"Be Silly. Be Honest. Be Kind."
Outside of my scholarly pursuits, I enjoy engagement with reentry efforts in my local community. I am also a devoted dog mom and volunteer with various animal organizations.
DOG MOM LIFE AND ANIMAL ADVOCACY
Over the years I have fostered and adopted two pet mice, several dogs, volunteered for numerous local shelters, provided care as part of a trap-neuter-return program for feral cats, deployed nationally for the Humane Society as part of the animal rescue team, and currently serve as a foster home for dogs in need.
Fellow Sociologists and supporters of the 'Cards for Kindness' Initiative at 2017 Holiday Event
CARDS FOR KINDNESS: WITH LOVE FROM THE OUTSIDE
In 2016, I reflected on the small acts of kindness that can help show people in prisons that they are not forgotten. This led me to launch the community initiative, Cards for Kindness. Each year around the holidays, I work with a local business to host a public holiday card writing event to send notes of support to every individual at a given prison/jail. The first year over 400 individuals at two local jails received cards. In 2017 and 2018, over 700 individuals- every person- at a nearby prison and jail received a card. Additionally, funds are raised to support a toys for children of incarcerated parents program, hosted by a local jail. To date we have only missed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overdose Awareness Day, hosted by Voices of Hope
ENGAGING WITH My COMMUNITY
It is critically important to me that I remain engaged with the community and not view substance use in the abstract. Our Research Lab runs an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, providing free naloxone distribution and training to folks who come into contact with our lab as well as devotion of dedicated effort to train our local NYU and NYC community.