From Pain to Purpose: Angela Vos and Justin Anantawan on Lived Experiences of Love, Loss, Advocacy

As part of the Library of Lived Experiences series, local advocate and Justice for Jordan founder Angela Vos welcomed HIV advocate and harm reduction worker Justin Anantawan to her farm in Tiny Township for a powerful conversation on grief, stigma, and the realities of grassroots advocacy.

Vos, a community leader and member of Moms Stop the Harm, shared the story of her son Jordan’s death while in provincial custody—a tragedy that propelled her into advocacy. She spoke candidly about the unique challenges of working in a rural community, where support systems for people who use drugs are limited, and about the enduring emotional weight of stigma tied to both substance use and incarceration.

Anantawan, a social worker and artist affiliated with the Harm Reduction Collective of Toronto and Asian Community AIDS Services, reflected on how stigma continues to shape harmful drug policies, pointing to Ontario’s Bill 223 as an example. He also discussed the motivation behind his documentary series My Child Too, which centers on the voices of mothers who have lost children to overdose. The project aims to humanize the statistics that often dominate public discourse.

Together, Vos and Anantawan explored shared themes: the urgent need for compassionate policy, the healing power of storytelling, and the critical importance of building community. Anantawan emphasized that effective advocacy must come from a place of love and that compassion is essential to any harm reduction strategy.

Both also spoke about the fragmentation between mental health, addiction, and healthcare services. Vos recalled her work in Hamilton, where she bridged those sectors and the deep sense of isolation that can arise when such support is missing.

Though they come from different backgrounds, Vos and Anantawan share a belief in the transformative power of lived experience. Their stories and insights underscore how personal narratives can shape public policy and deepen community understanding.