© Designed and Managed by Marlee Media About Debra Germany-Morrison Debra Germany is the Executive Director of Divine Intervention Ministries (DIM), a faith-based organization dedicated to restoring the lives of  incarcerated adults and at-risk youth.  Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Germany works as an administrator at Carnegie Mellon University. She is a graduate of Point Park  University with a B.S. in Business and currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at Geneva  College in Pittsburgh.  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, 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 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.  In 2009, Germany was approached by the Pennsylvania Prison Society to bring a new pilot mentoring program to Pittsburgh. Through funding  by the Department of Justice Second Chance Act Grant, the Building Bridges — A Second Chances Initiative program was born. And DIM, in  partnership with the Prison Society, the Department of Justice and the State Department of Corrections, Divine Intervention Ministries matches  trained mentors with pre- and post-released inmates to assist them reintegrating into society.  Having put her complete trust in God, she stepped out on faith and worked diligently to open an office for this program in the Hill District. Today,  the program provides training to inmates behind the walls and then works with them, connecting them to resources and service providers when  they return home to help them successfully transition back into society.  Germany is a very active member of Central Baptist Church where she operates a Gospel Music Ministry. She is also a member of its  Intercessory Prayer Ministry and 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.  Germany also serves as a board member of the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, a convener of the Pennsylvania Prison Society at  both Somerset and Laurel Highlands state correctional institution, and a member of Wailing Women and Men Ministries. She is a much sought-  after speaker and travels throughout Pennsylvania speaking to at-risk youth, incarcerated adults, and presenting at churches and public  schools. 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 national recognition as Today’s Christian Magazine’s Ordinary Hero. WQED named  her one of Pittsburgh’s People Changing Lives, and the Allegheny Bar Association and Homer S. Brown Law Association honored her for her  work in the black community. Ivy Charitable Endowment of Pittsburgh chose Mrs. Germany as recipient of the Mother of Distinction Award and  the Pennsylvania Prison Society recognized her in 2008 as the Official Visitor of the Year. In 2009, she was the recipient of the Church Woman  of the Year Human Rights Award by the Church Women United. In 2010, the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime chose Germany as  recipient of the 2010 Peace Partner Award for peace-building efforts in the community and helping to restore the lives of incarcerated adults and  at-risk youth. Other recognitions and awards are from Soul’d Out Production Mrs. Germany was unanimously selected as the 2010 recipient of the  Community Activist Award.  Most recently, the Mon Valley Initiative selected Mrs. Germany as the 2010 recipient of the H. John Heinz Award for  Community Service for her leadership and dedication to the Southwestern PA Reentry Coalition for her diligence to promote and further the  resurgence in the Mon Valley.    Partner With Us        We need your financial support to continue the work we do for others, sow a seed today  >  >