New York City

Al Ostapeck

Al Ostapeck (they/them), Syringe Service Program Manager, helps run the supply distribution and service delivery on-site at the VOCAL-NY drop-in. Al has helped manage and provided front-line supportive services in supportive housing and SSP settings throughout New York City for the last decade. They have helped build and support opioid overdose prevention programs, volunteer programs, […]

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Nate Taylor

Nathaniel Taylor (he/him) is one of VOCAL-NY’s PDSE Peer Educators. Nate is responsible for delivering PDSE services to New York City. He conducts weekly outreach & Narcan trainings in 4 locations. Nate is responsible for making supply packages for outreach and the public health vending machine that VOCAL-NY runs.

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John Draper

John Damien Draper (he/him) is the Civil Rights Union Organizer for VOCAL-NY. John is responsible for organizing, advocating, political education, legal analysis, lobbying, and peer mentorship of the Civil Rights Union. John is a certified paralegal and is a BA/MPH candidate at CUNY. John is a public speaking, financial, legal, & wellness consultant, as well

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Tara Fedele

Tara Fedele (she/her) is a PDSE Peer Educator for VOCAL-NY. Tara is responsible for PDSE Street outreach, Narcan training, and Peer education in Brooklyn. Tara supports the team by driving for the PDSE team and conducting maintenance on the vehicle. Tara is a 2nd degree Reiki Practitioner and is proud to be an excellent driver. 

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Shantae Owens

Shantae Owens (he/him) has worked in harm reduction for over ten years. He started as a peer intern with the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center in Lower Manhattan. He worked giving out safer injection supplies to people who inject drugs and safer sex supplies to help prevent the spread of HIV/Hepatitis C.  Due to

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Mary Supley

Mary Supley (she/her), Director of Development for VOCAL-US, is responsible for developing strategies to sustain and grow the work of our state affiliates in Kentucky, New York, and Texas, as well as our national movement. For more than 20 years, Mary has led resource development efforts, directed communications, planned events, and managed volunteers with organizations

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Carl Stubbs Way: VOCAL-NY Celebrates Tireless Leader and Advocate With Street Naming in Gowanus

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  CARL STUBBS WAY: VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES TIRELESS LEADER AND ADVOCATE WITH STREET NAMING IN GOWANUS NEW YORK — Today, lawmakers and community members gathered at the corner of Douglass Street to 4th Ave in Brooklyn – the same block as VOCAL-NY’s permanent home for justice, love, and compassion – to unveil “Carl Stubbs Way.” The

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In Response to Chaos at the Top of Adams Administration, VOCAL-NY Calls for Mayor to Resign

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  IN RESPONSE TO CHAOS AT THE TOP OF ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, VOCAL-NY CALLS FOR MAYOR TO RESIGN  NEW YORK — Following the rapidly decreasing capacity of the City government to meet the needs of the City’s most vulnerable residents due to ongoing chaos at City Hall and the mass exodus of administration leaders, VOCAL-NY

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VOCAL-NY Condemns NYPD Mass Subway Shooting

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org  VOCAL-NY CONDEMNS NYPD MASS SUBWAY SHOOTING  Shooting Comes on Heels of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban’s Resignation; 23 New Yorkers Have Been Killed Across the State by Police This Year Alone NEW YORK — This past Sunday at the Sutter Avenue L train stop in Brooklyn, NYPD officers opened fire at someone they claim evaded paying the $2.90

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