Dismas House Meets with State Legislators

March 12, 2025

On February 18th, members of Dismas House’s Government Relations Committee, David Young and Tom Cassara, along with Advisory Board Member Stacy Widelitz and Board Chair Taylor Fortune; Residents Delchon Weatherspoon and Kyle Enriques; and CEO Steven Murff, met with members of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. The Day on the Hill was organized by Government Relations Chair David Young and Board Member, State Rep. Vincent Dixie to engage in meaningful discussions with state legislators about the mission and vision of Dismas House.

The team shared the impact of reentry programming and advocated for continued support of Dismas House to set the national standard for reentry services. Dismas House met with eight members of the Senate and House Finance Committees and House Judiciary Committee including the following: Rep. Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville), Rep. Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville), Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) and Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis).

Legislators had an opportunity to hear directly from Dismas House resident Delchon Weatherspoon, who shared his powerful story on the lifechanging impact of reentry support after incarceration. His story demonstrated the importance of second chances and how Dismas House transforms lives and strengthens communities.

“Every community in Tennessee is impacted by the challenges justice-involved returning citizens face, including safe and affordable housing, behavioral health care, substance use treatment, and fair-chance employment opportunities, all of which directly influence public safety and the overall health of our communities,” says Steven Murff, CEO, Dismas House. Dismas House looks forward to continued outreach to its state legislature to advocate for its residents and reentry programming that reduces recidivism and builds safer communities. Dismas House is planning to host an Open House for state legislators including campus tours, program preview and resident stories during Second Chance Month in April 2025.