California Overdose Prevention Network VISTA Alum Reed Nolan Selected for Service Year Alums Award

Reed Nolan, an AmeriCorps VISTA Lead at PHI’s Center for Health Leadership and Impact (CHLI), is one of twelve recipients of the 2024 Service Year Alum Awards which recognize exceptional ability to bridge divides across lines of difference—finding ways to come together across divides to listen, understand, find common ground, build relationships and make collaboration the norm.

Reed serves as a part of the Workforce Pathways AmeriCorps VISTA Hub program at PHI’s Center for Health Leadership and Impact, with service year placement currently as a lead with CHLI and previously with its California Overdose Prevention Network (COPN) as an Overdose Prevention Coordinator.

During his service with COPN, Reed identified a critical gap in overdose prevention efforts: a disconnect between those with firsthand experience of substance use and healthcare providers. He addressed this by openly sharing his journey, which bridged the gap between personal struggles and professional care. This approach transformed perspectives, fostering genuine empathy and collaboration across diverse beliefs and experiences, driving more compassionate, informed community responses.