David has been on a healing path since he became clean and sober in 1985. He is the father of three sons, and has a 9-month-old granddaughter, Emmylou!  He has been a carpenter since he was 15. 

While in a Buddhist chaplaincy program, the opportunity presented itself to apply to become a GRIP facilitator in 2018. As good fortune would have it, there was an opening at Avenal State Prison, where David has been a facilitator ever since. The mentorship has been phenomenal for David, as has the experience of witnessing the outstanding integrity of his fellow facilitators.

Above all, to share with and learn from incarcerated folks, walking shoulder to shoulder while working the wondrous alchemy of the GRIP program, has been the most transformative experience of David’s life, second only to the freedom found through sobriety in his youth.