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
Sarah Stone (she/her) – Board President | [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.
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
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.
Staff
Stacy Kay (she/her) – Co-Director | [email protected]
Stacy Kay is a modern day Appalachian Renaissance Woman. Her work with youth mentoring and community organizing began with her studies in Recreation Management at Davis and Elkins College and has taken her into leadership roles at The Mountain Institute, The Alldredge Academy, Blind Outdoor Leadership School and 4H. Stacy served as director of the Harman Public Library, where she procured funding for a new library addition. Her commitment to the school and cultural activities in the Harman community is mirrored in her current work co-directing an innovative community based harm reduction organization in Charleston, her hometown.
Stacy is a proud mom of an amazing Math & Marine Science student at the University of Miami as well as four incredible cats. She’s a skilled kazoo player, and loves long walks in the woods where her naturalist skills enhance the experience of all who join her. Known to some of her dear ones as “the pick of the litter”, she is a natural leader and instigator of fun.
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.