NCHRC Staff + Contractors
Robert Childs, MPH
Robert Childs has served as NCHRC’s Executive Director since 2009 and was just named one of five people who made a difference in HIV in the USA in 2011 by thebody.com. In addition to performing executive functions, he is involved in all program activities including service delivery, program design, innovation and evaluation, resource development and organizing. Prior to joining NCHRC, Robert served as a Public Health Operations Manager and Program Director at Positive Health Project in New York City, where he oversaw the syringe exchange, arts programming, law enforcement relations (between drug users, sex workers and law enforcement), harm reduction programs serving drug users and sex workers and led research on the public health effects of people injecting in the public domain. Robert has worked in harm reduction for over 10 years and is considered an expert on syringe access, harm reduction, law enforcement and drug user interactions, sex work and overdose prevention and has spoken on such at the United Nations, the FDA, New York City Council and the North Carolina, New Hampshire and Oregon Legislatures. He enjoys working on drug policy reform, improving the lives of vulnerable populations and spending time with his wife Paige, his baby Abraham and dog Miss Baylah.
Robert’s email: robert.bb.childs@gmail.com
Robert’s mobile: 336-543-8050
Tessie Castillo
Tessie serves as NCHRC’s Harm Reduction Coordinator. Tessie runs NCHRC's outreach (incarcerated, drug user, sex worker and migrant laborer), education and advocacy programs and is NCHRC lead reporter for NCHRC media pieces. Prior to joining NCHRC, Tessie was an outreach worker for farm workers in Wake County, a case manager for refugees settling in the Triangle area, and a Spanish interpreter for survivors of human trafficking. Tessie enjoys living and working with immigrants. She lives with her husband in Raleigh.
Tessie email: tswopecastillo@gmail.com
Tessie’s mobile: 919-809-7718
Jen "Crash" Earls
(Contractor)
Jen "Crash" Earls works part-time as one of NCHRC’s Law Enforcement Safety Advocates. She is a former officer with the Chicago Police Department who advocates for needlestick prevention measures for officers in North Carolina and for more dialogue between drug users, sex workers and law enforcement to create a safer communities.
Ronald Martin (Contractor)
Ronald Martin works part-time as one of NCHRC’s Law Enforcement Safety Advocates. He is a former Detective Sergeant and is a dedicated, committed Law Enforcement Professional with over 20 years of experience in the New York City Police Department (NYPD). At the NYPD, he trained officers to a highly proficient level of community patrol, enforcement and public security. He supervised narcotics teams conducting street level buy and sell operations and warrant executions. Furthermore, he managed mid to high-level narcotic cases involving pen wires leading to extensive criminal prosecution. Ronald also consulted directly with the Chief of Police and the Mayor of New York City on issues of internal misconduct. He has also conducted and investigated various criminal offenses while working as a team member in conjunction with the Secret Service, DEA, ATF, and FBI. At NCHRC, he advocates for needlestick prevention measures for officers in North Carolina and for more dialogue between drug users, sex workers and law enforcement to create a safer communities.
Hadley Gustafson, MA (Contractor)
Hadley Gustafson has a MA in multimedia journalism (documentary storytelling + motion graphics) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is an award winning videographer. She believes journalism is a powerful tool in the fight for human rights and social and environmental justice. Before going to grad school, she had an eight-year career in graphic design. Hadley has worked for NCHRC as a videographer and outreach worker for 1½ years and produced multiple HIV advocacy video projects on harm reduction, advocacy, HIV and drug policy in the South.
Loftin Wilson
(Contractor)
Loftin Wilson works part-time as NCHRC’s Transgender Advocate and Harm Reduction Organizer. Loftin runs NCHRC transgender support groups and also advocates for harm reduction and transgender rights in North Carolina.
