Her Story
About Emelina
Emelina Martinez is the Harm Reduction Programs Manager at Care Resource Community Health Centers, Inc., where she leads the syringe service program serving Broward County, Florida, and serves as a site coordinator for research initiatives supporting people living with substance use disorder, particularly opioid use disorder. With more than 30 years of experience in public health that began in the 1990s through HIV/AIDS outreach work, she has built her career around field-based, mobile outreach efforts aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, treating wounds, delivering basic medical care, and connecting participants to therapists and physicians when they are ready to take that step.
Martinez returned to Care Resource to establish Broward County's harm reduction program and now oversees one-for-one syringe exchanges alongside a mobile unit that provides confidential telehealth services and on-site medical care. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Applied Behavioral Analysis, at Albizu University's Doral campus in 2025, having pursued her degree while working full time. She holds certification as an HIV counselor and is an active member of the Multi-Agency Homeless Task Force, in addition to volunteering with the South Florida Wellness Network and United Way.
Guided by a commitment to compassion, tolerance, and human dignity, Martinez credits her enduring passion for the work, the personal losses she has experienced to HIV/AIDS, and a strong sense of purpose as the driving forces behind her career. Her dedication and long-standing impact on community health in Broward County have earned her recognition as a Top Influential Woman representing Cooper City, Florida, in the 2026 edition. She continues to advocate for greater public understanding of harm reduction services while working to secure the funding needed to sustain and expand them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emelina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to truly loving what I do. I've lost friends to HIV, and that loss made this work deeply personal and important to me. I believe God gives people a purpose, and this is mine — so I keep going and never quit.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is simple: keep going, don't quit, and just do what you do. My employer supported me when I returned to school and even reshaped my role around the experience I brought to it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell them to love the work, because nothing compares to the feeling of helping others. There will be heartbreak along the way, but the impact you make on people's lives makes it all worthwhile.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Funding is one of our biggest challenges — syringe service programs are prohibited from receiving state, county, or municipal dollars. Beyond that, helping people understand what harm reduction actually is, and the full scope of the services we provide, remains an ongoing challenge and opportunity.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Peace and basic human dignity are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally. I try to lead every interaction with compassion and tolerance for others.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.