​When Crystal Stroop talks about the life she is building today, her voice carries something she once thought she’d lost for good: hope. “I now know I can do anything I set my mind to, and I now decided to set my mind to making sure that others get the same chance at hope and healing.”

For years, addiction shaped the rhythm of her days and decisions. It brought her into cycles she desperately wanted to break and laed to multiple periods of incarceration. Each time, she tried to steady herself on the outside—but without support, the pull back into old patterns felt almost inevitable. 

A lifetime of being told “you’re not capable enough or worthy enough,” had done a lot of damage to her self-esteem and her sense of direction in life. Unhealthy relationships had done their part to drive her into addiction and keep her imprisoned there for a long time. “I didn’t want to keep living that way,” she says now. “But I didn’t know how to do anything different.”

The turning point came when she made the decision to seek real help. She came to Gemeinschaft Home’s women’s house, where—for the first time—she felt surrounded by people who refused to give up on her, even when she struggled. After completing the six months program, she spent additional time at Oxford House to continue her journey, deepening her recovery and learning the tools to build a stable, sustainable life.

She graduated successfully. And then she did something extraordinary: she came back to Gemeinschaft Home. “It’s all thanks to the people there, to Megan Glick and Sharon McAvoy. Sharon offered me a job, and I couldn’t not accept it. Gemeinschaft Home is really making a difference in so many peoples’ lives, and I wanted to be part of that.” Even though Crystal still learns about the ins and outs of the organization’s daily operations, she is already cherishes the opportunity to walk alongside individuals whose stories look a lot like her own. 

She is becoming the kind of steady, empathetic guide she once needed—someone who understands the realities of addiction and incarceration not from textbooks, but from lived experience.
 
Her colleagues describe her as patient, grounded, and “the person you want in the room when someone is trying to find their footing again.” 
Her goals continue to grow. She plans to return to school to earn a degree in social work, hoping to deepen her ability to advocate for people navigating the system she knows so well.

And there are personal victories, too—ones that don’t fit neatly on résumés but matter more than anything else. She has reconnected with her children and is working every day to rebuild trust and presence, especially with her oldest daughter. Healing takes time, she says, but for the first time in nearly two decades, she can envision holidays, birthdays, and everyday moments where her family sees her—the version of herself she’s fought hard to reclaim.

“This is the first Christmas in nineteen years that I’m actually looking forward to,” she shared in a recent staff meeting. “I get to show up for it. Really show up.”

Her story is not neat or simple. It is real, courageous, and still unfolding. And in her work, she embodies what re-entry programs like Gemeinschaft Home make possible: not just recovery, but renewal; not just stability, but purpose.

If you spend even a few minutes talking with Will, one thing becomes immediately clear: he is a man in the middle of a powerful transformation — one shaped by honesty, struggle, and a newly discovered sense of purpose.

At 53 years old, Will carries the weight of a long, complicated past, but he also carries something just as strong: hope. Will spent decades caught in addiction and crime, a path that led him in and out of prison.

“I spent 28 years selling, using, being around people who used,” he says. “My whole circle was doing it. I damaged myself. I damaged family. I damaged everything.” He explains, “Recovery means recovering the damage you caused. It means opening up and facing everything you ran from.”

He arrived at Gemeinschaft Home the first time in 2021 and completed nine months in the program, including two earned extensions. However, in January 2025, he was referred again to Gemeinschaft Home through the local Recovery Court Program after relapsing— a fortunate second chance—but it has continued to be a tough journey for Will. Even after several relapses over the past year, which landed him in treatment for 30 days each time, the Gemeinschaft Home staff welcomed him back with encouragement rather than judgment.

“They didn’t give up on me,” he says. “That made me open up. Made me talk more. Let me show who I really am.”
Will now admits that while participating in the program in 2021, “I didn’t open up. This time, I’ve learned I have to talk. I have to be honest. I have to try.”

And that’s exactly what he’s doing.

“I have purpose now,” he says. “For so long I lived negative — fast money, fast lifestyle, always moving. Now I’m learning to understand myself in a positive way.”

Will is on track to graduate in January 2026.

​Kayla Comer, 23 has been at Gemeinschaft Home for 41 days. She points to the structure and safe environment of the program as success factors for her to maintain a positive outlook and keep perspective. She gets a lot from discussions with her peers during group sessions, never feeling alone in the experience. After the program, she hopes to find a good job and to be there for her child as an active mother. She says Gemeinschaft is a good place to start over, that “this place keeps people from going backward.”

At Gemeinschaft for about six weeks, Kevin Cruz, 27 cites the benefits of the program’s structure and the opportunity to discuss difficult subjects with others, to open up to his peers in a safe environment that is free from judgement. His advice to anyone entering the program for the first time is to be open to helping whoever they can.

​While at first unsure about the experience, Tara Keagy, 45 now calls Gemeinschaft Home the best program in the local area. She says the structure helps her to stay accountable and on track and that the staff are helpful and always available. She enjoys meeting new people in the house and being exposed to those from different backgrounds who all still share one common goal—progress. Tara wants to prove to herself and her kids that she has changed for the better. After graduation, Tara hopes to rent an apartment and to continue working on herself and relationships with her family.

​At the end of 90 days, Matthew Redding, 34, says his favorite parts of the program were the life skills classes and group sessions, knowing that he had people to help him get through difficult discussions. The program has taught him that being able to ask for help is important, and his first goal after graduation is more education to earn a commercial driver’s license so that he can have a stable career to support himself independently.

​

Gemeinschaft Home is proud to announce that Defense Attorney Aaron Cook has been honored with the prestigious Change Agent of the Year Award. This esteemed award celebrates Mr. Cook's exceptional efforts in driving positive change towards social and restorative justice for all in the Shenandoah Valley community.
 
The Change Agent of the Year Award recognizes individuals who embody a deep commitment to promoting equity, fairness, and inclusivity through their professional endeavors, volunteerism, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. Aaron Cook's relentless dedication to advancing the cause of social and restorative justice has made a lasting impact on the lives of many.
 
Mr. Cook will be presented with this esteemed award at the inaugural Agency of Change Event (ACE) on September 22, 2023. ACE is a fundraising gala organized by Gemeinschaft Home, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of justice-involved individuals through cutting-edge programming. The event aims to raise funds to support Gemeinschaft Home's mission and create awareness about the transformative power of restorative justice.
 
"We are thrilled to honor Aaron Cook as the Change Agent of the Year," said Sharon McAvoy, Executive Director of Gemeinschaft Home. "His unwavering commitment to social and restorative justice has positively impacted our community and inspires others to join the movement. Aaron's dedication and tireless efforts exemplify the values we hold dear at Gemeinschaft Home."
 
As a respected defense attorney in Harrisonburg, Aaron Cook has demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges faced by justice-involved individuals. His compassionate approach, combined with his legal expertise, has helped countless individuals reconcile their past and build a brighter future. Through his advocacy, Mr. Cook has tirelessly worked to reduce recidivism rates and create pathways for successful reintegration into society.
 
"I am deeply honored to receive the Change Agent of the Year Award," expressed Aaron Cook. "This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the community and the incredible work done by Gemeinschaft Home. It is my privilege to be part of a movement that promotes social and restorative justice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the positive transformation of lives."
 
The Agency of Change Event promises to be an extraordinary evening, featuring a captivating program that includes a live auction, a mesmerizing performance by award-winning magician Christophe Fox, and a gourmet dining experience. By attending this event, community members can actively contribute to Gemeinschaft Home's mission and create a lasting impact in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
 
For more information about the Agency of Change Event, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket sales, please visit www.GemeinschaftHome.org/events.
 
 About Cook Attorneys:
Cook Attorneys is a respected law firm based in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Led by Defense Attorney Aaron Cook, the firm is dedicated to providing top-tier legal representation and advocating for the rights of individuals in the criminal justice system.
 
Media Contact:
Jennifer Sodikoff
Event Consultant
Contemplate Marketing
Phone: (925) 360-1533
Email: [email protected]

In July, Gemeinschaft Home was one of six organizations awarded grant funds (nearly $70,000) from the City of Harrisonburg to support mental health services in the local area. The grant came from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, and Gemeinschaft Home will provide expanded opportunities for criminal justice involved individuals in the community who struggle with mental health issues and are not already involved in one of Gemeinschaft Home’s current reentry programs. Still in the planning stages, the program will soon include additional space, centrally located downtown, for mental health screening, group sessions, and peer support services.

A​t the end of 2022, Aaron Harris joined the Gemeinschaft Home team as a case manager, working with men enrolled in the residential program on Mt. Clinton Pike.

At age 56, Harris brings a range of life experience to the job, which gives him a unique perspective when engaging with program participants.

Born in upstate New York, Harris has lived all over the country, from his high school graduation during the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida to time spent on the west coast working in the restaurant industry in the San Francisco Bay area until the late 1990s.

Drug and alcohol use is rampant among many restaurant workers, owing to high stress environments and grueling hours, and Harris has struggled over the years with addiction.

He returned to upstate New York in the early 2000s to be near his family and to seek help for substance abuse.

After participating in a residential program at an ARC (Adult Rehabilitation Center), Harris began to focus on his future, first enrolling in community college courses in 2005 and later graduating with a degree in English and fine arts from Keuka College.

Harris says that his experience in the ARC program introduced him to the concept and importance of social work and community-based services for individuals in need, and he started to notice that “there are a lot of people in the world who either were not getting help they need or not enough.”

Harris also married and started a family during this period, and eventually relocated to Harrisonburg, Virginia to attend the Master of Fine Arts program at James Madison University.

He graduated in 2011 and remained in Virginia but continued to struggle periodically with addiction and eventually enrolled in a six-month residential program (ARC) offered by the he Salvation Army in Virginia Beach.

Harris’ experience in this program solidified his desire to pursue a career in human services, and he was hired by the Salvation Army to work for the program after he successfully completed it.

He spent several years working for the organization, starting out at the front desk, but later moving into positions of higher responsibility, which includes becoming a house manager and most recently the intake coordinator.

Because his family lives in Harrisonburg, Harris returned to the area to pursue his current position at Gemeinschaft Home and to be near his children.

As case manager, he draws from his own life experiences to engage with current participants and to offer a path forward without judgement. Harris’ philosophy is “Yeah, I have been there, but look at me now, I am proof that you can do it,” adding “We are not defined by our past. We are who we are now.”

He says the job brings many challenges but argues that “as long as you come in with a good level of sincerity,” success is possible.

During a ceremony on May 10, Gemeinschaft Home was one of two organizations awarded a $5,000 grant by undergraduate students at James Madison University. Under the guidance of Dr. Terry Fernsler, an adjunct professor in the Department of Social Work, students taking his Spring 2023 course in Grant writing for Agencies offered a call for proposals aimed at local area nonprofits to support their missions. Each participating nonprofit submitted a project idea and was then paired with students in the class to write a grant proposal to be judged and awarded by a committee of classmates.

​Working with Gemeinschaft Home’s grant writer, Jennifer Jacovitch, juniors Kaitlyn Johnson and Samantha Dean, crafted a project that would establish a paid student internship position at Gemeinschaft Home who would facilitate a JMU-student-based volunteer and/or fundraising project for the organization. The project was awarded the grant along with the other winning grant project submitted by Skyline Literacy.

In the spring of 2022, a group of student volunteers from James Madison University constructed a small number of 18in x 36in boxes for planting vegetables. Coordinated by Jenna Piersol, from JMU’s Community Service-Learning unit, the students placed the boxes on stands located on the west-side porch at the men’s residence on Mt. Clinton Pike.

​This spring, another group of students re-planted the boxes with a variety of vegetables, lettuces, and herbs that are used for cooking in the house. The vegetable garden provides another way for residents to learn about healthy living practices, and there are plans to construct vegetable boxes for the women’s residence soon.