Catherine believes in the profound strength of the human spirit and knows that people can accomplish incredible things, no matter their circumstances. However, to help our community heal and thrive, we must support individuals wholeheartedly. For Catherine, this means leading with a harm reduction approach.

Catherine defines harm reduction as total liberation for all individuals. "Think about the way you talk and think about people who use drugs," Catherine says. Fighting the stigma that people who use substances experience begins when we put aside our expectations and really listen to each person. This way, we can let others be themselves without shame or judgment.

To learn more about harm reduction, visit harmreduction.org. Find harm reduction resources in Santa Clara County at publichealth.sccgov.org/harm-reduction-program.