Executive Director
Bethany was raised in rural Northeast Ohio. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Akron and has been working in the behavioral health field for over 5 years. Bethany started her professional career at a startup tech nonprofit where she learned the ins and outs of business development, grant writing, marketing, and collective impact. Bethany is excited to bring these skills and her passion for the community into Thrive for Change to help it grow and lead efforts to save lives.
Contact Bethany at [email protected]
harm reduction Education Coordinator
Ashley has lived experience with drug use and has survived multiple overdoses. Ashley is an advocate and lifelong learner who is constantly keeping up with the latest trends and international best practices in harm reduction. She has over 4 years of experience in street outreach and hosting conversations and training on overdose response, stigma, social justice, and harm reduction.
Over the years, Ashley has worked with diverse audiences to combine efforts to save lives including people who use drugs, treatment professionals, government officials, and loved ones of those impacted by the overdose crisis. Her initial harm reduction outreach efforts are what led to the inception of Thrive for Change and her expertise has been crucial in the implementation of several of our current programs. She currently holds positions in several state and local advocacy groups including her position as Peer at Large in the Ohio Overdose Prevention Network which is a group dedicated to reducing injuries in Ohio.
Contact Ashley at [email protected]
Harm reduction Outreach Coordinator
For several years, Jessica has worked as an outreach team member at The SOAR Initiative, a nonprofit organization that implemented a deadly batch alert system and distributes fentanyl testing strips to those at risk. Jessica has lived experience with substance use and is a person in long-term alternative recovery for 8 years. She became a Naloxone distributor over 2 years ago in an attempt to help those in her community and has been actively adapting since in all areas of harm reduction. She has volunteered with many local non-profit organizations including Thrive for Change and today partners with many different organizations in order to share her resources and knowledge with all in her community.
Jessica has a passion for harm reduction work and her experience gives her a unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and advocate. As a harm reduction specialist at Thrive for Change, Jessica conducts outreach and leads our Safer Smoking Initiative to distribute safer smoking supplies to those at risk throughout Cuyahoga County.
Contact Jessica at [email protected]
Community Engagement & Response Coordinator
Elisha grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has extensive customer service and prior social services experience from working as a Case Manager with ResCare, a company contracted through Cuyahoga County. She is excited to join Thrive for Change in the role of Community Engagement and Response Coordinator to utilize her skills of creativity, motivation, empathy, and advocating for others by changing and improving lives in this position.
Resource Specialist
Paige grew up in Lake County Ohio and has been doing harm reduction work for several years. This started in 2021 while working at Thrive Peer Recovery Services on the outreach team with Ashley and Bethany. Around the same time, Paige also acquired her peer support certification.
Paige has lived experience with substance use and implements a harm reduction approach in her 5+ years in recovery. She is passionate about connecting people to care and ensuring people have access to the support they need. This passion comes from a desire to prevent others from experiencing the harms she faced when navigating treatment and surviving the system of body brokering in Florida. In addition to her knowledge of harm reduction, Paige has incredible people skills and she is looking forward to developing relationships with our participants and partners in the community to enhance Thrive for Change’s impact.
HIV Outreach Specialist
Shay (she/they) hails originally from Detroit, MI and has been growing and living in Cleveland since 2022. Shay attended and received a Bachelor’s in Public Health from Wayne State University in 2016 and started her public health career with the Wayne State University Prevention Team (W’SUP). While at W’SUP, she gained experience & skills working with LBGTQ+ youth and adults providing sexual health education, HIV/STI testing & counseling and other harm reduction services.
While Shay is not new to harm reduction work, she is excited and committed to collaboration and advocating for Greater Cleveland communities and meeting folks “where they’re at”. In this work, Shay’s passion for harm reduction, health education and prevention has brought her to Thrive for Change to raise awareness and take initiative on encouraging hope & healing within her community.