“Two years ago, I had no idea I was going to be where I am now,” Dylan says.
When Dylan first came to Chrysalis, he wasn’t thinking about mentoring others or building new programs. He had just been released from prison after nearly seven years and was focused on one thing—getting back on his feet. His parole officer told him about Chrysalis and our Roads program, and he showed up.
“I always thought I’d do some kind of road work or warehouse job for the rest of my life,” Dylan says. “That’s just what I assumed was my future.”
But possibility has a way of growing when someone gives you a chance. Dylan excelled in our transitional employment, eventually becoming a lead, then a supervisor. Along the way, he built a reputation as someone who got the job done and asked how he could do more. When we created a new position to coordinate client trainings for a new program, Dylan was ready to apply. His story is a powerful reminder that personal drive, when paired with the right support and resources, can lead to incredible growth. Now, as Internal Operations Training Manager, he’s helping lay the foundation for C-CREW, a new Chrysalis program designed to prepare clients for environmental response, construction, and beyond. He’s excited to develop broader training pathways—including certifications in safety, HAZWOPER, trauma-informed care, and de-escalation techniques—so that clients aren’t just qualified for the next job, but for a new chapter.
“Some of our clients don’t realize how much they already bring to the table,” he says. “They just need someone to show them the next step and to believe in them.
Dylan brings that uplifting energy with him everyday. “I want people to know they’re capable of more,” he says. “I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to feel stuck. And I also know what it’s like to break through that.” Today, Dylan is helping to build something that didn’t exist before. With every client he meets and every pathway he helps shape, he’s not just leading—he’s lighting the way. Thanks to your support, Chrysalis can continue opening doors, developing programs like C-CREW, and walking alongside people like Dylan—who are not only rebuilding their own lives, but reaching back to help the next person forward.