About Us

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Free At Last is governed by a Board of Directors with diverse professional and social backgrounds. The Board of Directors establishes the agency’s policies and employs a Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for the day-to-day operations. Our Board is make up of community members and reflects the racial diversity of our community.

PRESIDENT

Vicki Smothers

Vicki Smothers is a pillar of the East Palo Alto community, a woman whose life’s work embodies transformation, service, and unwavering commitment to recovery. A 70-year resident of East Palo Alto, Ms. Smothers is a retired Community Program Specialist for the County of San Mateo, where she dedicated more than 25 years to supporting women and children through the Prenatal Advantage and Black Infant Health Programs.

Her journey is one of profound resilience. A formerly incarcerated woman who served four prison terms, Vicki became a powerful advocate for women behind the walls, using her lived experience to uplift others. In 1989, she made a life-altering decision—on March 16 of that year, she chose recovery, declaring she would no longer be captive to drugs or the cycle of incarceration. That decision marked the beginning of a new chapter defined by purpose, leadership, and service.

Alongside other community members, Vicki helped transform a shared vision into a cornerstone of East Palo Alto: Free at Last Community Recovery. Founded in 1994, the organization quickly became a beacon of hope for individuals seeking recovery and stability. Vicki served as Co‑Founder and Vice President until 2010, when the tragic murder of fellow Co‑Founder and President David Lewis thrust her into the role of President—a position she continues to hold with strength, compassion, and integrity.

Under her leadership, Free at Last has continued to grow, evolve, and serve thousands of individuals and families. Ms. Smothers is widely known as “Ms. Vicki,” a trusted community figure whose outreach, presence, and availability have made her a lifeline for many. Her advocacy extends far beyond East Palo Alto. She has been a champion for formerly incarcerated individuals, guided by her belief that “Everyone deserves a second chance—at least.” She has facilitated classes at Stanford Law School, contributed to the establishment of the AIDS Task Force, and is a trained facilitator in the Breaking Barriers curriculum. Her work in prisons and jails across Northern California has earned her recognition from the Department of Corrections for her dedication to both men’s and women’s institutions.

Vicki’s contributions have been honored with numerous awards, including induction into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame and Congressional Recognition for her outstanding service to the community. Her decades of outreach, leadership, and advocacy have cemented her reputation as a true Change Agent—a woman whose life’s mission is to uplift, empower, and transform lives inside and outside the community.

Today, Vicki Smothers continues to lead Free at Last with the same passion and conviction that fueled its founding. Her unwavering dedication to recovery, justice, and community healing stands as a testament to what is possible when courage meets purpose.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dorsey Nunn

Dorsey humbly entered recovery on August 20, 1991, and quickly became inspired by the personal growth and relief he experienced through the recovery process. In 1993, he proudly became one of the co‑founders of Free at Last, which was formally incorporated in January 1994. He was elected Vice‑Chair of Free at Last’s Board of Directors in 2010 and continues to serve in that role today. Dorsey deeply believes that true strength and confidence emerge when people learn to speak in their own voice.

In 2000, Dorsey campaigned for the passage of the original Proposition 36, the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, which mandated community‑based drug treatment instead of incarceration for non‑violent drug possession and other non‑violent offenses. Dorsey is widely recognized as a leading expert with more than 40 years of professional experience in criminal justice reform. He is the first formerly incarcerated person to serve as the director of a public interest law office in California. Before becoming Executive Director, he worked as a paralegal, community organizer, and program manager at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), and as a paralegal at the Prison Law Office. His leadership has helped establish several local and national institutions and movement‑building projects.

Dorsey has received extensive federal, state, and local recognition, including:

White House Champion of Change Award, signed by President Barack Obama
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Nancy Pelosi
Senate Certificates of Recognition from Senator Jackie Speier and Congressmember Karen Bass
Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition from the California State Assembly and California State Senate
Honors from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Gavin Newsom

Most recently, Dorsey received The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award (2023). His memoir, What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly: A Memoir of Resilience and Resurrection (Heyday Books, 2024), has been nominated for multiple book awards and is the winner of the PEN Oakland Award.

Dorsey has been instrumental in shifting the national narrative about formerly incarcerated people, ensuring that individuals with conviction histories are recognized as experts in criminal justice reform. His work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, New York Times, Washington Post, and The Nation. Michelle Alexander highlighted Dorsey and his work with All of Us or None in her bestselling book The New Jim Crow, and he has appeared in several documentaries, including Ava DuVernay’s 13th. Since his release from prison, Dorsey has focused on reunifying, restoring, and healing his family. He is a devoted father, grandfather, and great‑grandfather, continually inspired by the next generation to keep working toward a better future for all youth.

SELECTED WORKS:
Formerly incarcerated activist fights to give people a chance to change. L.A. Times, March 13, 2015.
Ex-inmates behind push for California employers to ‘ban the box’. The Mercury News, October 13, 2017.
Ban the Box Keeps Families and Communities Together. New York Times, April 13, 2016.
Millions of ex-cons still can’t get jobs. Here’s how the White House could help fix that. Washington Post, January 22, 2015.

BOARD TREASURER

Jerome Walker

Jerome Walker is a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for Free at Last Recovery and Rehabilitation, Inc., and a living testament to the life‑changing impact of recovery, community, and second chances. Born and raised in East Palo Alto, Jerome grew up in a stable, hard‑working family that emphasized faith, education, and strong moral values. Despite this solid foundation, he became entangled in addiction and a lifestyle that ultimately led to incarceration in State Prison.

Jerome made several attempts at sobriety over the years, but long‑term recovery remained out of reach until he qualified to become a Mentor at Free at Last. That opportunity marked a turning point. In this role, he committed himself to rebuilding his life and becoming a responsible, contributing member of society. He went on to serve as a Mentor for 12 years, the longest period of continuous employment he had ever achieved.

During his time at Free at Last, Jerome returned to school and enrolled in an ex‑offender program at San Francisco State University, all while working full‑time. His determination and discipline led him to earn a Master’s in Social Work, a milestone that opened the door to a successful career with the City and County of San Francisco, where he later retired as a Protective Services Supervisor.

After completing his MSW, Jerome was honored to join the Board of Directors of Free At Last, returning to the organization that helped transform his life. Today, he continues to champion its mission, offering leadership, insight, and lived experience to support individuals seeking recovery and a new beginning.

SECRETARY

Mei Lia Sommer

As a woman whose family and children were deeply affected by her struggle with addiction and incarceration, Mei Lia is passionate about being part of a movement that directly helps people who are currently and formerly incarcerated and struggling with the disease of addiction. Her experiences with the revolving door of the judicial system emphasizes that replacing jails and prisons with supportive programs will help our society and the next generation to have a life without constantly being shadowed by their past.

Mei Lia is the DIrector of Finance and Operations and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. She also co-owns JMS Recovery Homes in Contra Costa County with her husband.

BOARD MEMBER

Jose Capistran

Jose is a Board Member of long standing who brings to the table his knowledge and outreach to the Hispanic Recovery Family, he is an advocate for the AA Meetings that are held weekly at the Free at Last Center.