Theresa Vezina - Executive Director

For more than a decade Theresa’s life and work has been centered on caring for community, disrupting systemic injustice, working for and with people who use drugs and building compassionate communities.

Coming from Vermont CARES in Burlington, VT, Theresa is a leader in harm reduction with a passion for championing the rights of people who use drugs and communities affected by discrimination and systemic inequality. She is committed to ensuring accessibility to basic human rights, harm reduction, and placing social justice at the core of her endeavors. Theresa brings a robust background in operations, fiscal management, advocacy, and organizational development. She has primarily worked in rural communities increasing access to harm reduction supplies and services. She also has a strong background in policy change and advocacy for people who use drugs at the local and state level.

Theresa is a proud mother, grandma and a person of color with lived and living experience. She is also a longtime practitioner of the Healing Arts. She comes to this work with a deep level of understanding, acceptance, and passion for this work and is committed to forwarding the work of NEXT Distro.

Outside of her work life Theresa values time alone in meditation, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family and friends. She loves cooking, the beach, and playing board games.