Damascus staff is joined by GENIUS TEAM members Lee Lindsey, and Aster and Ticia Brewer for a co-design session in Dayton, Ohio.

Aster Brewer, Ticia Brewer, and Lee Lindsey discuss the ways in which to create a peer-based accountability system in the Damascus housing community.

Damascus worker, Tony Bridges, (left) is now a permanent Nissen employee.

Damascus Client Rep, Brea Muzykoski, works closely with Nissen to provide Damascus workers that are a good fit for their organization.

Damascus worker, Ryan Parker, adjusts his machine at Nissen.

Nissen Chemitec and Damascus Partnership Continues to Thrive in London Ohio

When Damascus Client Rep Brea Muzykoski talks to the Damascus workers that she has placed at Nissen Chemitec, she can expect to hear a couple things consistently: the break room at Nissen is incredible and the company culture is a big part of the reason they can reenter the workplace with success.

"(Nissen) is really tuned into the lives of their workers," Brea said. "They make it easier for the workers to succeed."

Located in London, Ohio--thirty minutes west of Columbus--Nissen Chemitec North America produces high quality plastic injection molded parts for the automotive industry. Interested in expanding their workforce, Nissen began partnering with Damascus in 2020 and has made employment possible for over 100 individuals since that time. Human Resource professionals Peggy Willfong and Mike Buehrer have championed the effort and continue to make permanent employment for those returning home from incarceration a possibility in the region. They treat Damascus employees with the same level of potential and respect as their direct hire employees.

"We care about all our associates," said Mike. "We've been very transparent and there are no preconceived notions with anyone."

Among the workers that have converted to permanent Nissen employees, four of them have entered Nissen's Technical Training Program, where associates can increase their skill base and prepare for a career, not just a job. Among those workers is Ryan Parker, who also appears in the Nissen facebook promotion.

Mike and Peggy reiterated their goal to be an organization that provides both support and a pathway to men and women who work there. They mirror the Damascus mission to meet people where they are and walk alongside, even when things sometimes get sideways.

"We understand there are external forces that cause problems," Mike said. "One-off situations do occur. We know there are things employees cannot control, and we hold them accountable where we should."

That level of commitment creates a partnership where individuals returning from incarceration and into the workforce can learn, advance, work out the bugs and fears, and contribute to their communities and families. As Client Rep Brea Muzykoski knows, it makes all the difference when she is preparing Damascus workers for a job.

"(Nissen) has been great to work with," she said. "Whether it's working with people around personal time or the ebbs and flow of life or the halfway house, Peggy and Mike and the whole environment is very supportive of our workers."

More information about Nissen is available at www.nissenchemitec.com.

Damascus Spotlight: Kaitlin Rolli - Reentry Coordinator 

When Damascus Reentry Coordinator, Kaitlin Rolli, wanted to impact incarceration and reentry after graduating from Michigan State University, she found the mission that matched her goals--but it was in Ohio, not Michigan.

"I moved to Ohio for Damascus because I knew it was unlike any other efforts in the reentry world that I had seen in Michigan or even heard of," Kaitlin said. "Starting somewhere new with an organization tackling the obstacles of reentry from the inside out was exactly what I wanted to pursue."

Kaitlin joined Damascus in 2019 as the Reentry Coordinator, a role that includes preparing all the materials for the prison classes and coordinating/attending the prison graduations for the Damascus Reentry Classes throughout Ohio. Her favorite part of the role: being the first point of contact for Damascus Graduates when they return home from incarceration. 

Damascus Graduation at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio

To date, there are nearly 500 Damascus Reentry Graduates; over 50% of them have returned home and most have contacted the Damascus office to seek employment or simply say hello. Kaitlin tracks the Graduates where possible, in order to foster research and remain connected with solutions.

When people contact the office, Kaitlin welcomes them home, discusses their situation and Life Plan with them, and connects them with the appropriate Damascus Facilitator and Client Rep if they are seeking employment.  Sometimes, Graduates call Damascus to simply hear Kaitlin's familiar and supportive voice. She is excited to continue to elevate the reentry solutions and produce change that is noticeable to both those returning home and society in general. In addition to her reentry coordination activities, Kaitlin is also part of the Stanford dschool Action Lab Team to design reentry housing. She is a vocal advocate of the Damascus mission and the potential.

"In the future, I hope Damascus is able to continue our curriculum in all prisons, in more than just Ohio," Kaitlin said. "I'm really proud of the heart and dedication that Damascus carries throughout its mission."

CEO Todd Marallen & CSO Christine Marallen

Mission and Vision

Our Mission

To be the standard bearer in unconventional, scalable and sustainable solutions in incarceration, reentry, and the workforce in order to elevate individuals, communities, corporations and the country.

Our Vision

To solve an expansive and expensive social problem and permanently change the narrative about incarceration and reentry in the United States.