Odessa Dwarika is a veteran public health practitioner, addressing a wide range of intersectional community concerns over nearly three decades.

As Chief Programs Officer, she leads trauma-informed prevention and intervention strategies to inform and equip individuals in healthcare, gaming, and policy, along with members of the public. These efforts strengthen existing safety nets while ensuring professionals have the research and resources to best care for individuals struggling and their loved ones. 

Fluent in Spanish, Odessa holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.A. in intercultural relations from Lesley University. She volunteers as a domestic violence coach, guiding survivors through family court systems, co-parenting, and managing their safety and self-care.

Her job, in her words:

“We work to educate the public, policymakers, and industry leaders around current and emerging gambling risks. We work to ensure there aren’t gaps in the infrastructure of prevention and care as it relates to problem gambling.”

Ask her about:

The Land Back Movement, parenting a kid with special needs, the lessons trauma symptoms teach us as individuals and communities