Debra Germany
Min. Debra Germany is the Executive Director of Divine Intervention Ministry (DIM), a faith-based organization dedicated to restoring the lives of incarcerated adults and at-risk youth.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ms. Germany is married and worked as an administrator at Carnegie Mellon University. She is a graduate of Geneva College with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership (MSOL), and a B.S. in Business from Point Park University.
Her life changed on July 9, 2001, when her only child, Raymond, was murdered – shot seven times in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Through the death of her son, she said DIM was birthed in her spirit. With God as her guide, Ms Germany is determined to reach back and help as many people as she can to know that with God, all things are possible. She truly believes that “if you have God in your life, you can do the impossible, reach the unreachable, and bear the unbearable.”
DIM started in 2002 by using billboards to bring attention to unsolved murders and to find community solutions to crime. It also sought to soothe grieving family members who lost loved ones to violence. But in 2006, it changed its direction to focus on restoring the lives of incarcerated adults and at-risk youth by launching the IMPACT (Interceding Making Positive Actions Come Together) program. IMPACT focuses on restoring the lives of incarcerated adults and at-risk youth through comprehensive assistance connecting individuals to available community resources necessary for a successful transition back into society and a productive lifestyle.
DIM specifically addresses the needs of at-risk youth as well as adults with a criminal record by providing criminal record management, along with verified referrals to local mental health providers, counseling, housing, workforce development, clothing and transportation support services.
In 2023 Divine Intervention Ministries (DIM) was selected as a community service partner by the Allegheny Department of Human Services (ADHS) for implementation of its new Community Violence Reduction Initiative transitional employment and service delivery program.
This program is adapted from the READI Chicago model and developed in partnership with Heartland Alliance. (READI) – Rapid Employment and Development Initiative is a paid, transitional jobs program that identifies individuals at high risk of involvement with violence and provides them with skills and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Our replication of this program focuses on older youth and young adults between the ages of 18 and up, residing in South Hilltop, Mount Oliver Borough, and Pittsburgh’s Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville and Carrick neighborhoods.
The New name of the program is ACTES: (Achieving Change Through Transitional Employment).
ADHS Invested 50 Million Dollars in Violence Prevention. It’s a 5-year grant.
In September 2011, DIM began a partnership with Renewal, Inc., a private, non-profit organization providing alternative housing and community corrections services to individuals in the County, State and Federal criminal justice systems. DIM has initiated a faith-based transitional program modeled after the Prison Fellowship Inner Change Freedom Initiative program that will enroll men and women in separate 12-week programs that will provide intensive discipleship, practical resources, and mentoring to individuals incarcerated at Renewal and anticipating release.
In 2009, Ms Germany was approached by the Pennsylvania Prison Society to pilot a new mentoring program to Pittsburgh. Through funding by the Department of Justice Second Chance Act Grant, the Building Bridges – A Second Chance Initiative Program – was born. In partnership with the Prison Society, the Department of Justice and the State Department of Corrections, DIM matched trained mentors with pre- and post-released inmates to assist their reintegration into society.
Having put her complete trust in God, Ms. Germany stepped out on faith and worked diligently to open an office for this program in the Hill District. The program provided training to inmates behind the walls and then worked with them upon release to connect them to resources and service providers when they returned home. Ms. Germany was Licensed in 2013 as a Minister from Central Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, PA, where she served as Director of Prison Ministry Services from 2006 to June 2010.
DIM received its non-profit status in June 2010 and, as a result, its Reentry/After Care Program became a separate entity from the church.
Ms. Germany currently attends Jesus Dwelling Place in North Braddock, PA where she serves on the Ministerial Staff as the Director of Prison Ministry/After Care Services.
Ms. Germany also served as a board member of the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, a Convener of the Pennsylvania Prison Society of both Somerset and Laurel Highlands State Correctional institutions.
She is a much sought-after public speaker and travels throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio speaking to at-risk youth, incarcerated adults in prisons, boot camps, churches, public schools and universities. Her goal is always to bring the message of hope in Christ, to speak life into dead places and situations.
She has received numerous awards for her work, including the 2016 Circle of Courage Award
Ms. Germany was also selected as one of the New Pittsburgh Courier 2014 Fifty Women of Excellence Awardees; The 2013 Sally Hillman Childs Award from Renewal Inc.
Ms. Germany was also the recipient of the 2013 Serving Leader Award from Geneva College.
In 2012 she received the Volunteer of the Year Governor’s Award from Governor Tom Corbett and John Wetzel, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, for the mentoring program she leads in Renewal Inc. for inmates nearing release.
In 2011 Ms. Germany was the recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award from the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace/Dare to Dream Conference for her dedication and commitment to reducing youth violence in the Pittsburgh communities.
She was also the recipient of the Mother’s Day honoree award from the North Side Institutional Church for her endless commitment and loyal service in the Pittsburgh community.
In 2010 Ms. Germany was the recipient of the H. John Heinz Award for Community Service
from the Mon Valley Initiative Regional Partnership for her dedication and commitment to the Southwestern PA Reentry Coalition, committed to improving communities in the Mon Valley region.
The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime chose Ms. Germany as recipient of the Peace
Partner Award for peace-building efforts in the community and helping to restore the lives of incarcerated adults and at-risk youth. In 2008 the Pennsylvania Prison Society recognized her as the Official Visitor of the Year.
The Allegheny Bar Association and Homer S. Brown Law Association honored her for her work in the black community. Ms. Germany was also the recipient of the Community Activist award from Soul’d Out Productions.
Additional awards include 2007 National recognition as Today’s Christian Magazine’s Ordinary Hero. WQED named her one of Pittsburgh’s People Changing Lives. The Ivy Charitable Endowment of Pittsburgh chose Ms. Germany as recipient of the Mother of the Distinction Award.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2nd Chronicles 7:14
Frederick Douglas – Board Chair
Mr. Frederick Douglas founded Cosmos Technologies, Inc. in 1998. Since that time, he has grown the company from one office in Pittsburgh, PA, to an additional four offices located in Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH; Harrisburg, PA; and Louisville, KY. In addition to managing the overall operations of the company, he led the development of an innovative wastewater treatment process for treating industrial wastewaters (oil and gas). Mr. Douglas received a US Patent (8,709,25) awarded in April 2014. The process is also patented in Australia, Chile, Canada, and South Africa. He also developed a hazardous waste treatment process for the stabilization of an inorganic pigment waste (hazardous for lead, cadmium, barium, and chromium). After treatment, the waste was de-classified as a residual waste. The change in waste classification saved the client approximately $500,000 in annual waste disposal cost. Mr. Douglas currently tutors math at the Community Engagement Center in one of the most economically depressed communities in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ahmad Sheriff – Board Vice Chair
Alethia Bush – Board Secretary
Alethia was born and raised in Pittsburgh with a strong passion for helping others, particularly disadvantaged populations such as those who suffer from a criminal background. Alethia was formerly employed as a Reentry Specialist for the Allegheny County Jail, Job Developer for Mon Valley Initiative and Coordinator for the Southwestern PA Reentry Coalition (SPARC). Alethia earned a Bachelor of Science in English & Professional Writing (Slippery Rock University) and Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (Point Park University). Alethia is also a graduate of the Coro Women in Leadership Program (Cohort XVII). Alethia’s memberships include the Association of Reentry Professionals (AoRP), the Allegheny County Anchored Reentry (ACAR) Consortium and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred Douglas – Board Chair
Ahmad Sheriff – Board Vice Chair
Alethia Bush – Board Secretary
Emma T. Lucas Darby – Board Secretary
Dr. Jim Dittmar, Ph.D – Board Member
Dr. Ahmed Sheriff – Board Member
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Debra Germany
SR. INSTRUCTOR / NEW TEACHER
INSTRUCTOR IMPACT PROGRAM
Volunteer
Joyce Henderson
PASTORS FOR RENEWAL CHURCH
Volunteers
Cheryl Germany
RE-ENTRY PROGRAM MANAGER &
ADMINISRATOR OF THE IMPACT
PROGRAM
Volunteer
Pastor Catharine Miller
TRANSFORMATION SPECIALIST
Volunteers
Men Instructors Work Release Program
339 Blvd of Allies
John Morrison
Pastor Claude Flowers
Men Instructor D/A Unit
704 2nd Avenue
Women Instructors Work Release
704 2nd Avenue
Min. Debra Germany
Min. Cheryl Germany
Pastor Joyce Henderson
Pastor Diane Bennett
Min. Brenda Gurley