Anami Dass is a harm reductionist working in the International District of Albuquerque. She has used her lived experience of homelessness and substance misuse to inform her work in public health as well as public policy in the hopes of improving conditions for people who are without shelter now.
Her background in public health education has led to increased access to service, but more importantly it has served to bridge the gaps in understanding between people who do drugs, and people work with people who use drugs. She hopes to bring that lens to the table in all areas of her work. Locally, Anami sits as Chair of the City’s Human Rights Board, where she has worked with the Office of Civil Rights to strengthen legislation to better protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and people who are pregnant.
As a transgender woman, Anami is proud to serve as Secretary of the LGBTQ+ Caucus for the state in addition to her role as 2nd Vice Chair for the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County. She hopes to contribute to the training and development of her fellow newcomers to the party.