STEVE DANIELS AKA "GATOR" AKA BROTHER MALIK
Co-Founder, Mentor, Southern Harm Reduction Pioneer
Steve Daniels, known to many as “Gator” and many more as "Brother Malik", was a pioneer of Harm Reduction in the South. A mentor to TCHRC co-founders Colin Miller and Erika Doss-Mishoe, Steve distributed sterile supplies, naloxone, and much more around the Triad for nearly two decades, often operating under the name "Twin City Harm Reduction". In the years leading up to legalization of SSPs in NC, the "Collective" was comprised of Steve, Colin, and Erika running an underground exchange that served primarily Winston-Salem and surrounding areas. In the months before Gator passed away on January 26th, 2017, he was able to see both the legalization of syringe exchange in NC and the opening of TCHRC's fixed-site location at Green Street UMC. The work of TCHRC is a tribute to this man of peace and his legacy in Harm Reduction.
COLIN MILLER
Co-founder, Organizer, Educator
Colin Miller has been involved in harm reduction since 2003 as both a recipient and provider of services. After moving to North Carolina and getting frustrated with the illegality of syringe exchange, Colin would be introduced to Steve Daniels, who he would soon be doing underground exchange with pre-legalization. In 2016, he co-founded the Twin City Harm Reduction Collective (TCHRC) with Stephen “Gator” Daniels and Erika Doss-Mishoe. Colin is extremely passionate about drug policy and criminal justice reform, harm reduction, and the revamping of the way we approach substance use disorder treatment. He holds a BS in Community and Justice Studies from Guilford College.
Erika Doss-Mishoe
Volunteer, Activist, mother
Erika Mishoe was first introduced to the idea of harm reduction by a man who approached her in downtown Winston-Salem in 2014. Though she was giving away free food and clothing, he was on the hunt for sterile syringes and asked her where he could find some. He went on to explain that there are programs for just that in most major cities and there was a desperate need for such a program in this area. A bit shocked by the concept of distributing tools for the sole purpose of using illegal drugs, Erika did some research that night and quickly got on board with the idea. She soon connected, initially with Stephen Daniels, aka “Gator,” and other volunteers of NC Harm Reduction Coalition and later with Colin Miller.
“Having the opportunity to help others stay as healthy as possible during active drug use really means a lot to me. I have lost many loved ones to what I now know were totally preventable deaths. It angered me for so long to think people are dying and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Now I see harm reduction as a way to reach those who are still with us, to let them know they are still important and worthy of care even if they aren’t living exactly how we think they should. Although some feel powerless to addiction, giving them the tools to make one positive decision towards health can be the first step in their journey to recovery. I love being part of that.”