Subject: Regarding our May KCRC Presents Speaker
July 6, 2020
Dear KCRC Presents attendees,
We recently became aware of complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct against Devin Reaves, our KCRC Presents guest speaker in May. Devin has resigned from his position as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalition (PAHRC), and their board of directors announced hiring a third party to investigate what went wrong within the organization that allowed abusive behavior to take place. We appreciate the transparency and action of the PAHRC board in this matter.
Working in the recovery community and bringing our lived experience to this movement means we are in positions of power to help other people heal. When people seek support and guidance, they are walking in trust and vulnerability to change their lives for the better. The sense of community and kinship with other folks on this path is undeniable—and it can also make it particularly difficult to come forward when a recovery community leader or any other person in recovery abuses their power and causes harm to others, especially those vulnerable in the early stages of their journey. It is critical that people in the recovery advocacy community feel comfortable coming forward about misconduct or abuse they have faced, even if—or perhaps especially if—it is caused by a fellow person in recovery.
We want to ensure that our supporters and community members know that we’re here for you if you experience harassment, abuse, or misconduct in your work with the WRA. If you’ve experienced sexual harassment or other abuses of power here in Washington, you can find reporting resources at: The Attorney General’s Office and The Washington State Human Rights Commission.
We wish healing for the women harmed, for Devin, and for everyone who is affected by the systems of power that allow abuse to happen in our communities.
The Washington Recovery Alliance
King County Recovery Coalition
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