. His journey from participant to peer educator to management exemplifies his commitment to giving people second chances. As Senior Co-Director of the Peer Network of New York, he focuses on developing peers working in harm reduction. Terrell serves on the NYC Mayor's Taskforce for Opiates and Prescription Drugs Overdose and collaborates with organizations across the city to advance harm reduction policies that assist drug users, sex workers, and communities impacted by the war on drugs.
STAFF
EILEEN LIANG-MASSEY
OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
NBHRN
A Fresh, New Look!
We recently underwent a rebranding process, complete with a new brandmark that embodies the history, strength, and progress of our evolving network.
