Harm Reduction Hearts

Harm Reduction Hearts is a partnership between Marie Ferraro (she/her) and Kira Steele (she/her) to deliver relevant, evidence-based, and compassion-driven harm reduction education and advocacy from a lived experience lens.

To have a harm reduction heart means leading with empathy, meeting people where they’re at, and advocating for dignity, safety, and well-being.

It’s a fundamental shift in how we think, relate, and behave toward people who use substances.

Harm Reduction in action

An interactive training workshop, created and facilitated by Harm Reduction Hearts, that introduces participants to the world of Harm Reduction.

Harm Reduction in Action is a dynamic, evidence-based training designed to equip your team with the skills, context, and confidence to reduce harm and stigma in real-world settings.

Through six hours of engaging discussion, tailored content, and a trauma-informed lens, participants will learn how to navigate drug poisonings, respond to the toxic drug crisis, and build meaningful allyship with people who use drugs.

With a workbook, Q&A, and follow-up opportunities, this workshop meets your organization where it’s at (online or in person) and helps strengthen your capacity to create safer, more inclusive environments.

This training isn’t theoretical… it’s urgent, transformative, and built for impact.

Whether you’re a health organization, trade union, or advocacy group, Harm Reduction in Action can help you become a stronger, more inclusive ally in the face of Canada’s ongoing toxic drug crisis​.

Now’s the time to turn learning into action. Download the one-pager about Harm Reduction in Action below.

“I attended the harm reduction in action training. Both instructors were very passionate and knowledgeable. They ensured time for questions and breaks. All content presented on was relevant and supported by evidence. I would 100 percent recommend this training to all!”

“The instructors were extremely knowledgeable but presented the material in an accessible way. The content was highly relevant to the work I do but I would recommend it to everyone, not just people in the field.”

Why take harm reduction in action?

Harm Reduction in Action doesn’t just inform, it transforms.

After participating in the training:

  • 100% of attendees reported increased confidence in responding to drug poisonings, administering naloxone, and identifying safer substance use strategies​.

  • Participants moved from moderate knowledge to high competence, with every single respondent rating their post-training confidence and understanding at a 4 or 5 out of 5.

  • Survey results showed a clear jump in emergency response skills, with one of the most significant gains being in naloxone administration.

And with 100% of participants saying they would recommend the training to others, your team won’t just learn, they’ll leave empowered, equipped, and ready to act​.

Don’t wait for a crisis to build capacity. Invest in your organization’s readiness now.

Interested in booking harm reduction hearts?

drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible

Meet Harm Reduction Hearts

  • Marie Ferraro

    Marie Ferraro (she/her) is a passionate harm reduction educator and advocate with over a decade of experience supporting marginalized communities.

    A queer, neurodivergent former sex worker with lived experience of substance use, Marie brings a deeply compassionate and rights-based approach to her work.

    With extensive frontline outreach experience and international speaking engagements, Marie currently works on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team using a housing-first model to support individuals with severe thought disorders.

    Her mission is to create safer, more inclusive environments through education, advocacy, and amplifying often-overlooked voices.

  • Kira Steele

    Kira Steele (she/her) is a dedicated harm reduction advocate, founder and CEO of Catalyst Haven Digital Communications, and a passionate leader committed to creating systemic change through lived experience and education.

    With a Bachelor of Commerce and current MBA studies, Kira blends business strategy with social impact, offering a unique perspective rooted in both professional expertise and personal experience with substance use and mental health.

    Her work is driven by a deep commitment to advocacy, equity, and compassion, championing policies and communications that prioritize the well-being and dignity of marginalized communities.