Ann Livingston has been at the grassroots and frontline of what’s now widely known as the opioid crisis. Since the early 90’s she has pioneered the movement to eliminate harms associated with drug use in her Vancouver neighborhood. Before co-founding the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), she invited drug users who lived on the street into her home and made leaders aware of how many were dying from overdose. In this call with Peter Block and John McKnight, Ann shares stories and her principles of organizing the unorganizables.

Listen:

 

Quotes
“Look for allies in the places you’d expect them and look for allies in the places you wouldn’t expect them.”
“It’s so important to know that you’re saving lives, not building an empire.”

Related Links
Read Ann’s 13 Principles for Organizing the Unorganizables
Community Addicts: Trenton Davis reflects on this conversation