On Saturday, February 28, our leadership came together in Catonsville for our annual leadership retreat. It was the first time our newly elected board had met in person, and it was an important moment for building relationships, shared purpose, and the structure needed to carry our work forward.

Leadership grounded in lived experience

A majority of our board are people with lived or living experience of drug use, joined by directly impacted loved ones. That matters. We believe the people closest to the harms of criminalization, stigma, and overdose should lead the work of changing the systems that cause that harm.

Our board members come from eight counties and Baltimore City, representing communities across much of Maryland. Drug policy touches people in every part of the state, and our leadership reflects that.

Chosen through an open process

This board was built with care. Members were selected through an open application process that included two rounds of interviews, and the final candidates were elected at our annual membership meeting in January.

We are proud to have a board that brings together lived experience, geographic diversity, and a real commitment to building a more sensible drug policy in Maryland. The next round of board recruitment will be this fall. Keep an eye our for the announcement. 

Turning vision into action

The retreat focused on the work ahead. Board members reviewed our annual plan, talked about shared values and priorities, and organized themselves into four teams, each taking responsibility for one area of our annual plan: Organizing, Education, Advocacy, and Sustainability.

They also began shaping the year ahead by discussing advocacy priorities, including issues such as overdose prevention centers, and by thinking through how to strengthen the organization for the long term. Just as important, the retreat helped lay the foundation for how this board will work together: thoughtfully, practically, and with a clear sense of purpose.

This was not just a symbolic gathering. It was a working retreat, and it made clear that this board is ready to lead.

Join us

If you believe drug policy should be rooted in dignity, autonomy, and the leadership of people most affected, we invite you to join the Alliance.