User:Usacodeman/Dismas Charities

Dismas Charities Inc.

Dismas Charities, Inc. is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit providers specializing in community-based re-entry programs. They provide residential and non-residential supervision, treatment services for federal, state and local criminal justice jurisdictions. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Dismas currently operates 28 facilities in 13 states.

HISTORY

It was 1964 and Father William Diersen had seen enough. A Roman Catholic priest and Chaplain at the Kentucky State Reformatory, Father Diersen was frustrated by the seemingly "revolving door" of people returned to prison for violating conditions of their release. He understood — like few others at the time — that without the necessary job, life skills and a support structure, individuals tend to return to a life of crime, which leads to more victimization and continuing a cycle.

Father Diersen also knew that to effect change would be no easy feat. The criminal justice system itself was rife with abuse and offenders were feared and stigmatized by the public. But Father Diersen's character, focus and unbending will persisted. With the help of the five Louisville councils of the Knights of Columbus, Father Diersen opened a 15-bed community corrections facility, or “halfway house” as it was then known, staffed with volunteers. He called the facility Dismas, so named for the repentant thief who was crucified with Christ.

From this modest beginning and rich history, Dismas has grown to become one of the largest not-for-profit providers of residential re-entry services in the United States. Today, the healing hand of Dismas extends to numerous areas of the country, and the scope of their work has evolved well beyond the original confines of that first Dismas facility. They are actively involved in alcohol and drug treatment, job training, domestic violence intervention, education and a vast array of support programs and services. This is how Dismas lives its motto of Healing the Human Spirit. About the logo and name The Dismas logo is a representation of the beautiful rose window discovered at the very first facility in Louisville, Kentucky. To create a place of healing and restoration, Dismas renovated this former church and, in the process, moved and restored this beautiful rose window.

Moving the window to a new location and restoring it revealed beautiful highlights and gave the center a new light. Immediately, they realized how this process of moving, restoring and seeing something from a new perspective represented what they do on a daily basis with their residents.

Since then, the concept of the window and the light it brings has been their logo and a strong symbol for what thry do, including the name for their newsletter to the communities thry serve, The Light.