Sharon Karsten

Sharon Karsten is honoured to be working on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples, and is grateful for the teachings received from Elders and Knowledge Keepers on these lands. Karsten is a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar at Vancouver Island University, and Director of the Walk With Me program – a research and social change initiative working to reduce stigma and improve services for people at the heart of the toxic drug crisis. Her work involves relationship-building with people impacted by this crisis first-hand; the honouring of Lived/Living Experience voices, art, and visions for change; the development of research reports, presentations, strategic planning documents and collaborative dialogues designed to improve services and supports for People Who Use Substances, and engagement with leaders on related community change initiatives. Karsten is honoured to have worked with the Walk With Me team over the past five years, and to have been invited to do this work in communities throughout Vancouver Island (and beyond), and in institutions including Island Health, North Island College and others.