Healthy Nightlife, LLC assists event producers, event medical services, and other nightlife industry members in building a strategy for health promotion and education that promotes and protects their brand.
Missi Wooldridge, MPH, Founder / CEO
Bio:
Missi Wooldridge earned her B.S. in Community Health with a concentration in Sexual Health from the State University of New York at Potsdam and her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Social Behavioral Sciences and Community Health from the State University of New York at Albany’s School of Public Health. Prior to starting Healthy Nightlife, LLC, she served as executive director of DanceSafe, a non-profit organization promoting health and safety in the nightlife and electronic music community. Her journey with DanceSafe started as the director of the Denver chapter and as a board member for the national organization.
She has been featured in The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Vice, The Boston Globe, Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, among many others – with appearances on talk radio shows across the country and television shows including Katie Couric Show and Al Jazeera: Tech Know. She’s organized and been featured on many conference panels at conferences such as International Club Health Conference on Nightlife, Substance Use, and Health-Related Issues, International Music Festival Conference, International Drug Policy Reform Conference, National Harm Reduction Coalition Conference, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference [U.S. & Canada]. She’s also managed outreach services and organized harm reduction and peer eduction teams at 100+ electronic music events including TomorrowWorld, Mysteryland, Electric Forest Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, Detroit Electronic Music Festival / Movement, Lightning in a Bottle, Backwoods Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, and the list goes on.
Her skills and expertise are in program development, implementation, and evaluation; public affairs and public speaking; community organizing and strategic partnerships; peer-based education; nightlife harm reduction; and drug use as a public health concern. She was invited to participate in and completed New York State Department of Health’s Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow (PHLOT) Core, yearlong leadership training program in 2009- 2011 and also earned her leadership certificate for nonprofit chief executives in 2016. She’s served on commissions, coalitions, and other professional workgroups including Denver Drug Strategy Commission, Los Angeles County Electronic Music Task Force Education and Best Practice & and Electronic Music Community Subcommittees, Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse & Mass Gathering Medical: Stakeholder Workgroup, Preventing Alcohol- and Drug-Related Harms at Music Festivals, NEXT LEVEL, Nightlife Empowerment Well-Being Implementation Network, Nightlife Harm Reduction of the Americas, among others.
Curriculum Vitae:
EDUCATION
Aspire Business School Barcelona, Udemy
Certificate Program in Corporate Social Responsibility
University at Albany
Albany, NY 2009 – 2011
Master of Public Health
Concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Community Health
GPA: 3.50
State University of New York at Potsdam
Potsdam, NY 2004 – 2008
Bachelor of Science in Community Health
Concentration in Sexual Health
GPA: overall: 3.22; major: 3.70
EXPERIENCE
Akerna
Remote
February 2020 – Present
Marketing & Community Engagement Specialist
- Partner with teams interdepartmentally to identify new mission- and corporate identity-aligned opportunities for the Akerna house of brands to support and partner with its customers, key stakeholders, and the general public with a focus on social responsibility and giving back to the community
- Serve as the “face” of and point of contact for social responsibility and nonprofit relations to both the internal Akerna team and external customers
- Assist in fostering a culture of social responsibility
Research and create a recommendations report for the development of a Social Responsibility Program that meets the greatest need within the cannabis and technology spaces and fosters awareness and understanding of Akerna’s core values and house of brands - Serve as chair of Akerna’s Culture Council
- Develop and implement ABM gift campaign strategy and manage ABM gifting budget and funding source
- Drive engagement strategy to increase ROI
- Work with sales and product teams to identify growth markets, and strategically target high MRR clients to continually activate on new opportunities, including strategic meetings, advisory board committee events, and client engagement.
- Manage all event operations and logistics, in person and virtual
- Develop and execute live and on-demand webinar series’ across brands
- Manage all event vendor and partner relationships and execute cross-promotional opportunities
- Collaborate and partner with local and national associations and networking groups to integrate the regional sales team into identified markets
- Write content for emails, advertisements, blogs, landing pages, and socials
Manage speaking engagements, and help prepare speakers with abstracts, event briefs, and presentation decks
DanceSafe
Denver, CO 2009 – 2016
Executive Director (2011 – 2016)
Chapter Director & Volunteer (2009 – 2011)
- Under minimal supervision, provide leadership and management for the national organization
- Engage with board of directors, staff, and volunteers to engage in strategic planning and provide strategic direction for the organization
- Develop, implement, and evaluate health and drug education programs and campaigns
- Research, collect data, and conduct needs assessment
- Outreach to, and communication with, local and national partnerships and alliances
- Collaborate with partners and coalitions to achieve health promotion plans
- Build new strategic partnerships
- Supervise, mentor, and train staff and interns
- Legislative advocacy and public health policy analysis
- Community organizing and development
- Organize, supervise, and participate in community outreach among drug users
- Engage in ongoing event planning and coordination
- Develop and supervise project management and its systems
- Implement fundraising initiatives and grant writing
- Manage communications and marketing
- Manage human resources and payroll
- Prepare and disseminate reports and presentations
- Represent DanceSafe at professional meetings and conferences, domestically and internationally
New York State Dept. of Health
Albany, NY 2009 – 2011
Office of Program Evaluation and Research, AIDS Institute & Office of Minority Health
MPH Practicum
- Independently, conduct research on sexual health risk using the Mind Map Prepare reports and data findings for agency staff and state and federal constituents
- Promote the goals, benchmarks, and strategies of USDHHS’s National Partnership for Action to Eliminate Health Disparities
- Develop, facilitate, and evaluate the state-wide webinar series
- Collect and disseminate data to agency staff and USDHHS
St. Lawrence County Minority Health Project
Potsdam, NY 2010 – 2011
Project Manager
- Manage team and benchmarks for the project
- Administer surveys on perceptions of racism, health status, and cultural competency and sensitivity of health care providers in the rural county
- Conduct literature review of valid and reliable tools for assessing cultural competency
- Collaborate on and prepare grant proposals and manuscripts
Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow Albany, NY 2009 – 2011
Leadership Trainee
- Based on academic achievement and potential for leadership in the field of public health, New York State invites 12 Master’s level students to participate in a yearlong development program
- Practice-based experience with local and state health departments
- Leadership, research, public health policy development, communication, and team-building training sessions
- Legislative advocacy for continued state funding
- Participation in yearlong community service project with a community health-based organization
- Mentorship from recognized leaders in the field of public health
University at Albany
Albany, NY 2009 – 2010
School of Public Health
Graduate Assistant
University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 2008
Wellness Education Services
Wellness Intern
State University of New York at Potsdam Potsdam, NY 2007 – 2008
Student Success Center
Tutor
State University of New York at Potsdam Potsdam, NY 2007 – 2008
Community Health Department
Teaching Assistant
Research Assistant
Student Assistant
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
2016 Appointment – State University of New York at Potsdam Institutional Review Board
2015 Appointment – Los Angeles County Electronic Music Task Force
Education and Best Practices Subcommittee
Electronic Music Community Subcommittee
2015 Appointment – Americas Nightlife Network
2014 Appointment – Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse & Mass Gathering Medical: Stakeholder Workgroup, Preventing Alcohol- and Drug-Related Harms at Music Festivals
2014 Founder and Member – Move Our Peeps
2013 Appointment – Denver Drug Strategy Commission
Chair, Harm Reduction Subcommittee
2013 Appointment – NEXT LEVEL
2007 Founder and Member – State University of New York at Potsdam Health and Fitness Advocates (HAFA)
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Codrea-Rado, Anna, Joseph Pred, Missi Wooldridge, and Stefanie Hones. “How Do We Stop Drug Deaths at Music Festivals?” Austin, TX, March 2017, South by Southwest.
Becker, Kate, Dede Fleming, Dede Goldsmith, Stefanie Jones, Mark Lawrence, Shannon Clare Petitt, and Missi Wooldridge, “Are The Party Kids Any Safer Yet? Festivals, the Music Industry, and Harm Reduction.” Washington, D.C., November, 2015, International Drug Policy Reform Conference.
Jordan, Janine, Dina Perrone, Mark Lawrence, and Missi Wooldridge, “Electronic Music Gatherings.” Los Angeles, CA, November, 2015, Los Angeles County Electronic Music Task Force.
Missi Wooldridge, et al., “Drug Policy Clinica: Just Say Maybe, Drug Policy in an Era of Changing Legalities.” Denver, CO, July, 2015, Biennial of The Americas.
Missi Wooldridge, “DanceSafe Visionaries: A New Approach to Harm Reduction Outreach.” Lisbon, Portugal. June, 2015, 9th International Club Health Conference on Nightlife, Substance Use, and Health-Related Issues.
Missi Wooldridge, “Kill The Stigma: We All Came to Have A Good Time.” Chillicothe, IL. May, 2015, Summer Camp Music Festival.
Missi Wooldridge, “Drug Policy and Behavioral Health Ethics” SUNY Potsdam. March, 2015, Campus-wide Guest Speakers Series.
Drogo, Virgina M., Mark Lawrence, Keirra Miller, Missi Wooldridge, and Stefanie Jones, “Be Safe, Have Fun: Getting Real About Drug Use at Events.” Miami, FL, March, 2015, Winter Music Conference.
Salk, Eric, Joseph Pred, Stefanie Jones, Missi Wooldridge, Cameron Bowman, and Stacey Lock, “Drugs, Drinks: Harm Reduction 2.0.” Austin, TX, December, 2014, International Music Festival Conference.
Raville, Lisa, Missi Wooldridge, and Stefanie Jones, “More Harm Reduction! Integrating Drug Checking and Other Services at Your SEP or Drop-in Center.” Baltimore, MD, October, 2014, Harm Reduction Coalition Conference.
Missi Wooldridge, “Concentrates and Harm Reduction.” Denver, CO. July 2014, National Cannabis Industry Association, Educational Series.
Jones, Stefanie, and Missi Wooldridge, “Preventing Overdoses at Music Festivals.” Baltimore, MD. October 2014, Harm Reduction Coalition Conference.
Missi Wooldridge, “Keynote: Evidence-based Nightlife Harm Reduction in North America.” Vancouver, BC, November, 2013, Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference.
Wooldridge, Missi, Chris Orbz, Samuel Plamadon, and Greg Khaymov, “Drug Testing Adulterant Workshop.” Vancouver, BC, November, 2013, Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference.
Barra, Aram, Stacia Cosner, Eduardo “LaLo” Montoya, Missi Wooldridge, Jared Moffat, Tanay Lynn Harris, and Chino Hardin, “What About The Kids? Young People Challenging the Drug War.” Denver, CO, October, 2013, International Drug Policy Reform Conference.
Missi Wooldridge, “Community Session: Building A Global Network Around Nightlife Issues.” Denver, CO, October, 2013, International Drug Policy Reform Conference.
Missi Wooldridge, “Grassroots Harm Reduction Program Development: Results from DanceSafe Denver Community Survey.” San Francisco, CA, May, 2013, 8th International Club Health Conference on Nightlife, Substance Use, and Health-Related Issues.
Missi Wooldridge, “DanceSafe as a Harm Reduction Organization” Portland, OR, November, 2012, Harm Reduction Coalition Conference.
Tyler, Billi and Missi Wooldridge, “Practical First Aid for Partygoers.” Denver, CO, March, 2012, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference.
HONORS AND RECONGNITIONS
2016 Leadership Certificate for Nonprofit Chief Executives, BoardSource
2013 The Dr. Andrew Weil Award for Achievement in the Field of Drug Education, International Drug Policy Reform Conference – Accepted on behalf of DanceSafe
2008 Presidential Scholar, State University of New York at Potsdam
2008 The Santaferra/Community Health Internship Scholarship, Community Health Department, State University of New York at Potsdam
2008 Outstanding Community Health Major Award, Community Health Department, State University of New York at Potsdam
2007 Make A Difference Award, Community Health Department, State University of New York at Potsdam
2007 Eta Sigma Gamma: National Health Education Honorary
SELECTED MEDIA INTERVIEWS
2016 Quoted– Harm Reduction at Raves, The Fix.
2016 Quoted– Party On Safely?, Cosmopolitan. Printed, April 2016, p125- 127
2016 Quoted– Drug Testing: US Quietly Rolls Out Pill Testing at Music Festivals, News.au.com.
2016 Quoted– How Do We Stop Drug Deaths at Festivals?, Thump VICE.
2015 Appearance– MDMA & The Electronic Woodstock, Al Jazeera: Tech Know.
2015 Quoted– It Cannot Happen Again:’ Mother Seeks Safety Changes at The Gorge After Son’s Death, Q13 Fox News.
2015 Quoted– After Deaths at Hard Summer, Experts Push for New Approaches to Festival Drug Use, Los Angeles Times.
2015 Quoted– One of Two Women who Died of Apparent Overdose at Rave ID’d as UCLA Student, Los Angeles Times.
2015 Quoted– Which Festivals Have The Most Drug Use?, LA Weekly.
2015 Quoted– The Electric Music Acid Test: DanceSafe Helps EDM Crowds Make Healthier Drug Choices, Smashd.
2015 Quoted– How to Make Raves and Festivals Safer, Addiction.com.
2015 Quoted– College Kids are Unknowingly Rolling on Bath Salts, Newsweek.
2015 Appearance– Episode 19: Reducing the Stigma of the Drug War with Missi Wooldridge from DanceSafe, The Lucid Planet Radio.
2015 Quoted– European Molly Looks Cooler than American MDMA Because Superman is a Brand, Inverse.
2014 Quoted– EDM Festivals Seek Remedies For When Concerts Boil Over, The Washington Post.
2014 Quoted– Olivia Rotundo Was Not Just A Girl Who Overdosed at Electric Zoo, Cosmopolitan.
2014 Quoted– Electronic Fest MEME Starts in Winnipeg Amid Drug Concerns, CBC News.
2014 Appearance– What’s In My Baggie?.
2014 Quoted– There’s something about Molly, The Boston Globe.
2014 Appearance– Group Promoting Safer Raves Offers Free Testing for Illegal Drugs, ABC News, Denver Channel 7.
2014 Quoted– Safe From Harm: Drugs and Festival Culture, Pitchfork.
2014 Quoted– Banning Club Drugs Hasn’t Made Users Safer, Vox.
2014 Quoted– Howard County Assessing Security after Two Die at Merriweather Concert, The Baltimore Sun.
2014 Quoted– How Mega Rave Electric Zoo Will Try to Keep the Drugs Out, Village Voice.
2014 Quoted– Festival Life: Festivals and Harm Reduction, Reddit Ask Me Anything.
2014 Appearance– Electric Zoo Returns with ‘Zookeepers’ and Mandatory PSA, New York Public Radio: Soundcheck.
2013 Appearance– The Connection Between Music and Molly, The Katie Couric Show.
2013 Quoted– Giving Drug Advice Along With Music, The New York Times.
2013 Quoted– Dancing With Molly: The EDM Community Has an Honest Conversation About Drugs, Billboard Magazine.
2013 Quoted– TomorrowWorld Festival to Include Drug Awareness Information: DanceSafe will explain risks and offer tips to avoid overdosing, Rolling Stone Magazine.
2013 Referenced– Club Drug Takes Deadly Toll, The Wall Street Journal.
2013 Quoted– Why is Everyone Freaking out about MDMA?, VICE.
2013 Appearance– Molly is NEVER Pure, Kiro 7 News.
2013 Quoted– Chasing Molly, Playboy.
2013 Appearance– Is MDMA Or ‘Molly’ A Growing Threat?, HuffPost Live.
2011 Interview– DanceSafe isn’t your mom or the police, but it’s here to make sure you’re partying, well, safely, Denver Westword.
2011 Quoted– Dancing with Drugs, Elephant Journal.
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