Jerry’s Story: Trusting the Process

November 7, 2024

Time for a Change

“I’ve been staying on the road and clean; Dismas House helps with all that. I want to make that
clear. This is the first time I’ve ever been off parole and probation in 13 years. I’ve never been
clean this long in my life.”

Jerry grew up in Rossville, Georgia, not far from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his younger
brother, parents, and uncle. Prior to moving into Dismas House, Jerry spent an extensive
amount of time in and out of incarceration while also struggling with substance use disorder.
November 15, 2020, was a turning point for him, and realizing the consequences of his actions,
he decided that he was going to change his life. “I decided right there, I was done.”

While incarcerated, Jerry learned of Dismas House and completed the application and interview
process. Upon his release from incarceration, Jerry had just enough money to buy a bus ticket
to get himself from Georgia to Dismas House.

When he first arrived, he admitted to being distrustful – thinking that what the
program was offering was a scam – because he didn’t come from an environment in which
people helped and supported one another. Despite his skepticism, within a couple of weeks,
Jerry decided to trust the process, let his guard down, and allow the team at Dismas House to
assist him with reentry.

During his time in the program, Dismas House helped Jerry to find stable employment, learn life
skills, and build a new network of friends and community to support his sobriety. Some of his
favorite experiences while living onsite were group outings to Walmart, full moon walks,
attending events around Nashville, and playing an active role in the lives of other residents.
“They really took care of me [at Dismas House],” Jerry said as he reflected on his time living on
the residential campus.

A New Chapter

Even with all the positive change that has happened to Jerry over the last four years, he
acknowledges that there are still challenges that come with being a returning citizen. However,
Jerry doesn’t let that discourage him and takes it one day at a time.

Aside from equipping him with the tools he needed to adjust to life after incarceration, Dismas
House has allowed Jerry to connect with new residents in the program. He has enjoyed
welcoming and coaching new residents, and being a resource for them as they adjust to life in
the reentry program. The same way that Jerry told himself to “trust the process,” he encourages
anyone starting life anew, post-incarceration, to do the same thing.

Jerry has quite a bit to celebrate these days: he has graduated from the reentry program and is working two jobs – one at Western Express and another at Casa Rosa Cantina – both in Nashville. He recently finished his parole, moved into a new apartment, is four years clean and sober, and is the father of three teenagers who make him very proud.

Jerry’s feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear, after being released, have now transitioned to
feelings of hope, gratitude, and confidence. Trusting the process has opened doors of
opportunity for Jerry and allowed for new experiences. He has developed a deep appreciation
for the outdoors, has taken up hiking as a hobby, and takes pride in his strong work ethic. As he
looks to the future, Jerry has set simple goals for himself: he looks forward to moving up the ladder at his jobs and saving more money to ensure financial stability. “I love Dismas House. They are very supportive of all my decisions and they’ve helped me. Really good people. They really are family.”