Our Story
2011
St. Louis CRUSH (Community Resources United to Stop Heroin) began as simply, CRUSH back in 2011. It was created in partnership with St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis County Department of Public Health. The coalition was created in order to combat the rise in heroin overdoses that were becoming epidemic in the greater St. Louis area.
2019
As the opioid issue was altered with the ever-changing drug landscape, the coalition had to change and grow in response. We changed from being a hub of information on where to get help, to an outward facing community outreach coalition. By 2019, CRUSH was becoming more involved. The coalition now had members that included St. Louis County Police Department, St. Louis City Police Department, Preferred Family Health Care, Missouri Institute of Mental Health, DEA, Prevent+Ed, HEAL; Stop Heroin, Missouri DOC, St. Louis County Department of Public Health, St. Louis City Public Health, CenterPointe Hospital, Center for Life Solutions, BJC, BHR, Footprints to Recovery, The Aviary, LiUna 110, and more.
2020
We were beginning to utilize marketing tools to educate our public about the opioid problem. We were educating in our school districts, at public forums (like Town Halls), in businesses, anywhere we were invited we were involved. In 2020, despite difficulties with COVID, the coalition continued to grow, and expand it's reach and it's focus. After our large scale community event, The You Are Not Alone Fest(YANA), was postponed due to the pandemic, the coalition came together to find new ways to get the community involved, educated, and provide resource information in areas that were being hit the hardest by overdoses and overdose deaths.
2021
St. Louis CRUSH's Walk n' Talks were born. These smaller, outdoor events allowed the coalition to safely engage with the community to get NARCAN, resources, and treatment into the hands that needed them. We did this by handing out our resource backpacks at no cost to anyone who needed them. The resource bags are filled with covid safety kits, safe sex kits, hygiene kits, can openers, cold weather gear, food, and more; all made available through grant funding and generous donations from our membership partners. In the Spring of 2021, St. Louis CRUSH became an officially recognized Federal 501(c)3.
2022
April 2022 St. Louis CRUSH was able to host our first annual YANA Fest in partnership with Living With Purpose at their location in Baden. YANA Fest was created to fill the gaps of understanding regarding Substance Use Disorder, and show that sobriety can be fun, and there is no need to stigmatize this health condition. We were able to serve nearly 450 people in North St. Louis City. Each subsequent YANA Fest will be moved around the city and county in the hardest hit areas that need the resources and information the most.
2023
St. Louis CRUSH hosted our 2nd Annual YANA Fair in South St. Louis in partnership with the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation at Lemay Park. We were able to service over 200 people at our event.
We continued our diligent work getting our feet on the street in the hardest hit neighborhoods - completeing over 7 Walk'n Talk events!
2024
St. Louis CRUSH served over 250 people at our 3nd Annual YANA Fest. It was hosted in partnership with the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center at their beautiful new building.
We helped to create the first St. Louis County/City Middle School LIT (Leaders-in-Training) Conference. We were able to serve 150 students in and around North St. Louis County.
2025
St. Louis CRUSH served over 400 people in our 4th Annual YANA Fest in South St. Louis City in partnership with MoNetwork. We were nearly rained out, but MoNetwork opened their new location in Dutchtown to us at the last minute!!
We continued the annual Middle School LIT (Leaders-in-Training) Conference, this was the 2nd successful event.
We also hosted the first, and only, High School Summit in the St. Louis Metro Region; The SUPER (Substance Use Prevention, Education and Resource) Summit in St. Charles. It was a wonderful success for our first year!
2026
St. Louis CRUSH is celebrating 15 years as a coalition!
It also happens to be our 5th YANA Fest. We hosted this time back where we began, at Living With Purpose - who has supported us tremendously over the years. We were able to serve over 300 people this year!
We were supposed to host our 2nd Annual SUPER Summit - but some issues arose and it was given a new name, and will be back and better than ever at the CRUSH (Community. Resilience. Unity. Hope. Strength.) Strong Summit on February 24th, 2027 - make sure your students are there!
We will also be assisting in hosting our 4th Annual Middle School LIT Conference in the famous Touhill on the UMSL Campus. This is in partnership with the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, and HEAL Stop Heroin. This year it will be happening on November 17th, and will be the largest and best LIT we have had to date!
Executive Board
Det. Melody Quinn
President
Melody Quinn has dedicated nearly two decades to serving the St. Louis community as a law enforcement professional and currently serves as an Opioid Prevention Initiative Detective with the St. Louis County Police Department. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about building partnerships, educating the community, and helping individuals and families affected by substance use.
For the past seven years, Melody has also served as President of the St. Louis CRUSH Coalition, leading the organization through its transition to a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and helping expand its reach and impact across the region. Her work in overdose prevention has been recognized with the Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Overdose Reduction Award and a St. Louis County Police Department Commendation.
Beyond her public service, Melody has been part of the St. Louis theater community for decades as an actress, director, choreographer, and costumer. She believes the arts and community service share a common purpose—bringing people together, inspiring hope, and creating meaningful change. In 2022, she received the Best Performance Award for Best Featured Actress for her role in The Pajama Game at Arts for Life.
Whether advocating for prevention, leading community initiatives, or performing on stage, Melody is committed to using her experience, creativity, and compassion to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
Danielle Elliott Smith
Vice President
Danielle Elliott Smith is an award-winning journalist, author, speaker, podcast host, and founder of ReDefining Sober™, a movement dedicated to changing the conversation around alcohol through awareness, compassion, and honest dialogue. She is also the creator of the ReDefining Sober app and host of the Hope Comes to Visit podcast, where she shares inspiring stories of resilience, healing, and hope.
Drawing from both her professional experience and personal journey, Danielle is passionate about helping people navigate life's challenges with courage and connection. Her work has been featured on national media outlets including Good Morning America, the Today show, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and in USA Today, Forbes, and Publisher's Weekly.
As Vice President of CRUSH (Community Resources United to Support Healing), Danielle is committed to bringing people, organizations, and resources together to support individuals and families impacted by addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma. She believes lasting change happens when communities choose compassion over judgment and connection over isolation.
Pam Shaw
Treasurer
Pam Shaw Serves as the Program Director for MoNetwork, where she leads a peer-driven recovery Community Center dedicated to harm reduction, recovery support and community engagement. With more than seven years of experience in the behavioral health and recovery field, Pam is passionate about building compassionate systems of care that meet people where they are and remove barriers to support.
As a Certified Peer Specialist in long-term recovery, Pam combines professional leadership with lived experience to advocate for person-centered services, overdose prevention, hard reducution, and multiple pathways to recovery. She believes lasting change happens through connection, dignity and empowering individuals to define recovery for themselves.
In addition to her role at MoNetwork, Pam serves as Treasurer on the Executive Board of St Louis CRUSH where she is committed to strengthening collaboration among recovery organizations and advancing community-driven solutions to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by substance use.
Rodney Smith
Community Ambassador Chair
Community Ambassador Chair – (Volunteer)
As the Community Ambassador Chair, I serve as a liaison between the organization and the community by promoting opioid awareness, reducing stigma surrounding substance use disorders, and connecting individuals and families with behavioral health resources.
I bring 17 years of experience in behavioral health, with a background in patient support, clinical research, and business development. My experience includes developing strategic partnerships, expanding access to behavioral health services, supporting patients throughout the continuum of care, and advancing community education to improve mental health and substance use outcomes.
Karen King
Resource Chair
Pat Fox
Fundraising Chair
Pat Fox serves with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in the Bureau of Special Health Care Needs, where she is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate complex systems and connect with resources that enhance their quality of life. Known by colleagues and community partners as the “Resource Guru,” Pat is recognized for her extensive knowledge, compassionate approach, and unwavering commitment to ensuring families receive the support and services they need to thrive.
Eleanor Byrd
Membership Chair