Crystal Yang
I am a third-year medical student and aspiring family physician based in Kitchener-Waterloo, with a special interest in addiction medicine, harm reduction and trauma-informed care. I am committed to strengthening community capacity to support health equity and safety for underserved populations.
KW Harm Reduction Connect
KW Harm Reduction Connect is a community-driven harm reduction initiative that responds to gaps created by the closure of supervised consumption and treatment sites in Kitchener–Waterloo. This project connects local harm-reduction organizations, peers with lived experience, and addiction care providers to expand access to safer-use supplies, outreach, and coordinated support. By strengthening existing services rather than duplicating them, this project promotes overdose prevention, health equity, and community safety.
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
Over a 4-6 month period, this project will coordinate community partners, engage peers with lived experience, assemble and distribute harm-reduction kits through volunteer-led outreach, and facilitate collaboration between existing services to address gaps created by recent site closures and improve overdose prevention.
Project Impact
This project will improve access to harm-reduction supports in Kitchener–Waterloo by distributing safer-use supplies, engaging peers with lived experience, and strengthening coordination among existing services. It aims to reduce overdose risk, empower individuals who use substances, and build a more connected, community-driven response to gaps created by recent service closures.
Project Mission
The project’s mission is to strengthen harm-reduction capacity and overdose prevention in Kitchener–Waterloo by coordinating existing services, engaging peers with lived experience, and expanding access to safer-use supplies. Its goals are to reduce preventable harm, empower individuals who use substances, and build sustainable, community-led connections across addiction care and outreach services.
Project Team
Team consists of medical students, staff/volunteers from Sanguen, and peers with lived experience.
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