Our visionary leader Mr. Dean Williams announced his departure from Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections on November 9, 2022, after four years of impassioned service to thousands of incarcerated people, CDOC staff and our larger Colorado community. The following day, after his announcement, he joined the With(in) team in-person, and virtually, at the new Beacon at Skyline: A Correctional Community for a final, closing interview with our team. In Episode 23 of WIth(in), "Through the Fire", we reflect with Mr. Williams on his four years of leadership and service to CDOC, and on his profound impact on us, and on so many others.
Mr. Williams, "thank you" will never do it justice. Your commitment to the good, hard work over the past four years, and the years before that that led you to us, has opened new realities and altered so many lives for the better -- all because you answered your calling. From our very first episode of With(in) -- "The Shift" in Summer 2019 -- to this episode -- "Through the Fire" in Winter 2022 (3 1/2 years later) -- know that you have shifted the ground. You have shifted lives. You have shifted the paradigm. You have shifted what is possible. We are forever grateful and forever honored to have served with you, and to continue our work onward.
You can find Episode 23 of With(in) "Through the Fire - A Parting Conversation with Dean Williams" on thisiswithin.com, Apple podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.