In my journey of long-term recovery from substance use disorder, I've faced numerous challenges, spending years in and out of the justice system. The past 8 years have marked a transformative period for me, and the introduction of Suboxone played a pivotal role in saving my life. ACHR was instrumental in my rehabilitation, particularly in job development. Today, as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Reentry Center, I am driven by a passion to create a program that empowers and inspires individuals in their recovery journey, providing them with essential skills and opportunities. Advocating for peer support, driving change, and combating the stigma surrounding substance use and mental health issues are central to my mission. Beyond my professional role, I cherish my identity as a mother of two beautiful girls, draw inspiration from the works of my favorite author, Brene Brown, and have a deep love for RED Chile. My story is one of resilience, growth, and a commitment to living authentically.
A proud native of New Mexico and UNM Communications alum, Fred brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership spanning over a decade. With a background that includes serving in the Peace Corps for two impactful years and an additional two years with AmeriCorps, Fred currently serves as the programs director for the NM Re-entry Center and sits on the Board of Directors with the New Mexico Department of Health.
Fred's commitment to community involvement extends over 15 years, encompassing various facets such as operations, event organization, fundraising, and collaborative initiatives across the state. With over 20 years of experience in interpersonal, social, and organizational networking,
Passionate in fostering connections, inspiring collaborations, and empowering others within this vibrant community. Proudly immersed in this space, he has cultivated valuable bonds, friendships, and meaningful experiences that continue to enrich the nonprofit sector in New Mexico.
A lifelong Albuquerque resident. Joseph is the current Director of Non-Profit Operations for a local Non-Profit based here in Albuquerque called Fathers Building Futures (FBF). FBF’s mission is to help parents experiencing the barriers of incarceration receive the best opportunities for stability emotionally, socially, and financially. They provide their clients with Peer lead vocational opportunities in the woodshop and soon will include welding. On the program side of FBF they offer parenting classes, financial education peer support, life skills training, and much more. Mr. Shaw started with FBF as a client when he was released from incarceration in Dec. 2012 and stayed with the organization to better himself to keep him from going back to the old lifestyle he used to live including drugs, violence, and repeatedly going in and out of Jail. Mr. Shaw also the former Executive Director of FBF has obtained multiple certifications to better himself and pass on to the clients in their program including a Class A&B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). An OSHA 10 and OSHA 30, 40 hours of NCCER Basic Construction Safety training he was a certified CPR First Aid & AED Instructor and is also has a certification to Train the Trainer in Passenger Securement. Over the past 8 yrs, Mr. Shaw has had the opportunity and privilege to work side by side with over 400+ fathers returning home from prison. Currently, Joseph sits as a Board Advisor for VIANTE NM and also has a seat on the Albuquerque Community Foundations Community Impact Committee.
Dedicated licensed realtor with 18+ years of Residential and Commercial real estate experience. Passionate and dynamic, committed to helping clients achieve their real estate goals. Patience, perspective, integrity, a sense of humor and the ability to analyze data with context are the most important qualities of a good broker.
Residential real estate transactions can be stressful for many reasons and one of a broker’s most important roles is to listen to what people need and keep things calm. Silesha has been a top producer of her Companies since she started in 2005, first in New Construction and entering into Resale in 2006, she has been in the top 5% in sales & currently earned her way into the Luxury Team & NM Select, New Mexico’s top agents. All of this is a result of her passion and empathy for the clients she serves.
I am Michelle Williams, a certified nurse midwife and women's health nurse practitioner and I currently work for Bosque Women’s Care. I moved to Albuquerque in early 2020 but now I’m rooted down. My husband and I recently purchased a home in the historic Barelas neighborhood, where we live with my two stepkids and a dog. I have always been passionate about advocating for people in need, which is why I was drawn to the NMRC. I believe every individual has the chance to succeed when they have support and equal access to resources and education. I am all about empowering people!
Briony has a background in program management and development, and she has worked in both the nonprofit and public sectors. She grew up in the UK and moved to New Mexico for graduate school, and she has an MA in Linguistics and an MS in Law. Briony has worked in contracts management at UNM and most recently at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, where she oversees day-to-day HR operations.
Briony has also worked as an education consultant in Nambé Pueblo, and she was a member of the election campaign team for NM State Senator Brenda McKenna. She was a volunteer program developer at Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, and a crisis worker at Agora Crisis Center. Briony is thrilled to be a board member for the New Mexico Re-Entry Center and to have the opportunity serve the community she has come to call home. She loves to travel around the country with her spouse and daughter.
Angel Garcia is the Social Services Manager for the City of Albuquerque’s Violence Intervention Program. It is a public health approach to reducing gun violence in our communities by providing resources to victim/offenders and their families. Angel understands the pain and suffering that people are dealing with and wants to help in any way he can. After 20 + years as an active gang member in the streets of Los Angeles and 12 years of incarceration, Angel has now dedicated his life to saving lives by intervening in the vicious cycles of violence that some in our community are stuck in. He is using his negative past to foster positive futures.
Danny Diederich serves as the Executive Director of Icarus Behavioral, where he finds deep fulfillment in his work within the realm of recovery. With a decade of sobriety under his belt, Danny's journey in the treatment field began at the onset of his own recovery journey. Having endured 16 years in prison, he intimately understands the struggles of reentry and the daunting challenge of rebuilding one's life from scratch. Danny's passion lies in providing unwavering support to individuals emerging from incarceration, offering them hope and guidance as they embark on their journey to reclaim their lives.