Volunteer of the Week: Queenie Xiang

End Overdose is made possible by hundreds of volunteers working tirelessly across the country. Some of them are training attendees at national festivals on how to respond to an overdose, while others are packing naloxone kits in our office well into the evening hours. We want to shine a light on the people whose efforts make our resources free and accessible to all, so we’re excited to share our Volunteer of the Week: Queenie Xiang!

"Queenie has made her mark as an End Overdose volunteer since her first event: Martin Garrix at LA State Historic Park," says Director of Community Engagement and Training AJ Banuelos. "She was a natural when it a came to training individuals, taking the lead, and raising awareness! She is a huge asset to have on our volunteer roster!"

Can you tell us about yourself and your story?

Hi! My name is Queenie. I grew up in New York City, and I moved to LA for college and have stayed here ever since. I'm a double Bruin -- I graduated from UCLA two times :) For my undergraduate degree, I majored in neuroscience and psychology, and I later earned my master’s in education. I have two cats named Bentley and Bee.

What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?

My friend Valerie was the person who started it all! She began volunteering with End Overdose in college and told me about the organization. As someone who is passionate about both education and public health, I was immediately drawn to End Overdose’s mission to save lives through education, increasing accessibility to medical interventions, and public awareness. I wanted to get involved in this work and become a community advocate. Through this work, I hope to empower others with the knowledge and tools needed to make a life-saving difference.

What’re your favorite memories of volunteering with End Overdose?

My favorite memory volunteering with End Overdose would definitely be my first event - Martin Garrix. Because this was my first event, I remember walking in and feeling SO nervous. But every single EO volunteer and staff member I met that day was incredibly friendly, supportive, and encouraging. They offered really helpful feedback on how I could improve as a trainer, which gave me more confidence and motivation. One of the highlights was filming some “behind-the-scenes” videos with Preston and getting to walk all around the park; it definitely made the whole experience even more memorable and fun. I had such an amazing time getting to meet the EO team — I’m so grateful to have connected with them and so excited to continue working together at future events!!