SOAR is powered by a large volunteer organizing family, which is supported by a committed board and part-time staff. Get to know some of the team below!
Board
Joshua Cordwell (he/him)
Board Treasurer
[email protected]
I am a proud West Virginian and resident of Charleston’s West Side. I am in long term recovery from substance use disorder and served 8 years in the WVDOC for crimes related to my active addiction. I believe that all people are deserving of our love and best efforts, personally and as a community, to make them safe and welcome. I love animals, the outdoors, exploring, my community and most importantly my family.
Brooke Parker (she/her)
Board Vice President
[email protected]
My name is Brooke (she/her), and I am a native West Virginian, and landed in Charleston a few years ago through Generation WV and the Impact Fellowship. I am a social worker and have the privilege of working locally in infectious disease, mostly with people who use drugs, and being here in Kanawha County has changed my life. I’m in long term recovery from substance use disorder—and harm reduction saved my life. I love my friends and family dearly, and I am full of love for my community even though this is a hard place to be sometimes. I am very proud to volunteer with SOAR, and to sit on the Board of Directors; it is an honor to work with this group. I believe deeply in the principles of harm reduction, and the work that we do as a collective gives me life especially in the midst of a lot of struggle and fighting. I was introduced to harm reduction when I was 17 years old, and it has been part of my life since then. I am fairly introverted and quiet, and I absolutely bask in my alone time—but wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the beautiful people in my life. I like hiking and running, bird watching, knitting, cooking, reading, gardening, and playing piano. I am an adoring cat-mom to my two wild creatures, Brutus and Marge, and a devoted plant-mom to my not-so-little plant family. I’m grateful to still be in Appalachia, and beyond grateful to be in the middle of so many incredible people! <3
Stacy Kay (they/them)
Board Member
[email protected]
Stacy Kay (they/them) is a modern day Mountaineer. Their work with youth mentoring and community organizing began with their studies in Recreation Management at Davis and Elkins College and has taken them into leadership roles at The Mountain Institute, The Alldredge Academy, Blind Outdoor Leadership School, WV Library Association and 4H. Stacy’s commitment to community building and transformation is mirrored in their current work with an innovative community based harm reduction organization in Charleston, their hometown.
Stacy is a proud mom of an amazing kid and four incredible cats. Stacy loves long walks in the woods where their naturalist skills enhance the experience of all who join them. Known to some of their dear ones as “the pick of the litter”, Stacy is a natural leader and instigator of fun.
Staff
Sarah Stone (she/her)
Co-Director
[email protected]
My name is Sarah Stone (she/her), and I have been involved with SOAR in many ways since its inception. I’m very proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish over a short period of time. I enjoy making connections with folks and building relationships that last.
I am a proud native of Kanawha County, currently residing on Charleston’s West Side. I believe everyone deserves kindness, compassion, dignity and respect, which is my driving force to help improve and rebuild our community. I hold others close to my heart, I am a wife, proud aunt and mom to a spitfire miracle baby girl. I’m happiest when I’m having fun with my family.
Joe Solomon (he/him)
Co-Director
[email protected]
My name is Joe Solomon (he/him) and I’ve been working to bring Charleston’s neighbors together to tackle challenges for the past decade. In my free time, I love hanging out with my pup, “Cicada” and watching Seinfeld re-runs. I have a MSW from Marshall University and am a student in a Doctorate in Public Health program.
Mary Tierney (they/she)
Mutual Aid Fair Community Coordinator
[email protected]
Mary (they/she) is a physically disabled nonbinary country queer born in Big Ugly, West Virginia. Their upbringing in community organizing ignited a passion for reproductive justice rooted in anti-racist practices and rights to personal autonomy. This dedication led Mary to earn a Master’s in Human Sexuality Education from Widener University, where they gained expertise in trauma-informed sexual and reproductive health education.
Mary’s approach is informed by a transformative justice lens that intertwines principles of disability justice and abolitionist Quaker teachings. Currently, they serve as the Mutual Aid Fair Community Coordinator for SOAR WV, where they strive to provide inclusive access to harm reduction services. Their work emphasizes education, interdependence, and the importance of equitable resources, aiming to create spaces where everyone—especially those marginalized by systemic inequities—can thrive.
Through their multifaceted advocacy, Mary is dedicated to building a more compassionate world with a Free Palestine where all beings have a place to call home. Their commitment to education and social justice drives efforts to uplift voices that are often overlooked, fostering communities where all can feel seen and supported.
Caroline Wilson (she/her)
Save A Life Day Coordinator & Grant Writer
[email protected]
Caroline (she/her) is a WV native and has a BSW from Shepherd University. She is a licensed social worker in WV and will complete her Masters of Social Work degree from WVU in 2025. Caroline has experience in community outreach, case management, and harm reduction, but it was her lived experience with a substance use disorder that led her to this work. Caroline is especially passionate about working with people experiencing homelessness, organizing community events, and naloxone education and distribution. Her goal in all of her work is to meet people where they are, advocate for everyone to have their basic needs met, and minimize harm through empathy, empowerment, education, and action. She joined the SOAR, WV team in 2024 with a big vision for Save A Life Day East and all the years of Free Naloxone Day to come. Her free time is usually spent with her daughter, either swimming, hiking, or traveling to see new trees and mountains.
Want to join the team?
Reach out to SOAR WV if you’re interested in volunteering, being a board member, or to get involved with the framily!