Our Team
HISTORY
“Ten years ago, God put a dream for freeing people from spiritual bondage on my heart. Over the years of serving the needs of our local community, the vision for a home that breaks the generational chains of addiction is now coming to fruition.”
– Pastor Jonathan Evans, Elim Grace Church
From Left to Right: Image 1 – Diana Desens & Executive Director Dean Wright. Image 2 – Diana Desens & Founder Jonathan Evans. Image 3 – Amy Champlin, Alicia Vann, Dean Wright & Sammara Stowell. Image 4 – The Desens House ready to open in summer of 2023.
OUR NAME
The name ‘Desens’ is a tribute to one of the families instrumental in establishing Elim Grace Church. Recognizing the enduring impact of this founding family, the Desens House embodies the next chapter of Elim Grace Church, dedicated to a mission of hope and healing within the community.
OUR TEAM
Christine “Dean” Wright, Executive Director
Dean is passionate about networking with others to create a vibrant community of recovery and hope. She is dedicated to seeing her team thrive, grow and multiply into strong leaders within the Desens House tribe and the local community.
Alicia Vann, Associate Director
Alicia oversees The Desens House Residential Program, she is passionate about helping women find hope and freedom in Jesus. When she’s not working with residents, she oversees the desens house recovery community weekly meals, events and outreach.
Amy Champlin, Recovery Advocate
Amy is the boots on the ground advocate for women in recovery. She serves as a role model, mentor, advocate and motivator to recovering individuals in order to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery.
OUR BOARD
Pastor Jonathan Evans’
Board Chair
Jonathan is the senior pastor at Elim Grace Church, and has served the needs of the local community for many years. More than ten years ago, after visiting the Betel campus in Mexico, which has been “dedicated to restoring substance-dependent and marginalized people to productive and independent lifestyles,” Jonathan envisioned what a program like Betel could bring to the community of Oswego. He provides spiritual, pastoral and emotional leadership to the board.
Jodi Smith,
Board Member
Jodi Smith has a degree in nursing from Roberts Wesleyan College and has worked at Upstate Hospital beginning in the fall of 2017. She is deeply passionate about helping and serving others and loved working in the ICU as a pediatric nurse. Jodi was exposed to the trauma of substance use disorder as she watched a family member struggle with addiction to heroin. She visited her family member in jail, rehab, halfway houses and always believed that it’s never too late to hope for freedom.
Teresa Woolson, Board Treasurer
Teresa has a passion for helping others and is connected with many of the service agencies in Oswego County. She has been to trainings on substance use disorder, coalitions, harm reduction, etc and has planned and carried out many different events in our community. After her son died from synthetic drugs purchase in a store in Oswego in 2012, Teresa started a non-profit organization to promote awareness of the dangers of synthetic drugs. She has been advocating and educating about synthetic drugs and addiction since then. She has traveled to Washington and Albany for legislative purposes regarding addiction and the laws surrounding synthetic drugs.
William King, Board Vice Chair
Bill King and his wife of 43 years, AnnMarie, have “come up through the ranks” at Elim Grace Church. They have significantly impacted the lives of those around them while serving Elim Grace Church for over 31 years.
Rachael Stahl, Board Secretary
Rachael has a degree in Social Work and is a Licensed MSW in New York State. She currently practices mental health therapy through Connextcare. She is passionate about intervening with individuals and families to break generational cycles of abuse and trauma. She is trained in a variety of therapy types, as well as trauma informed care. Her expertise in Social Work will be significant as we assist our participants in getting the resources needed to live lives of health and freedom.
Mary-Margaret Pekow,
Board Member
Mary-Margaret graduated from Adelphi University with a master’s in social work and spent the first several years of her career working within the NYC area. She married and had 2 kids while living in NYC and then in 2003 her family re-located to the Central NY area. She has worked at Catholic Charities for approximately 20 years; 16 years as the Executive Director. Over the years she has volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader and a girls Softball coach. She plans on being at Catholic Charities until she retires!
Over the past several years, The Desens House has been fortunate to cultivate a strong network of peer advocates, recovery allies, and community members who wholeheartedly embrace our mission. These volunteers consistently demonstrate their commitment by preparing meals, teaching classes, offering rides, engaging in community outings, and sharing their compassion. We deeply appreciate their unwavering support, which is essential to the success of our endeavors!
