Fireside Project

Fireside Project emerged during a pivotal moment in 2020, amidst the backdrop of a raging pandemic that fueled soaring levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Simultaneously, there was a resurgence of interest in psychedelics, which had long been prohibited. Joshua White, while quarantining and volunteering for a hotline, recognized systemic issues in the psychedelic field, including a lack of support for individuals taking psychedelics alone and a lack of diversity and training programs.

To address these challenges, Joshua conceived the idea of a telephone support line for psychedelics. This support line aimed to democratize access to psychedelic support, provide training for practitioners, and serve as a research platform. By recruiting volunteers from marginalized communities, Fireside Project sought to create a more equitable field.

The name “Fireside Project” was inspired by the vision of people reaching out to the helpline feeling like they were beside a comforting fire. Joshua assembled a team, including Hanifa Nayo Washington, and launched the website in October 2020, just before significant developments in drug policy in Oregon and California.

Since its launch in April 2021, Fireside Project has grown significantly, supporting thousands of people, training volunteers, and aiming to expand its services globally. Their goal is to provide support in multiple languages and reach one million conversations per year by the end of the decade.

https://firesideproject.org/

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