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Who are the people behind SISTER House?
The Board of Directors
Karin Wells, President
I am on the SISTER House Board because I believe real opportunities need to exist for women who are returning from prison. The current re-entry system
is built on a sink-or-swim approach, and a large number of the women do not have access to the support network and resources they need. For several years I have worked for social and economic
justice in both my personal and professional life. In my current position at a non-profit organization, I study a broad spectrum of education-related issues,
including how accessible college is for low-income people.
Also, I have volunteered at food pantries, homeless shelters, and community centers, and have helped with community organizing.
Holly Tunak, Secretary
I have been involved with SISTER House since it was an idea and a goal of a group of women to provide some type of housing to assist women returning from prison or
completing a recovery program (like ARC House) who need for a little more guidance and a safe place to live. I’ve been involved with the Arc House program here in Madison
(a 4 month drug and alcohol recovery program for women) for nine years as a volunteer and also served on its Advisory Board. I strongly feel that with guidance, encouragement and accountability
women can make a new life for themselves. For the past 20 years I’ve been employed as the Director of Development for a retirement community. I worked for a law firm for 14 years
as a support staff member prior to that. Since moving to the Madison area in 1997 I’ve found a passion for assisting women who have struggled with addiction and
who need encouragement so that they can have a better life.
Janice Newell, Treasurer
I am on the board of SISTER House because I believe in sharing the blessings and talents I have been given.
My father passed away because of his alcoholism, and I want to help other people because I can no longer help him.
I see the need for women transitioning from prison to find jobs, affordable housing, and a sense of “purpose.”
These are all difficult to find in our area.
I am currently working as a marketing assistant at a civil and environmental engineering firm.
I also volunteer at church in the children’s ministry, the couple’s ministry, and the women’s ministry.
Outside of church, I volunteer at the ARC House in Madison.
Mary Carrasco
I am a Hispanic woman, born and raised in Chicago. I moved to Madison in 1999. My motive was to raise my children in a more settled,
drug-free, and clean environment. Currently I am a graduate student striving for my MBA. I have a bachelor's degree in business management and an associate
degree in real estate. I am also a recovering alcoholic and addict who recently celebrated ten years of sobriety. It's truly by God's grace and a 12-step program
that I am alive and enjoying my life. My goal and dream today is to help empower other women and to share the message that recovery, education, and employment
are possible. With commitment and dedication to a better way of life for yourself, any dream can be obtained.
Jerome Dillard
I am a re-entry specialist at a Madison-area non-profit.
I have come to learn that returning women are in particular need of services, as most of the resources are devoted to returning men.
Returning women's biggest need is a solid place - a safe and
nurturing place, but a place where they will be held accountable. They need a place where they can take the blows, and ups and downs, of re-entry.
Without a solid base, there is a small window of time before the women will revert back to their old ways of survival.
Tamra Oman
Born out of my own history of addiction and recovery, incarceration and freedom, is a passion to assist others in developing and delivering programs that
offer true rehabilitation opportunities. Since my own release from prison, I have dedicated myself to assisting individuals; creating programming specific to ex-offenders
and recovering persons who have multiple issues and concerns; seeking relevant trainings; working with agencies, providers, coordinators, and educators; and getting an
education that focuses on all of these things and promotes cultural competence on all levels. I truly believe in order to have a successful formula for recovery all
parties must be involved, and be on board, in the development of the programming so that everyone will have a vested interest in its success.
I have been on various boards in the community and feel privileged to be a part of the solution rather than focusing solely on the problem.
I am an AODA counselor. Also, I am a contracted agent facilitating groups in prisons, and for over five years I have created re-entry programming.
My professional position is with state government doing much of what is described above.
In addition, I continue to make relationships in the community and to assist people who are working to become the persons they are created to be.
I believe in people. I believe in change. I believe it is time.
Andrea Petersen
In 2010, I completed a bachelor's degree in social work and am now working for a nonprofit community-based organization. I am also in recovery. All women, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances,
need a safe and stable place to call home. I am dedicated to making SISTER House such a place.
Debi Shepherd-Wundrow
I am passionately concerned with issues involving women and children. I am involved with SISTER House because I believe we can make a difference
in helping to affect change in women’s lives and this then directly impacts families. Making good choices and accepting responsibility for those choices
is daunting to most people, but even more so when our options are limited. Women coming from incarceration and/or treatment need education, guidance and
support. SISTER House will be an environment to affect change for these women. I grew up in northern Wisconsin and received my education degree at UW Madison
and I also hold a masters degree in educational psychology from UW Madison. For the last 31 years I have devoted my life to teaching. I have incorporated community service,
intergenerational projects, and social justice into my classes. For the last ten years I have volunteered for the ARC House (a halfway home for incarcerated/addicted women).
I also serve on the ARC Advisory board. My philosophy is together we can make the world a better place!
Special thanks to Iris Christensen, Laurie Bibo, and Cathy Ramos, who all helped lay the initial
groundwork for SISTER House.
Also special thanks to Jean Oseth, from Akuba Studios, who designed the SISTER house logo.
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Sisters in Sobriety Together Engaging Responsibly
A new vision for women returning from prison, jail, or AODA treatment