Hill Country Harm Reduction Board
Compassionate · Grounded · Community-Driven
Hill Country Harm Reduction is powered by a team of big-hearted caregivers, peers, and advocates who believe in showing up for one another. We come from many walks of life, nurses, veterans, psychotherapists, students, massage therapists and community members, but we are united by a shared commitment to safety, compassion, and care.
​
​Our team meets people with open minds, open hearts, and without judgment. We believe in holding space where honesty, humor, and humanity are welcome, because connection is just as vital as the supplies we hand out.
​
At music festivals, shows, and community events, you’ll find us listening, supporting, laughing, and caring right alongside the people we serve. We are peers first, and helpers second. By showing up as our whole selves, with warmth, integrity, and genuine care, we create a culture where people feel seen, safe, and supported.
Chey has been providing harm reduction services since 2019 and joined the Board of Directors in 2022. Known as the “mom friend” of her friend groups, she brings a caring spirit to every space she’s in. With a love for music, art, and adventure, harm reduction has been the perfect way to combine her passions with helping others. Outside of harm reduction, Chey works as a manager and veterinary technician, and can often be found reading, cooking, painting, or chasing the next adventure. Her easygoing rocker-hippie energy keeps things grounded while bringing warmth and creativity to the work she does.
President
Cheyanne Enloe
Mary is a registered nurse with nearly 20 years of experience in patient advocacy and compassionate care. After returning to Austin from several years of travel nursing, she found a deep sense of community among the city’s art and music circles and wanted to find a meaningful way to contribute.
​
She began volunteering with Hill Country Harm Reduction (formerly RestPit) in 2018 and joined the Board soon after. In 2024, Mary worked alongside fellow board members to help guide the organization through a period of transition and renewal. She strives to support harm reduction and collaboration while helping create safer, more supportive spaces within Austin’s music scene.
Chair
Mary Polinard
John brings nearly a decade of experience in harm reduction advocacy and community outreach. Originally from Longview, Texas, he became involved in harm reduction after losing a childhood friend to an overdose, an event that devastated an entire family in a single night and shaped his lifelong commitment to preventing similar tragedies in his community.
​
Over the past ten years, he has worked on the ground providing compassionate, evidence-based support to people who choose to use drugs. He previously served as a Van Coordinator with the Austin Harm Reduction Coalition, where he helped deliver syringe access, overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, and nonjudgmental care across the city. John is dedicated to promoting dignity, safety, and practical solutions that meet people where they are. His work reflects a belief that saving lives and strengthening communities begins with empathy, respect, and real-world action.
Vice Chair
John Wayland
As a Registered ER nurse with 8 years of dedicated volunteer experience in psychedelic harm reduction, I bring both clinical expertise and compassionate care to festival environments. My journey began with a deep appreciation for Austin's local music scene, which inspired me to merge my medical background with community service. Over the years, I've provided support at numerous festivals, ensuring the safety and well-being of attendees navigating challenging experiences. Serving on the board of our harm reduction organization, I advocate for informed, empathetic approaches that prioritize education and safety in psychedelic spaces.
Treasurer
Melissa Fry
Alaska Ogden is a psychotherapist and harm reduction advocate with over a decade of experience supporting people through trauma, substance use disorders, and altered states. She has worked locally and internationally in harm reduction, offering education, outreach, and crisis support. In addition to her nonprofit work, she runs her private practice, Myth & Marrow, where she provides depth-oriented and somatic psychotherapy rooted in compassion and non-pathologizing care.
Secretary
Alaska Ogden, LPC-A
AlaskaOgden.com
Passionate about mental health and community service, I volunteer with my dog who I trained to be a therapy dog and take part in a prison meditation program. My long-time Buddhist practice guides my commitment to mindfulness and compassion.
Board Member
Rob Nyugen
I am an immersive artist and founder of Cymantix Spatial Design, where I blend technology and artistry to create transformative spaces. Since 2014, I have hosted dozens of parties and electronic music events, rooted in the scene where I first found community and belonging. As a long-time accomplished artist and member of Uniphi Studios, I produce content exploring psychedelics and consciousness. Through my spatial design work and community involvement, I’m committed to creating spaces where people can show up authentically, explore safely, and feel truly at home, whether on the dancefloor or in harm reduction settings.
Board Member
TaylorChristenson
