Thank You

Today is my last day in the office in my role as the first Executive Director of the KCRCO. From the very beginning I have had a strong desire to create an organization that is welcoming to all who walk in our building. I have had the goal of ensuring we don’t have barriers to our friends who come to us seeking resources to support their lives in recovery. I have wanted to hire staff and have volunteers on board who believe in the mission of the KCRCO in all ways. Our board is something I have strived to have filled with community members who have a true passion for what the KCRCO does in the community on a daily basis. As I wrap up my time in this role and move on to the next chapter I am confident that I have achieved each of the expectations I have set for my work with the KCRCO as the Executive Director.

I first learned about Recovery Community Organizations during my Masters research and the concept peaked my interest. Later, when doing more research during my doctoral work the idea was again on my mind. It was in 2019 that I first created a board and began the work of putting together the necessary pieces to bring to fruition what we have today that the entire community knows and loves as a vital resource in our community helping our community members in recovery support and sustain their lives in recovery.

We started with zero dollars in those early days. I had a vision and plan and I surrounded myself with others who believed in the cause. From those early days I heard again and again that our community wanted this entity to become a reality. We went from zero dollars to $20,000 to over $150,000 in our first year. Our 2024 budget is over $340,000. This speaks to the power of having a strong vision, creating a strategic plan, and following through on all fronts.

Our foot traffic and our attendance at all of our events speaks for itself. When we first opened we had a handful of attendees at our initial programming events. Literally, it was just a few, but, the momentum picked up and 2023 has been huge in all ways. Our 2023 numbers show a 363% increase in traffic at our building from the same time last year. We interacted with 1,299 peers who walked into the building. This is phenomenal growth from those very first days when we were only open for events. The need for support for people in recovery is huge and shows no signs of slowing down.

There is no way the KCRCO would be what it is today without the help of many. From our community stakeholders who have been behind me from day one, to our newest staff who have been hired to further the mission of the KCRCO, I am eternally grateful for your support and I know there is no way the KCRCO would have the success it does today without your help.

I often say “I am just a kid from the streets of Tacoma”.....nobody special really. A guy who went from complete life turmoil with an active substance use disorder and landing in a jail cell again and again to the amazing life I have today in all ways.

With the KCRCO it really was an area I had never walked into before. I had experience starting private businesses, but the nonprofit world was one I had not navigated. I took what I know to be true in all walks of life into this venture. Do your homework, ask questions, enlist the help of others, and keep moving forward no matter what. The result is what you get to see in the beauty of the KCRCO.

For 2024 I will be behind the scenes and will be available to KCRCO for technical support and mentorship for leadership. I often say, it’s not like I am disappearing all together. While I will no longer be the face of the KCRCO I will always be the founder and I will always have some involvement over the next few years.

I thank each and every one of you for your support to this day, and I ask you to continue to support the work of the KCRCO in 2024 and beyond.

Respectfully, David A Douglas Executive Director/Founder KCRCO