Grantee Database
Inland Empire Harm Reduction
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$17,441.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, INLAND EMPIRE HARM REDUCTION will produce a collectively authored anthology-style biographical comic volume that tells a people’s history of liberatory harm reduction in Riverside, California. The volume will contain a series of short comics written and illustrated by key contributors to the only community-run liberatory harm reduction in our area: Inland Empire Harm Reduction. Over the course of this project, the lead artists will host a workshop series teaching community members basic artistic practices and the fundamentals of sequential art. Through the workshops, participants will develop the skills and confidence to create short-form comics documenting their experiences of liberatory harm reduction as they live it. The project also supports peer artists to assist in comics-creating and integrating the comics into a collective volume that uplifts our community’s stories.
Organization Summary
IEHR is a grassroots, community-based harm reduction organization, and we were the first state-authorized syringe services program (SSP) in Riverside County dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. IEHR provides harm reduction education, overdose prevention and naloxone distribution, safer use supplies, drug checking services, and linkages to a growing array of services, including housing, healthcare, and treatment. IEHR helps participants navigate and access health resources while collaborating with county health departments to advocate for inclusive policies and the removal of barriers to care. Since 2022, IEHR has engaged in community anti-stigma campaigns grounded in creative activities. This includes art workshops with IEHR participants, volunteers, and staff, and activities with participant (peer) artists associated with IEHR, including the creation of artwork, banners, zines and coloring books, and other educational materials. These activities have empowered participants to contend with topics of stigma around drug use and treatment and begin conversations with other peers and community members to reduce stigma.
Organization
Inland Empire Harm Reduction
Address
4121 10TH ST
RIVERSIDE
92501-3109
County
Riverside
Region
Inland Empire
Congressional District
39th Congressional district of California
State Assembly District
58
State Senate District
31
