Meet Elyjah!
Q1
Hello! What is your name(s) and pronouns? What have your roles/positions/titles been at Quest Center? How do you explain what you do when you meet someone in the "elevator?"
Elyjah Fritz-Rafael (he/him) - BHRN Navigator & Outreach Coordinator. I navigate resources in the community and work with other providers and mentors to better serve peers and their needs to meet their goals. I work closely with our community partners in the Indigeninity Behavioral Health Resource Network - a comprehensive substance-use disorder network of care. Indigeninity’s vision is to provide spaces for community, safety, and belonging, while eliminating service barriers for those most impacted by the war on drugs, with an emphasis on BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Q2
You are cool! But we want to know more. What are your go-to hobbies outside of working at Quest? ( What gives you energy/makes you tick?)
I love food. I love to explore the Portland metro area and try out different kinds of restaurants and food trucks with friends.
Q3
What's going on in your particular department right now and individually- projects, themes, interests that folx might want to know some tidbits about? Most of us don't know all the good stuff you do about the ins and outs of your knowledge and experience.
Here at FSR, we all have our different roles and schedules but we all work together and help one another. We tend to make it fun and entertaining as we move forward on a day to day basis helping peers get to where they want to be. As someone who identifies as a person in long-term recovery, I find it fulfilling to work alongside others on their own paths to recovery.
Q4
What do you enjoy most about working at Quest, besides the fact that Quest is the best?
Quest has a lot to offer, not only to their peers but to their employees. I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing colorful team that provides learning, opportunities, mobility, diversity, and both professional and personal growth.
In addition to my work as BHRN Navigator and Outreach Coordinator, I have been going to school for Addictions Counseling and am on track to graduate in December of 2024! Quest has been incredibly supportive of my journey in continuing my education.
Q5
What's a brief little story or moment you had in your department in the last year that made you feel like- "yesss," or "this is why I'm doing this work!" Could be a success story with a community member/client or anything that comes to mind that made you light up...
I got hired to Quest in Decemeber of 2022 and everyone were so energetic and welcomed me like we were family. Everyone lifted my nerves and made me feel so comfortable.