Dr. Dickie grew up in the small northern town of Wabush, Labrador, NFLD. She knew at a young age that she would find passion in fighting for the marginalized. She obtained a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, which provides her with the specialized skill set needed to be most effective in the justice system. One of her most profound training experiences was the privilege of working with Ojibwe elders in Canada, who taught her to see the humanity in people who hurt others and to incorporate culture into the delivery of mental health services. The tale Wolves expresses the spirit of our approach.
For over 25 years, she has dedicated her life to reducing violence and victimization, found joy in creating more effective and therapeutic outcomes for justice-involved individuals. The Healthy Lifestyles Program leads with compassion and is underscored by the belief “ Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with others' darkness. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” Pema Chodron
Ultimately, change is possible, and it must start with recognizing humanity in individuals who, at times, cause the most harm but want something else for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Dr. Dickie’s vision is to create a Transformative Living Community residential campus for 18-24 emerging adults involved in the justice system, where she can offer the Healthy Lifestyles Program in collaboration with her team of interdisciplinary, specialty-trained professionals. The Healthy Lifestyles program is grounded in evidence-based mental health care that helps people become their most successful selves. She has been running the HLP program in the Louisville Community since 2009. Most recently, in a maximum-security program in Lagrange. The men who have completed it have returned to Louisville, and at this time, the Healthy Lifestyles Program has an 80% success rate.
The Legend of the Two Wolves
A battle is going on inside each one of us. It is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One wolf is hurtful and ugly. The wolf is angry, envious, greedy, self-pitying, sorrowful, regretful, guilty, resentful, deceitful, and full of false pride, selfish, and arrogant. The other wolf is helpful and friendly, joyful, peaceful, loving, hopeful, serene, humble, kind, just, and compassionate. This same fight is going on inside of you and inside of every human being. The question is, “Which wolf will win?” The answer is, “The one you feed.”
Our Mission
We are committed to promoting a justice response centered on healing, accountability, resilience, and safety for all impacted by the legal system.
Our Core Principles
Mental health is at the core of our approach. We believe that emotional, psychological, and social well-being are interconnected.
Am I Not Human?
A call for criminal justice reform
For a crime he committed in his early twenties, the courts sentenced Marlon Peterson to 10 years in prison -- and, as he says, a lifetime of irrelevance. While behind bars, Peterson found redemption through a penpal mentorship program with students from Brooklyn. In this brave talk, he reminds us why we should invest in the humanity of those people society would like to disregard and discard.
Healing
We prioritize providing healing spaces for individuals impacted by criminal behavior, acknowledging their journey towards light and love.
Trauma-Informed Approach
Recognizing that those who cause harm are often trauma survivors themselves, we address the root causes of criminal behavior.
Cultures of Support
Creating communities grounded in love, kindness and humility, we redifine accountability and support.