Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association’s staff and volunteers represent a broad spectrum and diverse representation of who we are as a society. This is what empowers us to reach every level of society and offer a safe environment that treats every single person who walks through our doors with dignity and respect. We are advocates for the marginalized and believe when the least among us thrives, we all thrive.
Co-Founder/CEO
Nursing is my second career and when I realized this was my calling; I was drawn to the area of mental health and substance use disorders. These clients are one of the most vulnerable populations in healthcare, and too often they are given the least amount of support and treatment. As the addiction epidemic grew, I realized this was the field in which I was going to spend the rest of my career. My experiences as a nurse range from emergency medicine to hospice. The pain and suffering that exists in the clients we serve and the many families I talk to every day, from every area of life, has driven me to contribute to creating enhanced systems and delivery of treatment and services by collaborating with community partners. And to provide greater access to these services for individuals and loved ones who struggle with addiction. This has led me to create and develop SoCoHRA, as co-founder/CEO.
This organization’s philosophy is to assist individuals and families by providing a safe environment in which they can come to as an entry point and funnel to other services and treatment in order to obtain wellness and functionality. As a native of Pueblo, I will continue to serve and contribute to this great community which will always call my home.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: judysolano15@gmail.com
Co-Founder
Near the end of my 24 years as an ER MD, I started noticing the first signs of the oncoming heroin epidemic. We started seeing overdoses. After retiring, and being appointed to the Board of Health, I first started hearing about the increase in newborns withdrawing from opiates. That second sign told me Pueblo for sure had a heroin problem, and something had to be done before it became even worse. Research quickly lead me to Harm Reduction and Syringe Access as the most promising approaches to begin to positively affect the epidemic. Time spent at the exchange is fun, and eye-opening. Our volunteer staff are a fantastic group of people. It is clear we are having a positive impact on our participants. My plan is to continue to learn how best to help; educate people about addicts and addiction; grow our center’s services, and continue to help our community deal with this human tragedy.
Board President
Being raised a Marine Corps brat instilled in me to think globally, act locally, and that social freedom comes with social responsibility. My college education was provided by the Sisters of Charity and the Jesuits at Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, KS, and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. My family is from Pueblo and between the many moves stateside and overseas, we returned here to visit. I have pride in Pueblo. From working nearly 25 years as a clinical laboratory scientist, then a career switch to become a registered nurse 18 years ago, healthcare has been my passion. From a laboratory perspective to bedside nursing care, I’ve witnessed the ravaging effects of addiction. I am passionate about reducing judgement of its victims and allocating the resources to provide compassionate care. When my nursing partner Jude Solano created SCHRA, I was her proudest cheerleader. I am happy to volunteer to reduce harm and keep Pueblo safe.
Vice President
I am an advocate for behavioral health and substance use disorder in Southeastern Colorado with the goal to help improve the lives of those that are the most vulnerable. My grandparents instilled in me that helping those in need is essential to driving change. I am a Pueblo native with a passion to serve those that are the most vulnerable in our communities. Through many years of supporting local behavioral health initiatives and being an advocate for my family and friends has given me the opportunity to advocate for our community. I decided to join the SCHRA to support the SCHRA team and our community. I believe that serving members where they are makes the biggest impact and makes a difference in their lives. I believe a community based care model is essential to improving the lives of the members we serve. I am proud to support the SCHRA mission and vision. Currently, I serve on the local Pueblo Health Equity Taskforce, Regional Opioid Taskforces, and Health Care Policy & Financing’s Health Equity Taskforce.
Secretary/Treasurer
Storyteller, curator and creative economy consultant, Gregory made his way to Pueblo via Tokyo to join a team of innovative physicians in the launch of a network of medical clinics in Colorado and Texas. Shortly after arriving in Pueblo, Gregory immediately realized the powerful and yet untold story of the new creative economy in one of America’s great industrial landscapes which was once dominated by the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company and the Nuckolls Packing Company. Gregory is the owner of the award-winning Kadoya Gallery and since his arrival in southern Colorado has launched the Shoe Factory, the ARTery, and the Underground in the Historic Federal Building. Over the years he has lectured extensively on the history, culture and the arts of Pueblo and is best known in the region for his talks on The Tunnels of Pueblo and Steel & Meat. He is a former Board Member of the Steelworks Center of the West and now advises The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High as a creative consultant and serves as a Board Member. Gregory is currently a Commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Pueblo where he is an advocate for adaptive reuse of historic properties, economic redevelopment and tourism. In 2020, Gregory joined the Governor’s Council on Economic Stabilization and Growth which explored the full scope of economic impacts of COVID-19 in Colorado and made recommendations to mitigate the uncertainty faced by workers, employers, their families and communities.
Board Member
Alexandra is the daughter of two native Puebloans. She grew up in Pueblo except for those times her father, a retired military veteran was moving the family across country or overseas. She proudly and happily was a student at Minnequa Elementary, Pitts Middle School and Central High. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins on an academic scholarship and graduated from Colorado State University Pueblo. After graduation, she studied abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico to become more fluent in Spanish. Upon receiving her degree and certification of Licensure in teaching she taught at Dolores Huerta Preparatory High. Her passion to teach and help others made her pursue a legal education. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing Michigan. Upon graduation she returned to Colorado in hopes of helping the Pueblo Community. Currently she has been working as the chief paralegal for a local attorney, specializing in trial assistance and client relations. A proud Puebloan and Latina. Alex happily calls Pueblo home.
Program Development and Wellness Specialist
Danielle directs all programs at the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association. With a strong background in creating new programming and engagement opportunities for the community, Ms. Harwell bridges communication across community initiatives and groups of people because she is able to relate and connect with people from all walks of life, age, and status. As a passionate community activist, Ms. Harwell practices and teaches mindfulness, self-care, and engagement in the arts to heal and promote wellness. Successful community projects that Ms. Harwell has overseen incorporate learning self-care, environmental awareness, and how nurturing self-love can give rise to care for our collective community and environment. Treating all people with respect and authenticity guides her work in the harm reduction movement to meet each person where they are at in their recovery journey. She has applied this philosophy in her work as a liaison between students, social workers, and community programs, a case manager, and advocate for the youth. Ms. Harwell brings compassion to connect with marginalized populations to open the conversation of what they need, where they want to go, and how to grow in working to get there. Ms. Harwell has been with SCHRA since 2019, and she has been instrumental in implementing the Pueblo Harm Reduction Project that reaches incarcerated individuals and underserved youth in the community.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: danielle.harmreduction@gmail.com
Office Manager
Adriana was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado.
Adriana received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Criminology in 2012. Adriana has nine years of extensive experience serving children, families, and patients in securing concrete supports.
Adriana has had many roles in her career, which includes working with child victims of abuse, geriatric community in a skilled nursing facility, and ones who are suffering from the negative impacts of drug use. Adriana gained a deep understanding of what it means to network in many communities, building strong relationships with different agencies and collaborating resources. As a doula and an advocate of harm reduction, health equity is Adriana’s passion, and her focus is building a foundation for all people to have strong health outcomes.
Adriana has an unwavering passion and dedication to serving her community and to creating a multi-service, safe space, establishing strong communities, breaking down barriers and building resiliency.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: adriana.venegas@
Lead Peer Support Specialist
Erica is a Pueblo/Bessemer native, and her passion is helping her community maintaining sobriety and keeping families connected.
Oxy 80’s, prescribed after surgery, soon went to shooting up heroin, and within a blink of an eye. “I lost everything, my home, my job, my children, my life.” Erica spent ten years being homeless, battling addiction, seeing nothing but darkness, and doubting life and humanity. Never in Erica’s life did she imagine she would struggle after going to countless rehabs, relapsing, giving up hope, and failing herself and her children. Being asked to sign over her parental rights finally woke Erica up and gave her the reality check she needed. “I never wanted to lose my children but being alone on the streets with no support system, not knowing where to go while drowning in despair, created barriers in allowing me to find the right path back to them.” Erica’s road to recovery started when she learned about Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT). “Without Suboxone, I would have died!” Erica now has full custody of her children, a car, a house, a job, and, best of all, serving her community who have the struggles she once endured.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: erica.otero@socoharmreduction.
WAGEES Case Manager
Terra enjoys helping people harness their self worth and reaching future goals. Whether someone is dealing with substance abuse or incarcerated, she understands the need to preserve your life or if you need positive influence. She is great at helping people and directing them to resources, which makes her uniquely qualified in Case Management and Peer Support. Her other strengths include networking with agencies and finding results, working within the community for the re-entry, homeless and poverty families, and seeking to fulfill a passion to help individuals and make a direct connection within the community.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: terra.rodriguez@
Peer Support Specialist
Felecita is a peer support specialist with lived experience of addiction of 4 years, and now has been in recovery for 6 years. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Colorado Technical University with a degree in criminal justice, social work, and counseling. Felecita has a passion to help others and to be able to give the support needed to others who are struggling. “I want to make a difference in this world, and I believe Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association is the place I need to be to begin to help those in need any way possible.”
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: felecita.montoya@
Peer Support Specialist
Tommy has been with SCHRA since August 2023. He is a U.S Air Force Veteran and attended Ottawa University. He is experienced in administrative work and has a vast knowledge of physical health and nutritional care. Tommy started working in the Harm Reduction career field in early 2023 at a Substance Abuse Prevention clinic, and later moved on to Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association to further his work in the field and make a bigger impact in aiding the community and recovering peers.
Tommy has traveled the world and seen communities that have been affected by Substance Abuse and homelessness and communities that have strived to protect their people from Substance Abuse and homelessness. His mission is to help aid and grow the community of Pueblo.
Office: 719-289-7149Email: tommy.solano@socoharmreduction.org
Peer Support Specialist
Renee is a proud Pueblo/Bessemer Native. As a Peer Support Specialist, Renee shares her personal knowledge and struggles as someone who has been in recovery for over 15 years. Renee’s passion is to be realistic, relatable, and help the community of Pueblo with recovery, obtaining resources, and finding suitable housing and much more. Renee has years of personal experience helping others and working in the community and has had personal hardships she has overcome. Renee completed her Associates of Arts degree in 1994 and her Bachelor of Social Work in 1998. Renee completed her internship as an advocate and mentor at Pueblo County Social Services in the Adolescent Ongoing and Adolescent Intensive Treatment Program Units. Renee has helped families and was able to relate with their struggles and hardships. “If I had a caring Peer Support Specialist, then I may have understood my addictions much better and not relapsed.” Renee enjoys working at Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association and networking with other agencies.
Office: 719-289-7149
Email: renee.gonzales@
WAGEES Case Manager
Rhonda has lived in many states and moved to Colorado Springs in 1978. She moved to Pueblo in January 2022 and loves it here. Rhonda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. Rhonda has a great passion for helping people. She worked as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility and home health care starting as a caregiver then promoted to a care manager. Rhonda also worked with developmentally disabled adults helping them transition from living at home to possibly on their own helping them to build appropriate relationships with peers in their community. Rhonda is passionate about caring for people with respect while keeping their dignity intact so they can reach their full potential.
Office: 719-289-7149
