Dear Keyway Friends and Supporters,
Last week, I received word that our last living founder, Sr. Sharon Schmitz, passed away. While her passing was not entirely unexpected, it landed heavily on my heart.
In the days that followed, I found myself reflecting on those initial conversations with Sr. Sharon after stepping into the role of Executive Director in 2021. She wished me well, of course—but more than that, she expressed genuine excitement that we shared a deep commitment to justice-impacted women and a belief that the women we serve are the true experts in their own lives. She spoke passionately about the importance of listening—really listening—and ensuring their voices shape everything we do.
In her book I Am Somebody: Emerging From the Shadows, Sr. Sharon wrote, “Statistics are like flashlights. They illuminate one corner of a situation while shadowing the rest. They state the observables—the who’s and what’s—but the why’s beneath the surface remain hidden.” While she used data to highlight the realities women faced, the heart of her work—and of that book—was always found in their stories.
The first time I read her words, I was struck by how closely our approaches aligned, despite our very different paths. She—a Sister of Mercy of the Americas with advanced degrees in Nursing and Divinity. Me—a self-described data nerd with a master’s degree in social work. We both valued evidence and outcomes, but we understood something deeper: that transformation begins with honoring humanity, dignity, and lived experience.
In her very first email to me, Sr. Sharon wrote, “May you find great joy and peace in leading this wonderful organization.” While peace can sometimes feel elusive in this work, there has always been joy—even in the hardest seasons. Joy in resilience. Joy in second chances. Joy in watching women reclaim their lives.
As we move forward, we do so standing on Sr. Sharon’s shoulders. Her legacy lives on in every woman who walks through our doors, in every staff member who shows up with compassion, and in every supporter who believes that people are more than their worst moments.
As we move forward, we do so with deep gratitude for the community that Sr. Sharon helped build—one rooted in compassion, dignity, and belief in second chances. Your presence alongside us, in whatever way you choose to give or stay connected, helps ensure that her vision continues to live on through the women we serve every day.
To read Sr. Sharon Schmitz's obituary, please click here.
To order her book, I Am Somebody: Emerging From the Shadows, please click here.