Meet the Team

Laura Fry (she/they) is the Executive Director of Live4Lali, where she oversees the organization’s programs, services, and outreach efforts. In long-term recovery from mental health challenges, substance use, and trauma, Laura brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership. She is also the parent of a son in long-term recovery from opioid use.

With more than two decades of experience in healthcare, including a specialization in emergency medicine, Laura has spent years responding to overdoses and supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use. Her personal and professional experiences have helped shape Live4Lali’s compassionate, comprehensive approach to serving people who use substances, their loved ones, and the broader community

Hayley Demus (she/her) is the Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Live4Lali, where she oversees grant management, monitoring and compliance, and finance. She brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit program management, spanning international human rights work, immigrant services, and direct service working with folks experiencing homelessness and/or using substances. A passionate harm reductionist, Hayley previously helped develop a low-barrier Suboxone program in Washington State, supporting both implementation and evaluation. Her passion for advocacy and systems change also led her to work within the Chicago homelessness system, focusing on improving coordination and equity. Hayley identifies as a person with lived experience and in long-term recovery, and she leads with that perspective, centering the voices and needs of people who use drugs in all aspects of program development.

Alex Mathiesen (He/Him) is Live4Lali’s Director of Programs and oversees all programming efforts. He was a volunteer for Live4Lali before accepting a paid position. Alex also volunteers his time doing large scale harm reduction focused efforts at events across the country. Alex is in recovery from an opioid use disorder, and his experiences from the disease of addiction help give personal insight on the best ways to assist those with a substance use disorder or experiencing active use, their loved ones, and the community at large. When not working, Alex can be found with his daughter, friends, a guitar, exploring nature, and canoeing.

Charlie is the Associate Director of Programs and started working in the substance use/mental health field following his own recovery from substances. He is passionate about helping others. He is excited to be able to assist in many different ways including peer support, treatment navigation, advocacy and trying to give hope to those who may be struggling or just trying to make any positive change in their lives. Charlie also spends time volunteering with other non-profit organizations throughout McHenry County. While not working or doing volunteer work, he enjoys spending time with his family, animals, gardening, riding bikes and attending concerts.

Viktor (he/they) is the Marketing and Engagement Coordinator for Live4Lali. The intersection of art, community, and mental health has always been at the forefront of Viktor’s work, both professionally and personally. Prior to Live4Lali, Viktor has created numerous Communication and Educational Campaigns focusing on Substance Use, Gambling Addiction, Mental Health, and Stigma, with a spotlight on the effects to the Queer community and youth. 

As a person in recovery who credits Risk Reduction with saving their life after battling with substance/alcohol use and Self-Harm, he is passionate about creating supportive communities to foster recovery that works for the individual. After briefly doing Outreach work in 2019, he found his niche: educating, engaging, and supporting our communities through the lens of artistic design and genuine care. 

Outside of work, Viktor enjoys napping with his 3 cats, playing music with his family and friends, and watching his girlfriend play the games he’s not good at.

Luis (he/him) comes from Waukegan, IL, and is a person in long term recovery who battled substance use disorder, incarceration, gang involvement, and continues to live with health complications as a result of his substance use. He comes from a Hispanic heritage and is fluent in both Spanish and English. He has a passion for helping people who are struggling with substance use and finds fulfillment in service-based work. His prior experience includes outreach work with Cease Fire, a Chicago-based violence prevention program and at PADS working with individuals who are chronically homeless.  Luis enjoys spending time with his family and exercising in his free time.

Octavine Horton is a dedicated advocate with over 15 years of experience in mental health and substance abuse services. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management, which has strengthened her ability to lead community focused programs, coordinate care, and advocate for accessible resources that support individuals and families in need.

Passionate about empowering individuals whose voices are often unheard, Octavine has devoted her career to creating meaningful connections and fostering hope within the communities she serves. Known for her compassionate approach, she believes that every person has a unique purpose in life and that, with faith, support, and guidance, that purpose can be realized.

She leads with love, integrity, and ambition, striving to inspire others to reach their full potential while ensuring that support, understanding, and advocacy are always available. Through her work, Octavine continues to champion programs and initiatives that provide care, resources, and a platform for those navigating mental health and substance use challenges, emphasizing dignity, empowerment, and the transformative power of community support

Teagan Ferraresi (she/her) is the McHenry County Harm Reduction Educator. With personal experience with Substance Use Disorder, her desire to make a change locally brought her to Live4Lali. After volunteering for a year, she joined the team as a SMART Recovery Facilitator and Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) trainer. She’s a fierce believer in harm reduction and destigmatization through community education, and is passionate about helping others with anything from peer support to treatment navigation. When not working you can find her at home with a book or wandering the forest with her son.

Odalys Landa Luna (she/her/ella) serves as the Outreach Coordinator for McHenry County, diligently working in the fields of mental health and recovery since 2018. My lived experience as an Immigrant who uses substances allows me to connect with my community and educate friends, family and strangers who have needed someone who speaks their language. My experience working in MAT and in Kane/DuPage county has allowed me to expand my resources across 3 counties. Breaking the stigma in the Hispanic communities is my passion. I am a proud DACA recipient and will always advocate for any marginalized group. In my free time you’ll find me antiquing, junk journaling, or hanging out with my baby brother!

Prior to being Kane & Dupage Program Manager, Carissa’s career path has always included working with people and building teams. She has been a professional corporate trainer, doing presentations and teaching, from individuals to large groups. With her own lived experience, and her brother’s death from an opiate overdose, she has a passion, and personal connection to Live 4 Lali’s mission of reducing stigma, promoting harm reduction, and the importance of offering compassionate support. She heard about Live4Lali from her mom, who began coming to Live4Lali’s angel mom group after her brother’s passing. Between her family’s involvement, and Carissa’s personal story with substances, she is a highly experienced, multifaceted member of Live4Lali’s amazing team.

Monica Andrade (they/them) is an Outreach Coordinator with the McHenry County team. As someone in recovery from IV drug use who personally benefited from harm reduction services, they were instantly drawn to Live4Lali and its mission.

Monica is passionate about empowering others and building community. They facilitate SMART Recovery groups in their area and have been running a monthly, donation-based comedy show at their local sober bar since 2023 as a way to foster fun in recovery. They believe everyone deserves housing, healthcare, food, and laughter. Monica loves writing and performing, painting, spending time with loved ones, and being in/learning about nature.

Rico was born and raised in Humboldt Park, Chicago. His journey has taken him through some of life’s hardest struggles-addiction, homelessness, incarceration, poverty, and surviving gun violence.
For many years, those challenges defined his path, but through recovery and the support of others, he was able to rebuild his life. His lived experience has taught him the power of resilience, community, and hope, and it’s what drives the work he does today.
Now, as an Outreach Coordinator, Rico dedicates himself to supporting individuals who are navigating the same obstacles he once faced. He brings a harm reduction approach to his work, meeting people where they are and offering compassion without judgment. He uses his story to connect with people in a real way, providing guidance and encouragement as they take steps toward recovery and stability. Every day, he strives to be an example that change is possible and to show that healing, growth, and empowerment can emerge even from the most difficult circumstances.

Karen (she/her) is a  Outreach Coordinator for Lake County, and is a person in long-term recovery. Her greatest passion in life is to love each person she meets as they are, where they are, and for who they are inside. Karen values the respect and dignity of each individual and was deeply moved by Live4Lali’s approach to recovery, which prioritizes hope and healing over perfection and abstinence. Having her perspective changed by Live4Lali’s focus on harm reduction, she now recognizes its life-saving potential for those struggling with substance use. Karen is incredibly grateful to serve in her role and is dedicated to helping others find hope and healing in their journeys towards recovery.

Katie Pleviak is a Recovery Coordinator at the Winnebago/Boone County Live4Lali. Katie has been in recovery from heroin addiction since 2013. Throughout her recovery she has had the privilege to heal and learn with teacher Kay Taylor, author of Soul Path Way, developing grounded intuition and counseling skills, steeped in the empathic spiritual psychology of Psychosynthesis, formulated by Dr. Roberto Assagioli, building on his association with Dr. Carl Jung. She continues to participate in women’s groups, meditation, and yearly retreats with mentor and guide Victoria Allen, apprentice of Don Miguel Ruiz, whose teachings empower the seeker to return to their true self through breaking old patterns, being impeccable in ones’ word, and self-love.
Katie’s approach is shaped by life experience, emotional maturity, and a commitment to supporting those in recovery and transformation.

Najeeb Khan, Outreach Coordinator serving Kane and DuPage Counties, brings public
health research experience — including published studies from Edward Hines, Jr. VA
Hospital — along with volunteer service in DuPage County. Najeeb believes harm
reduction begins with active listening, humility, and meeting people where they are. At
Live4Lali, Najeeb is excited to build relationships across local communities, support
overdose education and naloxone distribution, and help make lifesaving resources
easier to access. His background in public health helps him approach outreach with
curiosity, care, and a commitment to learning from the field. Najeeb enjoys reading,
writing, and playing survival-horror videogames. He is grateful to serve alongside a
team committed to hope and healing.

Kenisha, is an Outreach Coordinator for Live4Lali, in south suburban Cook County. She has two years and counting, in the mental health and substance use recovery sector of service. She is currently studying to obtain her CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) certification, has been trained in HARM Reduction, CPR, administering Naloxone, and is a certified WRAP facilitator.

Kenisha, was born and raised, in the city of Chicago. She comes from a family that faces both substance use and mental health challenges, that she herself had to overcome, including experiencing homelessness, as well. After navigating through so many adversities, she has chosen to give back to the communities that she serves, by using her lived experiences to offer empathy, compassion, advocacy, connection to resources, a non-judgmental safe space, with unconditional support to anyone who is in need of help. She wants to break down barriers, and remove the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use challenges, by showing others that they are not alone in their battles, while meeting them where they are in their struggles.

As Outreach Coordinator, Liza brings deep personal experience, patience, and compassion to her role, helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of addiction. Growing up in a family where substance use was rarely discussed, her commitment to change ignited after a near-fatal car crash involving her father. Witnessing both her father’s ongoing struggle with addiction and her mother’s triumphant journey to 12 years of sobriety, Liza learned firsthand the power of breaking the silence. Today, she channels that resilience into her outreach work, speaking up for the unheard and bringing hope and healing to the community. Looking forward, Liza plans to advance her impact by studying social work, with a specific focus on advocating for and empowering youth.

Driven by a profound belief that love and understanding can transform lives, I have dedicated myself to helping others navigate their hardships. My journey has been shaped by personal experiences, particularly my battle with substance use disorder. This struggle was not just a challenge but a pivotal part of my life that taught me resilience and the importance of support.

Having faced the depths of addiction, I am now in long-term recovery—a testament to the power of hope and determination. This experience has ignited a passion within me to reach out to those who are struggling, offering them not only guidance but also a listening ear and a compassionate heart.

My goal is to empower others to see that they are not alone and that anything is possible with the right support and love. Together, we can navigate life’s hardships and emerge stronger, united by our shared experiences and the belief that compassion can pave the way to healing.

My name is Takiyah and I have a Bachelors Degree in Healthcare Management. Also, I have approximately 10 years of experience in healthcare and case management. I’ve always been dedicated to public health within my local community of Maywood. In addition, I am very caring and compassionate when it comes to substance abuse. Throughout the years, I’ve had family members who have struggled with substance use. Overall, I am excited to be at Live4Lali to make a difference in our participants lives by meeting them where they are on their journey.

Deb is a harm‑reduction advocate who turned personal loss into purpose after losing family and friends to overdose. She first came to volunteer with Live4Lali to support a friend whose son was struggling with Substance Use Disorder and now serves as a Substitute Outreach Coordinator, where she loves connecting with and supporting the community Live4lali serves. As a CRSS and facilitator for SMART Recovery, WRAP, and HOP, she uses her lived experience to help others feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Before entering this field, she worked as a corporate IT consultant and teacher, building communication, problem‑solving, and people‑centered skills that now strengthen her community work.

When not working you can find her at home spending time with her family and dog, Frank.

Ayomide (Ayo) Dugbo is the South Cook County Program Manager with a background in community work and outreach. He has a tech background with a masters in Health Technology and a bachelors in Community Health, so health related analysis and coordination is nothing new to him. He joins with experience of working with community members on sexual, mental, and physical health to get them information and resources to help with health behavior changes to improve their life.