Staff
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Cyndee Clay, Executive DirectorEmail: cyndee (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Clay is an internationally recognized expert with over 20 years experience in program development, nonprofit management and evaluation for improving the health and safety of injection and non-injection drug users, sex workers, and transgender individuals. She is a graduate of the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program at UCLA Business School, convened DC’s first working group on drug user health, and serves as the DC Prevention Planning Group’s community co-chair elect, DC community representative for the Urban Coalition of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services UCHAPS, and the DC Recovery Advisory Council.
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Elizabeth MacIntosh, Director of ProgramsEmail: elizabeth (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Elizabeth has worked in the Harm Reduction field for 16 years. She comes from a background of combines “lived” and “learned” experience. Elizabeth began her professional career in New Jersey as an outpatient therapist for Cape Counseling Services. In 2004, Elizabeth moved on to HIPS as the Peer Education Program Manager working alongside and mentoring community members in outreach, facilitating support groups and micro-counseling, and getting safer sex supplies to individuals who use drugs and do sex work. In 2007, Elizabeth stepped into non-profit management with a focus on program development and implementation, evaluation, and supporting her co-colleagues in their professional development. Elizabeth has a knack for putting a harm reduction twist on traditional programming and practices “For Us, By Us” model and believes that its crucial for peer involvement in all levels of programming. Elizabeth holds a Master's in Clinical Psychology from California Coast University and most recently graduated from Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Leadership Program at UCLA’a Anderson School of Management.
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Sara Knotts, Director of Finance and OperationsEmail: sara (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers or They/Them/Theirs As Director of Finance Operations, Sara is responsible for all financial management, human resource management, IT infrastructure, and organizational and fiscal compliance. Sara obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Sara joined HIPS in 2013 as the Operations Manager and became HIPS first Director of Finance & Operations in 2016. In 2019, Sara graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles' Healthcare Executive Program at the Anderson School of Management sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. When Sara's not at HIPS, she's spending time with her family, friends, listening to music, and brainstorming nonprofit hacks.
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Shakita Chapman, Social Services ManagerEmail: shakita (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Shakita joined HIPS in 2013 as a Community Health Worker. She is a certified Treatment Adherence Specialist, HIV and HCV tester and brings many years of experience in the HIV care and prevention field. Shakita oversees HIPS social service activities and spends her days helping staff best assist our clients navigating the housing and healthcare system. Shakita has held previous roles with HIPS as the Drop-in Center Manager and the Low Barrier Services Manager. She has supervised Peer Educators, overseen support groups, organized community events, and managed meal and wellness services. Shakita is well known for her passion for helping others and is a self-proclaimed “Person for the People” because of her love for giving back to the community. Shakita has a strong interest in addiction and recovery is currently taking steps toward becoming an Addiction Counselor. When Shakita is off the clock, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and enjoying life to the fullest!
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David Sternberg, Clinical Services ManagerEmail: dsternberg (at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His As Clinical Services Manager, David oversees the HIPS Infectious Disease Clinic, Medication-Assisted Treatment Clinic, and District-wide targeted HIV and hepatitis C testing initiative. He joined HIPS after 11 years of providing health care to marginalized populations in Florida, Illinois and California. He holds a BA in Sociology from California State University East Bay.
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Alexandra Bradley, Mobile Services ManagerEmail: alexandra (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Alexandra started at HIPS in 2015 as an overnight outreach volunteer and is now responsible for coordinating and managing all of HIPS mobile services programs -- including sex worker mobile outreach, syringe exchange, 24-hour hotline, and overdose prevention services -- as well as the staff, volunteers, and interns who work on them. Alexandra earned an M.P.H. from The George Washington University and B.A.s in Psychology and Government from Cornell University. Outside of HIPS, Alexandra loves spending time with family, friends, and community; supporting and participating in local queer artistic events; running; and 80s music.
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Cindy Binette, Drop In Operations ManagerEmail: cindyb (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Cindy joins HIPS with over 20 years of management experience. As Operations Manager, Cindy is responsible for keeping HIPS running like a well oiled machine by supporting all of the programs HIPS has to offer. Cindy is a native Washingtonian, and grew up in Oxon Hill, MD. Cindy has always had an interest in helping others and is excited to help with the HIPS mission. When Cindy’s not at HIPS she enjoys traveling with her wife, spending time with their exotic short-hair cat, Hershey, helping her grandmother, and watching reality TV.
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Phyllis Bijole, ID Clinic CoordinatorEmail: phyllis (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Phyllis coordinates HIPS' Infectious Disease Clinic. She conducts Hepatitis C and HIV tests as well as links clients to medical care. She joined HIPS in January 2017 as a direct service intern performing syringe exchange and outreach in the community. Phyllis graduated with a master's degree in public administration from Troy University and possesses a BA in global affairs. She is passionate about serving others and interested in the ways that community education and engagement impacts health outcomes. When she is not working, she loves watching TV and spending time with family and friends. |
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Dana McCullough, MAT Services CoordinatorEmail: dana (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers As the MAT Services Coordinator at the HIPS Clinic. Dana's goal is to inspire her clients to work towards a safe and harm reducing lifestyle. Dana ensures her clients know of all HIPS' services such as the HEP C Clinic, syringe exchange, and others. Dana meets her clients with empathy and compassion, an open heart and is always willing to listen. Dana has been affiliated with HIPS since 2003 in so many ways. She started as a client, a volunteer, and became a Peer Educator, facilitating groups on harm reduction techniques. Dana became a syringe exchange secondary and is now Community Health Worker and an all around around for sex worker's rights. Dana attends college at the University of the District of Columbia for her Bachelors in Nursing and looks forward to many more years of service to her clients in the community! |
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Yukia Gaston, Finance CoordinatorEmail: yukia (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Yukia joined HIPS in 2019 with a strong background in financial operations and office management and proudly served in the US NAVY. As Finance Coordinator, Kia will support the directors team to carry out the organizations financial processes, as well as plan, prepare and assist in monthly, quarterly and annual budgets and reporting. Kia will assist the finance and administrative team streamline operations and provide capacity. When she is not at HIPS, Kia enjoys long distance running, hikes with her dog and relaxing on beach with family and friends. |
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Ms. Kenney Mayo, Drop-in Services CoordinatorEmail: kenney (at) hips.org
Pronouns: any pronouns Ms. Kenny has worked at HIPS for five years and has been dedicated to maintaining a positive and safe environment in the Drop In Center. Ms. Kenny conducts HIV tests, manages the showers, community lunches, clothing closet, and receptionist area. When Ms. Kenny isn't at HIPS, she likes to watch old black and white movies, shop, and travel.
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Erica Gray, Harm Reduction Coordinator
HIPS Satellite Site Day Services Center 1313 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 2005 Email: erica (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Erica joined the HIPS team in December 2018 as a Harm Reduction Coordinator. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and Gender Studies from Trinity Washington University. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She loves organizing and helping for community change. When she's not at HIPS she enjoys playing Sims 4, taking road trips with friends, and watching Grey's Anatomy and Star. |
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Earline Budd, Non Medical Case Management SpecialistEmail: earline (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Earline Budd is a long time DC resident and transgender woman who has worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to advocate for the rights and inclusion of transgender people and other members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LBGTQ) community. She is one of the founding members and former Executive Director of Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc. (T.H.E.) and was the District of Columbia’s first transgender women appointed to the Office of Human Rights. Earline currently works as a Treatment Adherence Specialist at HIPS and represents HIPS and the trans community on the Mayor’s Commission on HIV/AIDS and on the DC Ryan White Planning Council. Earline has two years of college in Business Administration and attended the Brookwein Business Institute of Washington, D.C. Earline comes to HIPS everyday with a grocery bag of home cooked snacks and goodies and keeps everyone who walks through the doors well fed regardless of whether or not they are on her caseload. She describes her everyday hobby as just wanting “to help her community, even if it’s just by getting them something to eat just for today, and being there to work on the next step tomorrow.”
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Randy Kier, Community Health WorkerEmail: randy (at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His Randy is a Community Health Worker with HIPS and has been with the organization since 2014. Randy’s work involves assisting clients with linkage to medical care, performing HIV and HCV testing, facilitating treatment adherence, participating in mentorship opportunities, and providing counseling sessions. He is currently studying Social Work with a concentration in public health at the University of District Columbia. In addition to his studies, Randy serves as the Vice President for the Student Government Association at UDC. Randy is a member of the LGBT community and has always possessed a passion to combat HIV/AIDS and to educate his community with intent to change it for the better. Randy strongly believes that working together we can bring an end to HIV/AIDS.
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Maurice Abbey-Bey, Syringe Exchange SpecialistEmail: maurice (at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His Maurice, affectionately known as Moe, is a Washington DC native who came to HIPS in 2013 as Secondary Exchange Peer Educator providing syringe access and support to his community. Maurice has watched HIPS grow in the community and has seen his own role grow within it as well. In and out of prison, jail, chaotic drug use, and substance abuse treatment since the age of 13, Maurice says that those years were when he realized he has to “reach the lowest depths before reaching the highest heights”. Today Maurice serves as HIPS’ full time Syringe Exchange Specialist, supervising HIPS mobile syringe exchange program, the linchpin of HIPS' street based services. Moe serves as the President of HIPS & Drug Policy Alliance IDU Health Working Group, The Chosen Few. The Chosen Few provides overdose education to HIPS' stakeholders both on site at HIPS and out in the community at various sites, trains HIPS clients, staff, and volunteers on how to administer Naloxone in the IDU community, and is cornerstone of the DC community. He greatly enjoys working hands on and using his easy and welcoming manner and drawing on his deep network of relationships to make Washington, DC a healthier and safer place to live. While not at HIPS, you can find Maurice at the dog park with his two Maltese puppies, Lily and Bear!
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Desaray Smith LICSW, LCSW-C , Behavioral Health Therapist - MAT ClinicEmail: desaray (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Desaray started her helping career as a HIPS mobile outreach volunteer in 1998 and provided HIV Prevention Counseling and Testing on the mobile outreach van as an employee of the Washington Free Clinic from 2001 - 2003. Since 2010, Desaray has provided assessment, diagnosis and treatment as a licensed clinical social worker for adolescents and adults with mental health and substance abuse problems in school settings and community mental health agencies, as well as crisis intervention on hotlines and in emergency rooms. In 2016, she was a part of a multiracial coalition that staged a 20-hour occupation of the police department in Asheville, NC in protest of the officer-involved shooting of Jai "Jerry" Williams. Desaray is so excited to return to HIPS to provide individual and group therapy for clients receiving medication assisted treatment, as well as field education for social work students. Desaray dedicates her work to the memory of her father, Richard, who started his recovery from 20 years of opiate addiction in 1987 after graduating from Second Genesis in Alexandria, VA. When she isn't working, Desaray enjoys organizing with DC Dyke March and is a supporter of the North Carolina Trans Reparations Project.
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Tristan Sullivan-Wilson, HIPS Legal & Advocacy Fellow
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Miriam Jones, Patient Access SpecialistEmail: miriam (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Miriam A. Jones is a native Washingtonian and very compassionate about our community. I currently work with Hips in NE DC fighting the epidemic with HIV and curing HCV viruses. I am the Patient Access Specialist under the HIPS clinical services department. |
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Tamika Spellman, Policy and Advocacy AssociateEmail: tamika (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Tamika is originally from Buffalo New York but has lived in Washington D.C. on and off since 1988. Tamika has worked with HIPS since June 2017. She has served as a peer educator then worked as a part of the needle exchange program. She has volunteered her time with mobile services giving new works and safer sex supplies to people throughout the District. Tamika knows first hand what the war on drugs has done to the community. She is dedicated to helping others and working to create positive policies and laws to help those involved in sex work and drug use. She has testified on behalf of HIPS at the D.C. Council, spoken on several harm reduction panels, and is very active in both SWAC and the DC LEAD Coalition. HIPS is extremely honored to have Tamika as part of our policy and advocacy team.
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Naveah Carter, Front Desk ReceptionistEmail: naveah (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Coming Soon. |
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Shareese Mone, Development AssociateEmail: shareese (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Coming Soon. |
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Brian Watson, Methamphetamine Services SpecialistEmail: brian (at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His Brian Watson has been a vocal and visible activist in the areas of social justice, youth, LGBT issues, and HIV/AIDS for over a decade. In September 2008, he started the Wanda Alston House - the 1st GLBTQ youth homeless transitional program in the DC, MD, VA area. He has worked with various target populations on various topics such including religion, sexual minority youth, HIV positive individuals, foster children, recently incarcerated, substance abuse users, transgenders and transgender youth. He has experience working in health education, HIV and HEP C counseling, testing and referral, case management, cancer in African Americans, housing coordination, and conducting formative research. Brian was appointed by Mayor Anthony Williams and Mayor Adrian Fenty to sit on boards such as the Regional Health Services HIV/AIDS Planning Council, LGBT Executive Advisory Board, and by Mayor Vincent Gray to sit on the Interagency Council on Homelessness. He is also a member of the DC HIV Planning Group and Metropolitan DC Police Critical Incidents Team. Brian was named a Capital Pride Hero in 2007, and received a Distinguished Service Award from GLAA in 2008 as well as American Red Cross volunteer of the year award. Brian is a Recovery Coach, Peer Specialist, and trainer of trainer for Motivational Interviewing, and Substance Abuse issues for providers working with the LGBT community thru SAMHSA. |
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Jessica Martinez, Methamphetamine Services Specialist
Email: jessica (at) hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Jessica Martinez is a DC resident trans woman who has dedicated her time to advocating for people both at home and abroad. Working on numerous political campaigns and as a member of the Democratic National Committee; Jessica has spent much of her time canvassing and campaigning for LGBT and economic equality. Receiving her bachelors in 2018 from George Washington University in American Studies much of her academic life has been spent understanding power hierarchies, race relations, LGBT identity, and state policies. Now working for HIPS Jessica is working towards reducing harm to the Meth using community in DC as well as destigmatizing addiction, and behavior health in the District of Columbia. In her spare time she’s an avid gamer, as well as enjoys freestyling and photography. |
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Ajetha Nadanasabesan, Data and Billing Specialist
Email: ajetha@hips.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Ajetha is a graduating senior at the George Washington University studying Public Health. Ajetha began volunteering her time at HIPS as a Direct Service Summer Intern and went on to then volunteer as the MAT Clinical Services Intern. She is excited to continue her work with HIPS and joined the staff in December 2018 as the Data Specialist and Billing Specialist. Ajetha will provide support to all of HIPS programs through data infrastructure implementation and quality assurance. She is especially grateful to engage with all the dynamic stories at HIPS and see how they intertwine and bolster the harm reduction community. |
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Mark Lockwood, Harm Reduction Educator
HIPS Satellite Site Day Services Center 1313 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 2005 Email: mark (at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His Mark Lockwood joined the HIPS family in December 2018 as the Harm Reduction Educator. He is responsible for the implementation and oversight of all harm reduction services activities in our new drop-in center for the District’s vulnerable population. Mark earned a MA in Performance Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2017, and a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies and English from Rutgers University in 2015. Currently, Mark is a doctoral student in the Department of American Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park where his dissertation looks at the visual and sexual representations of black masculinity in gay pornography’s “thug porn” genre of the late 1990s. He is also the founder of Sex and the Margins, an oral history project (via StoryCorps) that archives the lives and experiences of Black and Latinx sex workers at the intersections of race and racism, HIV/AIDS, housing, criminalization, and gender and sexuality. Mark is very passionate about efforts to decriminalize sex work, reduce harm, and ensure the needs of vulnerable populations are being met. When Mark is away from HIPS, he enjoys spending time with family and friends; traveling; listening to R&B music; and solo movie dates. |
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Shane Sullivan, Community Outreach Specialist
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Richard Mayo, Community Health Worker
Email: richard(at) hips.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His Richard holds a B.S degree in Public Health from George Mason University. He volunteered with his school to promote harm reduction to other students at George Mason. He is excited to get his career started in Public Health and to one day be directing his own Outreach/Harm Reduction Programs. On the weekends Richard loves to go concert venues like U St. Music Hall or watch anything Gordon Ramsay. |