The Kingfisher Project is a volunteer-based community information project aimed at creating greater awareness and understanding of the heroin and opioid epidemic in our community and across the nation.
Listen to “First Tuesdays With Bill Williams” on WJFF, Catskill Radio 90.5 or on the internet at https://wjffradio.org the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 EST.
As part of the initiative, Kingfisher Project volunteers produce radio segments that air on WJFF public radio in Jeffersonville, NY, 90.5 fm.
Kingfisher Project volunteers also work to create awareness in other ways and to raise funds to sustain their awareness work.
The project was established in 2014 to honor the life of a young woman, Rebecca Pisall, 20, who was shot and killed on June 20, 2014, due to her addiction to heroin. (Hear the story of Rebecca here in the initial Kingfisher Project broadcast.)
The project is named for the injured bird Rebecca wrote about in her essay about the value of every life while a senior in high school, before she became addicted. Her former teacher, John Ogozalek, read the essay at Rebecca’s memorial service and a few days later, he read the essay and an intro to it on the public radio program Making Waves. Since then, Rebecca’s mother Julie, her teacher, Mr. O and a number of people decided they wanted to remember Rebecca by doing something that might be useful.
In the media
PRINT MEDIA
The New York Times
Op-Ed – Motherlode
https://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/ending-the-secrecy-of-a-childs-addiction/
Op-Ed – Private Lives
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/the-storm-inside/
Harvard Health Blog
The Ghost in the Basement
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ghost-basement-addiction-2018011213078
What Ifs: An underappreciated side effect of addiction https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-ifs-an-underappreciated-side-effect-of-addiction-2018061414050
Seasons of Grief
National Institute On Drug Abuse
Nora’s Blog
Listening to The Dead
https://archives.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2016/01/listening-to-dead
Freedom Institute
A Bear, A Ball, A Birthday, A Boy
http://www.freedominstitute.org/a-bear-a-ball-a-birthday-a-boy/
Birthday Trout – Parts 1 & 2
http://www.freedominstitute.org/?s=Birthday+Trout
Will’s Willow
http://www.freedominstitute.org/wills-willow/
Motherwell
To the little girl on the train whose mother is on drugs
Treatment Magazine
We Honor Our Son’s Life With an Anatomical Donation
https://treatmentmagazine.com/hope-story-family/honoring-our-sons-life-with-anatomical-donation/
Bill Williams’ Blog
Presentation to the House Caucus on Addiction Treatment
and Recovery
Remarks to Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Class of 2017
http://billwilliamsblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/remarks-to-class-of-2017-columbia.html
TELEVISION/RADIO/PODCASTS
New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
Learning Thursdays
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsiMV2muOJU
Monday, December 2, 2019 – “First Mondays With Bill Williams” WJFF – Radio Catskill
Interview with Congressman Antonio Delgado (D- NY 19th)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Testimony to Senate Addiction Forum: Understanding the Science and Addressing Collateral Consequences 12/2/14
Testimony at a Congressional Briefing on Understanding the Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act 5/14/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ae-f7rM7s&feature=youtu.be
Testimony at House Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic: Families Impacted by Addiction 5/18/16
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKYBcsTobTak7yD690q4s_f6SoOx9hbNb
Address at NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse – Division of NIH)
Staff Recognition Day 10/30/15
Featured Interviews
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Interview with Dr. Carl Erik Fisher about his new book, The URGE, Our History of Addiction
Part 1
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Interview with Dr. Carl Erik Fisher about his new book, The URGE, Our History of Addiction
Part 2
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Interview with journalist and author Sam Quinones about his new book, The Least of Us
Part 1
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Interview with journalist and author Sam Quinones about his new book, The Least of Us
Part 2
Monday, December 2, 2019
Interview with Congressman Antonio Delgado (D- NY 19th)
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Interview with Maia Szalavitz, author of newly released Undoing Drugs – The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction
Part 1
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Interview with Maia Szalavitz, author of newly released Undoing Drugs – The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction
Part 2
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Interview with author David Poses about his new book, The Weight of Air
Part 1
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Interview with author David Poses about his new book, The Weight of Air
Part 2