Mary Polinard RN

Vice Chair & Volunteer

Alaska Marie Ogden

Secretary & Volunteer

Alaska has worked in the field of substance use disorders for eleven years and in harm reduction for eight. She’s passionate about holding space, supporting transformation, and providing tender counsel to those navigating deep internal territory.

She is currently a clinical intern at Emerge Recovery TX as well as a student at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is working towards her Master’s in Counseling Psychology and walking the path to licensure.

She has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Conflict Transformation from Portland State University. Alaska works with a Jungian and transpersonal orientation, and her areas of focus are trauma, addiction, altered state consciousness, and the development of personal mythos. 

John Wayland

Director & Volunteer

John was raised in Longview Texas and currently resides in South Austin. He studied Electrical Power Distribution at TSTC, Gunsmithing at PCC and Philosophy at UT Austin. He has worked in the fields of carpentry, construction management, gunsmithing and was a lineman for the City of Austin Electric Department. At the age of 17 John was present when his best friend lost his life due to substance use and saw first hand the damage it did to the friends family. He dedicates the time he spends volunteering with RestPit and harm reduction to the memory of his friend in hopes of preventing similar tragedies.

Robert Nguyen

Director & Volunteer

Robert's life journey began in California but a period of crisis led him to Texas where he was drawn to the cause of mental health. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, Robert has faced his share of traumas but has emerged as a strong advocate for ancestral healing. Through his own healing journey, he became passionate about destigmatizing mental illness. With a deep understanding of the challenges that come with intergenerational trauma, Robert has a unique perspective on mental health and is committed supporting others on their path to wellness. Robert is training his dog, Dart, to volunteer as a Therapy dog.

Becca Kavich

Director & Volunteer

Becca is a native Texan who moved to Austin in 2010.  She received a degree in hospitality from Texas Tech University, and has committed herself personally and professionally to helping others.  This passion, paired with her love of all things music, brought her to RestPit in 2018.  Her goal in working with RestPit is to help the team provide the best peer-to-peer support and harm reduction practices to any and all in need of help or just a friendly face."

Vanessa Mary Barr RN

Director & Volunteer

Vanessa Barr has been a pediatric RN for over 26 years. She loves animals, books, live music and helping people, not always in that order. “What I love about nursing and about Harm Reduction both is that it gives me the opportunity to support people and make a difference at a difficult time in their lives. I’ve learned so much from the Harm Reduction and psychedelic support community that has helped me take better care of my little patients and their families, and vice versa!”.

Taylor "Taylor Taylor Taylor" Christensen

Director & Volunteer

Taylor Christensen AKA Taylor Taylor Taylor is a multimedia artist from Austin, Texas. Taylor’s works transcend a myriad of digital and physical mediums, aiming at the intersection of art, technology, and community. This art expresses its self in the forms of projection mapping, stage design, public art installations, producing community art events, and fire spinning. Aside from Taylor’s art, he is a community developer for UniPhi studios which is producing the sequel to their original cult classic “Dmt: The Spirit Molecule”, and is the Director of Outreach for TN Scientific, which is a US based company who produces chemical reagents for substance testing.

Cheyanne "Chey" Enloe

Director & Volunteer

As a Veterinary Technician in the hill country, Chey is no stranger to helping those in need, from pets to their owners; and when not in scrubs, you can find her traveling, playing music with her husband, painting, singing, dancing, reading, and generally endeavoring for extraordinary adventures! She first learned about RestPit in 2019 while volunteering for First Aid at a festival and took interest. Dubbed the “mom-friend”, she has always strived to be the support her friends needed; through RestPit she found a way to enjoy festivals and music while continuing to care and educate those around her.