BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marc Burrows, MSW, LMSW
Chair
Blending lived experiences with innovative progression, Marc Burrows is a distinguished social worker, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) counselor and person in long-term recovery renowned for accentuating evidence-based drug intervention throughout South Carolina. To date, Marc is best known for founding the first Syringe Services Program in SC entitled Challenges Inc. in 2017 and for bridging harm reduction and MAT within his opioid treatment program to optimize recovery/treatment reforms. In addition, he is passionate about not only ameliorating safety for people who use drugs but doing so while propelling the necessity for accessible healthcare forward.
Marc has obtained degrees in Human Services and Social Work after a preceded personal tenure of IV drug use, HCV survivorship, and recovery with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
Measurably, Marc’s advocacy for sterile syringe access and services designed to raise the quality of living standards for drug users has not gone unnoticed. Earning high accolades for his addiction and public health efforts, Marc has been featured in several local and national media outlets. Part of this stems from his avant-garde approaches and part from being a firm believer that by removing all forms of punishment for people who use drugs we create better healthcare, treatment, and community for all.
A’zhane Powell
Co-Chair
A'zhane Powell, LMSW, is the founder of Fyrebird Recovery and also provides therapeutic services for mental health and substance use within primary care. With a focus on harm reduction and drug user health, Fyrebird Recovery is currently the only syringe program serving Horry County, SC where they provide wrap-around services and safe use supplies for people who use drugs. With her social work and harm reduction ethics, A'zhane focuses on advocacy against stigma, promoting drug user health, and partnerships within community organizations to serve the community. Within this mission focus, she has made it a goal to be an active member within different harm reduction coalitions both local and statewide to continue to educate and show support for harm reduction.
Vacant Position
Secretary
Rachel Kaplan, MPH
Treasurer
Rachel Kaplan (she/her) is the founder of Kintsugi Consulting, LLC with a focus on providing training and consultation related to disability inclusion, education, accessibility, and representation. Rachel holds a Master of Public Health Degree and Graduate Certificate in Drug and Addiction Studies from the University of South Carolina. She has extensive experience working with the homeless population, youth services and youth programming, youth with disabilities, sexuality health education, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, wellness programming, crisis intervention, sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy, brain injury awareness and education, and drug misuse education. Rachel has created, amended, and modified various types of curricula on a state-wide and national level and has provided train-the-trainer events and trainings for multiple evidence-based curricula. Rachel has almost 15 years of experience working with youth, adolescents, and adults with various disabilities, as well as personal experience as a person with a disability. The importance of impact vs. intention is essential to the work Rachel does, and she feels that viewing people as complex individuals navigating multiple marginalized systems ensures they receive equitable and trauma-informed support and education.
Rollie Martinson
Director of Public Health
Rollie Martinson is a Policy Associate at the Community Education Group, where he works on issues related to the syndemic of HIV, viral hepatitis, and overdose. Having graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina-Aiken, Rollie is now pursuing a Master's in Public Health at Eastern Washington University.
With decades of professional and lived experience, Rollie recognizes the considerable flaws in South Carolina's current approaches to drug use. His vision involves ushering in a new era of public health that responds to drug use with compassion, understanding, and supportive interventions.
Rollie is a member of the SC Public Health Association and an active volunteer at the local syringe service program.