In this month’s newsletter, we celebrate the launch of our inspiring #StrongLikeAMother campaign, commemorate the historic milestone of the grand opening of the Doswell Medical Building, appreciate the kind-heartedness of our SMU volunteers and share a powerful story from Melissa, a Nexus alumna.
Support
#StrongLikeAMother
This May, in honor of Mother’s Day, Nexus Family Recovery Center proudly launched its second annual #StrongLikeAMother campaign, a powerful tribute to the strength and resilience of mothers in recovery. The initiative aims to raise awareness andsupport of Nexus’ Pregnant and Parenting Women with Children (PPWC) program, one of the few in Texas that allows mothers to receive treatment while staying with their children.
Throughout the month, Nexus is spotlighting four inspiring women—Cathleen Griffith, Melissa Stallings, Capriesha Whitley, and Emily Wickard—whose personal journeys show that recovery is possible, families can heal, and stigmas can be broken. Each honoree has an individual fundraising page, inviting the community to support their stories and Nexus’ mission.
“The #StrongLikeAMother campaign highlights the incredible resilience of mothers in recovery and the power of a compassionate support system like Nexus,” said Heather Ormand, CEO of Nexus and a mother in recovery herself. “This campaign is a reminder that real, lasting change begins with dignity, support, and community.”
With 8.7 million children living in households where a parent struggles with substance use, Nexus is committed to breaking the cycle of substance use disorder and family separation. Funds raised through this campaign will directly benefit the PPWC program, helping mothers access comprehensive care without being separated from their children.
Support the campaign and read the stories of these courageous women by clicking the button below.
Community
SMU Volunteers Make a Big Impact at Nexus During The Big Event!
At Nexus, we are committed to providing access to transformative care for women and their families impacted by substance use disorder and mental health challenges. Because we recognize how significant partnerships help foster a healing environment are, we were honored to welcome volunteers from Southern Methodist University (SMU) during The Big Event, a student-led day of service dedicated to giving back to the Dallas-Fort Worth community on April 5. Their dedication and hands-on support directly aligned with our mission, bringing both compassion and energy to the heart of our campus.
SMU students and faculty rolled up their sleeves to assist in our kitchen and organize closets in both the reception area and the Pregnant & Parenting Women with Children (PPWC) dorm. These efforts enhanced the functionality and warmth of our spaces—creating a more welcoming environment for the women and children we serve as they focus on healing and recovery.
The Big Event is SMU’s largest day of community service and is entirely student-run. While applications to join the organizing team open each semester, all students are encouraged to participate in service opportunities throughout the year.
We are truly grateful for SMU’s commitment to community engagement and for the volunteers who chose to support Nexus. Their work is a powerful example of how service can further our mission and make a lasting impact on the lives of the families we serve.
Are you or your organization interested in supporting our mission through volunteerism? Click the button below for more information.
Security
Nexus Unveils the new Doswell Medical Building at the Grand Opening
On May 1, Nexus proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Doswell Medical Building, marking a transformative milestone in the organization’s work to provide dignified, compassionate care for women and their children impacted by substance use and mental health disorders.
On June 1, Nexus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by leadership, donors, community partners, and local officials, to unveil the new 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. Speakers included Reverend Katie Newsome of Union Dallas, Nexus Chief Philanthropy Officer Cameron Hernholm, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua, Nexus Alumna and Recovery Coach Liz Bowman, Recovery Rising Campaign Co-Chairs Kristy and Raymond Faus, Nexus Chief Executive Officer Heather Emmanuel Ormand, and HKS Architecture, Inc. Design Director Chad Porter.
As the first completed project in Nexus’ multi-phase campus vision, the Doswell Medical Building will serve as the initial point-of-care for all incoming clients—offering 12 detox beds, expanded admissions services, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote healing and privacy.
“This facility is more than just bricks and mortar—it’s a symbol of hope, healing, and a fresh start,” said Nexus CEO Heather Ormand. “Thanks to the generous support of the Doswell Foundation and our community of donors, we’re delivering the quality care every woman and child at Nexus deserves.”
Designed by HKS with Chad Porter as Design Director the building emphasizes efficient care with tranquil common areas, group counseling spaces for Medication-Assisted Treatment, and enhanced medical facilities.
The Doswell Medical Building is a key part of Recovery Rising, Nexus’ $86 million capital campaign to rebuild the entire campus over the next eight years. “The Doswell Foundation is proud to support Nexus in providing a fresh start for so many,” said Beverly Fricke, Chairman and CEO of the Doswell Foundation. “This building stands as a testament to compassionate, high-quality care.”
As Nexus expands its services, the center aims to serve 5,500 individuals annually by 2031, doubling its current capacity and reinforcing its role as Texas’ leading nonprofit provider of substance use disorder treatment for women and children.
Dignity
Melissa – A Journey of Courage, Healing, and Hope
Melissa has been in recovery since January 24, 2023. Her path to healing has been one of extraordinary resilience. After surviving years of trauma, abuse, and substance use disorder, Melissa made the life-changing decision to seek help—and found hope at Nexus. Growing up as an only child in a fractured home, Melissa often felt like the outsider. Her struggles began early, and over time, compounded by abusive relationships and chronic pain, she found herself trapped in substance use disorder. But everything changed when she found Nexus. She entered treatment in early 2023 and began a new chapter.
Melissa participated in detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programming, and Nexus’s Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program—services she credits with saving her life.
“Nexus helped me understand that I’m not crazy, and that I deserve healing,” Melissa shared. “Because of Nexus, I got to be sober when my grandmother passed. I have a better relationship with my daughter and my grandchildren, and I’m learning how to love myself.”
What stood out most to Melissa was the compassion of the Nexus staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—and the strength she found in the women-only environment. She was recognized with a certificate for her compassion during treatment, a testament to her growth and connection with others.
Today, Melissa enjoys time on the lake with her partner of 10 years, arts and crafts, and quiet moments of reflection. Her dream is to travel more and continue healing alongside her family. To the donors and supporters of Nexus, she says: “Thank you. I owe you my life. Thank you for giving me another chance to live—and to get it right this time.”
Melissa’s story is a powerful reminder recovery is possible, and that with right support, lives can be transformed—one day at a time.