The Team

Pronouns:  She, They

Rebecca is a neurodivergent harm reduction geek with a passion for coordinating creative projects and connecting people. She believes every individual has the right to feel worthy of self-respect. It is an honor for Rebecca to be a part of Open Aid Alliance and to gratefully serve the people of Missoula and Lake Counties. She is an amateur horticulturist/meteorologist/food scientist and would love to see cute pictures of your dog(s). 

Pronouns:  She, Her, Hers

Born and raised in Montana, Amanda has always had a passion for helping. After years in other helping positions, Amanda found her home and calling in harm reduction at Open Aid Alliance. Amanda is particularly passionate about supporting participants to become self-advocates and experts in their own lives. She fiercely believes in the right to self-determination.  To her, harm reduction means love and empowerment. She plans to continue to fight for the rights of people facing stigma and to amplify their voices and stories whenever possible.

Amanda also loves spending time with her loved ones and her furbabies, reading, cooking and getting outdoors.

Amanda Reese:  Data shows opioid, fentanyl overdoses rising in Montana

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Chantz is ecstatic to be celebrating his 2 year Anniversary with OAA in 2023. Born in Sidney Montana, Chantz has spent 32 of his (never you mind how many) years living on one side of the state or the other. He’s extremely thankful to be in a position with OAA that will allow him to continue giving back to the great state that raised him and impressed upon him the importance of community and togetherness. He recently completed Montana's Community Health Worker training to further expand his offerings at OAA. Outside of work Chantz enjoys all forms of travel, live music and theatre, pinball, board games, and fostering his obsession with Dave Matthews Band (have you SEEN them live?!)

Dessilynn has lived in Montana for 24 years. In 2015 she found recovery and after 4 years, was looking for a job that had meaning and that could allow her to do what she loves doing, helping people. In the fall of 2019 she gratefully joined the OAA team. The ability she has to meet people where they are speaks volumes about the team she works with. Their knowledge and guidance has been a staple in her experience here. Enjoying the freedom of working on her own she thrives in the Polson office, knowing the team has her back.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Michelle grew up in Southern California before moving to Montana in 2016 to attend Montana State University. There, she completed a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Michelle then pursued her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Montana, graduating in the spring of 2022.

While she is passionate about various causes, Michelle's primary focus is on advocating for anti-racism and fostering inclusive communities where everyone's needs are met with dignity and respect. Michelle enjoys playing video games, indulging in fiber arts, and exploring the world of reality TV.

Pronouns:  He, Him, His

I was born and raised in Billings, Montana and moved to Missoula in 2019 to pursue a career in Social Work. I began my journey at OAA August 2022 and I have loved every minute of it. My favorite part of OAA is the compassion and support from the staff, and getting to interact with our amazing participants!

I will be graduating with my Bachelor’s in Social work from the University of Montana after the 2023 academic year. I have always been interested in helping communities in Montana, specifically the LGBTQ+ community and those experiencing homelessness. I am extremely passionate about the Housing as Healthcare model used here at OAA and believe that housing is a human right.

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring our beautiful city with friends and seeing the art this town has to offer. I enjoy being a music history and musical theater nerd, and am most likely listening to Whitney Houston at any given moment.

Pronouns: She/They

Originally from the LBC, this retired skater-punk has been grateful to call Missoula her home for the last 14 years. Although her days now consist of mostly of Motherhood, cats and crochet, she will not hesitate to raise her voice (or her fist, in solidarity) to advocate for issues of social justice and do her part to help unravel the hateful fabric that the past has woven. Kat used to shoot dope, but she hasn't since getting clean in 2015 and is always willing to hold space for a fellow human. Her favorite band is The Cure and she enjoys reading articles about technological advances in studying the vast expanses of space and the cosmos and the vast oceans of our magical planet. <3

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Laurel moved to MT in 2015 and joined OAA in 2021. Previously Laurel worked as a field organizer, policy associate, and lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana and the ACLU of Montana. In her freetime she can be found hiking, gardening, rewatching Stranger Things, and ranting about the legislature.