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RCHD Staff and Board
Andre Ruddock, Founder & Board President
I grew up on the South Side of Chicago navigating foster care, group homes, and the streets as a ward of the State. That trauma, along with the death of my father by police, changed shaped how I saw justice, race, and the value of human life. As a teenager, I found myself incarcerated and I would eventually spend decades in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Prison was where I began to rebuild from the inside out. I read constantly—history, philosophy, science, religion—anything that could help me understand why the world was the way it was and who I wanted to be in it. Over time, I found purpose in self-education and reflection. I learned that real freedom begins long before a gate opens; it begins when you decide to live differently. When I came home, I never planned to start a reentry organization. I thought that part of my life was behind me. But fate had other plans. In 2021, I reconnected with a man I’d known twenty years earlier in Stateville —Henry Dee, who had served nearly fifty years. When I learned he was living in a homeless shelter after all he had endured, I couldn’t walk away. With help from Housing Choice Partners, my wife Rochelle, and Lutheran Deaconess Lori Wilbert, we found him an apartment and furnished it with care. Though Henry passed away shortly after, his story — and our shared effort to restore his dignity — became the seed that grew into Returning Citizens In Memory of Henry Dee (RCHD).
Rochelle Ruddock, Board Vice President
My journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Born and raised in Englewood, on the south side of Chicago, I had lofty dreams of becoming a doctor. However, life took me on a different path, as I found myself surrounded by the challenges of drugs and gangs. But my story didn't end there. With strength and courage, I turned my life around and discovered a career path that would make a profound impact. Today, I proudly hold the prestigious title of being the first African American woman to be a Forman at Peoples Gas. My achievement stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to believe in their own potential for transformation. I believe that regardless of your past , you have the power to rewrite your story and forge a new path towards success. With this knowledge, my mission is to support and guide others as they transition from the confines of prison to making a name for themselves in the world. Together, hand in hand, we can stand united in our pursuit of a better future. Let us spread peace and love, as we uplift and empower one another.
Lori Wilbert, Emeritus Board Member
I have served as a Lutheran prison chaplain since 1986. I served several facilities concurrently including Stateville CC from 1986 to present; Sheridan CC from 1989 to 1999, Kankakee Minimum Security Unit for Women from 1991 to 1995 and IYC/Jolliet from 1997 to 2000. Serving in the correctional system for over 35 years has been a privilege & blessed journey. I have met amazing and resilient individuals in both the adult and juvenile facilities. Working behind the wall has now evolved to working outside the wall with those returning home after years of incarceration. I knew and worked with a lovely soul, Mr. Henry Dee, for many years at Stateville. When Henry was released after 50 years, I was blessed to walk with him as he entered the community. Henry was a remarkable human being, full of compassion and empathy towards all those he met along the path of life. Henry had no enemies, only people he just knew would be a friend given time. A more lovely soul that exuded God's grace you will not find. Through Henry I was blessed to meet Andre and Rochelle. Henry was given one year of freedom and called home to be with the Good Shepherd, as he often referred to God while speaking of his faith. Henry would have been a part of this work and ministry I have no doubt had he been given more time. We do this work in memory of a man that taught us all how to strive to be our best selves and help others do the same. Life is short, Henry would say, too short to stay angry and hateful. Live life with joy - there is always something to be grateful for each day.
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Steve Morgan, Board Treasurer
I am a retired veteran born and raised on Chicago’s West and South Sides. I entered the U.S. Navy upon graduating from Englewood High School in 1964. I completed recruit training in April 1964 and went on to serve a distinguished 30-year naval career, retiring in April 1994. During my time with the Navy, I served aboard surface vessels and submarines, including the USS John F. Kennedy, USS Newport News, USS Drum, and USS Tautog, and held assignments across Europe and the Far East with tours in Turkey, Spain, England, Germany, Scotland, Norway, Taiwan, Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, Vietnam, and Thailand. Following my naval retirement, I continued to support national defense through contractor roles and I later reentered the federal service in 2004 with the National Security Agency (NSA). Under the NSA I worked as a senior intelligence analyst and data manager until 2015. Across nearly five decades of service to the U.S Department of Defense, I developed deep expertise in intelligence operations, personnel management, and mission-critical analysis. Now fully retired, I devote my time to gardening, Bible study, and community service, bringing a lifetime of discipline, integrity, and public service experience to my civic and nonprofit leadership roles.
RCHD Advisory Committee
Returning Citizens in Memory of Henry Dee (RCHD) has four foundational programs that are guided by a Core Programs Advisory Committee. This committee brings together members of the RCHD family who have lived the reentry experience and who now contribute their insight, creativity, and commitment to building programs and developing policies and priorities that reflect the real needs of our community. Committee members walk side-by-side with the board, staff, and volunteers, ensuring that everything we do reflects the lived realities of returning citizens.
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Edward Beal
Kentrell Stoutmire
Michelle Clopton
Olga Magaña
Roosevelt Wilder​