A deeply personal experience during college fueled Hannah’s dedication to harm reduction. Her involvement traces back to Fall 2014 when she joined the New College of Florida’s Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). After attending an SSDP Regional Conference, Hannah returned inspired by the community of advocates she met. Tragically, just a month later, her friend Julian accidentally overdosed and died on campus. This loss strengthened her commitment to hone her skills as an activist in service to the harm reduction movement.
“Volunteering with Zendo Project was an integral part of me finding clarity as an activist through practicing harm reduction, embodying harm reduction principles, and identifying myself as a harm reductionist within my community,” Hannah reflects.
As an activist and community organizer since age 13, Hannah found Zendo Project offered something uniquely valuable—an intersectional experience that allowed her to apply professional skills while connecting with her community.
“As a fellow New College Alumnus, I always wonder if Linnae (Ponte) ever imagined how much impact the Zendo Project would have,” she says. For those who do not know, Linnae Ponte is the originating director/founder of Zendo Project in 2012. “What I hope for the future impact of the organization is that they continue to lead and ground this work with passion, integrity, service, and inspire countless more individuals to follow pathways in life where they can weave these values throughout their journeys.”
Hannah emphasizes that volunteering with Zendo is more than just service—it’s transformative. “It’s not just a volunteer opportunity, it’s a pathway or a doorway to some place else. I truly think that folks would be so surprised at the depth of experience they may find from volunteering with a non-profit organization, because Zendo is so much more.”
The organization’s vision is reflected in her dedication to building intentional communities: “I strive to practice what it truly means to be in an ‘intentional community’…Zendo Project is an example of how we can create meaningful change through collective action. Together we’re orienting our community work towards tangible ways to increase access to harm reduction resources which empower and engage individuals. ” As for what’s next for Hannah? More advocacy and work within the drug policy reform movement. Thank you for your continued service, Hannah!