Where there is life, there is hope. As I step into the role as CEO of Exodus Transitional Community, I am both humbled and inspired by the legacy of transformation this organization has built over the past 25 years. In this milestone anniversary year, we have taken the opportunity to reflect on our journey – one defined by the changing of lives and the restoration of hope. From the beginning, our founder instilled values that continue to guide us today: faith, the power of lived experience, importance of community and the love of people. These pillars have become the foundation upon which our work is built, and they will carry us into the future as we strive to break cycles of incarceration, heal trauma, and empower those returning home.

In looking back over the last 25 years, I am reminded that our strength comes from staying true to our roots. We have always been guided by the understanding that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. This is why we continue to prioritize hiring staff with lived experience, including those who have spent decades behind bars and to be inspired by the spirit and faith of those still experiencing incarceration. They are not only mentors but also leaders, change agents, and powerful examples of the human capacity for growth and transformation. Our founder has always affirmed that no one is defined by their worst moment, and our staff remind us of this everyday.

One of my longstanding favorite quotes is an Ethiopian Proverb that says: “the child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” Here at Exodus, we embrace the child who needs warmth, and we walk through the fire with those who are already engulfed in flames; we do that because our team knows firsthand what it felt like to walk through the fire alone, and we also know that the phoenix rises from the ashes to emerge stronger and renewed.

As we look toward the next 25 years, our path forward is guided by the lessons we have learned. It is about faith – faith in ourselves, faith in each other, and faith in the possibility of change. It is about investing in those who have walked the hardest roads and empowering them to lead others through the wilderness. And it is about building strong partnerships that allow us to expand our impact, like our ongoing work with Pillsbury Law Firm, who believes in our mission and has remained an unwavering supporter.

Together, we will continue to break barriers, shatter stigma, and prove that every person, regardless of their past, can contribute to a brighter future. We will stand firm on the foundation of faith, lived experience, and community, and build a world where second chances are not just possible, but are deeply embedded in our values and beliefs. This is the foundation of the work we do at Exodus, and the groundbreaking advances in trauma healing that we have pioneered over this last year.

Thank you for believing in this work and for walking with us as we step into this next chapter of the Exodus journey together.

With gratitude and hope,

Kathleen McAnulty Bernier, CEO, Exodus Transitional Community