Recently, I took some time to reflect on my six years of service to the Dismas community. In the context of Dismas of Vermont’s 40-year history, six years seems like just a drop in the bucket. Yet in that short time, so much has changed. Dismas now operates five houses across the state of Vermont. We piloted and established a Step-Down Housing program that provides housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated people when other options are unavailable or when affordable housing policies create barriers to participation and real opportunity. All five houses are now certified recovery residences. As the needs of our residents have grown, our staff has grown—from 10 to 17 people.
In those six years of growth, staff, board members, and residents have come and gone, each leaving a lasting impact on our organization and on me. I learned so much from Richard and Kim, and I remain thankful for their guidance and steady support during my first four years with Dismas. Rita still makes the rounds and always leaves an impact on everyone she meets. I continue to learn from our current staff, and I am always learning from residents. I feel grateful to play a role in their journeys. Every day brings something new. There are joys, successes, and heartaches. Through it all, the beauty of Dismas remains: community, acceptance, and care, provided by everyone. It is what all of us need most.
These six years have reminded me that Dismas is more than a program or a set of houses. It is a living community shaped by residents, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters who keep choosing community, accountability, and hope.
It is in this spirit of reflection that I look forward to the future of Dismas.
We will continue to harness the spirit of community, acceptance, and care to meet people’s growing needs. We will continue to create and provide opportunity where there seems to be none. We will lean in where others might back away because the work feels uncomfortable, hard, or too risky. The goal will remain the same: to make sure everyone has access to a safe and caring community, regardless of the worst day of their life.
