Volunteers of the Week: Levi Green and Miranda Dawson

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 Volunteers of the Week: Levi Green and Miranda Dawson!

"Levi & Miranda work as a team, curating incredible fundraising events for the Boston chapter," says Chapter & Operations Coordinator Olive Younts. "Together, they have curated events with great return, inspiring the HQ team to conduct silent auctions after their success, and inspiring creative fundraising events for all chapters. Through their fundraising events, they've created a meaningful presence in the city of Boston, spreading the mission across diverse populations."

Can you tell us about yourself and your stories? What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?

Miranda: I am a neuroengineer. During my PhD, I studied opioid use disorder, specifically how the brain changes during repeated abuse and withdrawal. I realized I wanted a way to more acutely address the epidemic in my community, and I was lucky enough to meet our chapter president, Ben Lewis, at the student pub. We started talking and realized I was studying the neurobiology and he was studying the policy side of the epidemic — different sides of the same coin. It was then he encouraged me to join the local EO chapter he had started.

Levi: I moved to Boston in 2019 for my work in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. I love that my career has allowed me to support organizations that provide resources directly to communities. I previously worked for a health care institution that serves a patient population of people who use opioids, and I worked in an area of Boston where opioid use is common on the streets. I was tabling for that institution at the 2023 Massachusetts Trans Resistance Festival where I met our chapter president Ben Lewis who stopped by the booth. I loved that End Overdose reduces the stigma around opioid overdose prevention and treatment in nightlife settings and began volunteering with End Overdose Boston ever since.

Can you tell us about your Valentine's Day fundraiser and your previous work on your silent auction?

Miranda: Our goal is to run fundraisers that also serve as fun, community events. We often add an educational component. For example, at our auction, we had overdose prevention questions as part of the trivia night. We always make sure to have training throughout. We want people to feel invested in the mission and to bring people together.

Levi: The Valentine’s Day fundraiser was Miranda’s idea for a “Pitch a Friend” presentation night where people can present a PowerPoint to advertise their single friend for dates. We always try to make our fundraisers have an engaging activity that makes people want to attend and thought this would be a great idea for audience participation.

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

Miranda: I’ve had some very powerful interactions while tabling where people have told me the impact naloxone has had in their lives. Those conversations have stuck with me. On a lighter note, I enjoy my friendships with the other volunteers. This work attracts highly empathetic and interesting people from all walks of life, and we as volunteers form a wonderful community.

Levi: I really enjoy tabling at events where we provide naloxone training to many people, such as at music festivals or concerts. People are so thankful that we’re there and share their gratitude to volunteers at the table. I’ve had people share how they’ve used naloxone to save a friend’s life which is a reminder about why this work is so important.