Peggy Sims energetically walks up the stairs to the second floor of 302 W School House Ln in Philadelphia, where the office of Sisters Returning Home is, passing cheerful holiday decorations she put up a few days prior.
“I do decoration because many of the women don’t have any at home,” said Sims, the executive director and founder of Sisters Returning Home, a nonprofit social organization providing sensible solutions to the challenges female returning citizens face.
Sims, 70, has been Germantown resident since the age of 7. After ending her employment with Verizon in 2001, she was not ready to retire. She started working as a community organizer for the death row, providing a connection between families and the convicted. Since, she has been the official visitor for Prison Society, enabling her to advocate for men and women in county and state prisons.
That’s where she saw a gap in the resources provided.
“I never wanted to work with women, it’s more trouble, but I saw they were not getting the same resources men do,” Sims said. “Their needs are different.”
“I have five granddaughters, it could happen to any of them,” Sims added.
Sims founded Sister Returning Home in 2009, crediting the Canaan Baptist Church across the street from the organization’s office.
“I would not have done it without my church,” Sims added. “And the community helps a lot.”
Sims sees her work as very rewarding, although challenging.
“I tell my employees right from the beginning that this is not for everyone,” Sims said. “Some [women] don’t make it, even when you do all you can. We had two overdoses this year. Now, that’s tough.”
It is twice as difficult for women to get off drugs because they always have something to sell, Sims added.
Sims chooses to focus on the positive impact her organization does and takes mental health days when needed.
“We have a woman here, who was in prison for 40 years, she was 14 when she got in,” Sims said. “She didn’t know that buses can talk. Someone next to her was talking on the phone, and she thought they were crazy. But you know what? She is now enrolled in the community college, and works there.”
While the center is located in Germantown, it is open three days a week to women from anywhere. Ten women are currently visiting her center, each with unique needs.
“It’s always harder with the younger ones, they are all for fun,” Sims said. “The older ones are tired and just want to get on with their lives.”
Sims tailors the content of each day to the needs she sees the women struggle with the most. With the help of her employees and students from Drexel University and Villanova University, the schedule consists of financial literacy on Tuesday and a wellness day on Wednesday. Thursday is all about the women, Sims said.
“We teach them everything, things you would not think about,” Sims said. “Some of them don’t know how to write checks.”
“When they come from behind the wall, they are rough, but by the time Drexel is done with them, they are polished,” she added. “They have nothing to put on their resume because all they have ever done are drugs. But they are smart, street smart, so we have to find ways to turn it into experience to put on it.”
Sims has no plans on retiring anytime soon.
“My son says, ‘Mom when are going to retire from retiring,’” Sims added, smiling.
She believes that as a community, “we can improve and make a change for our future generation.”
“I believe everyone deserves a second chance,” she added.
