Board & Staff.
Dedicated to the Journey.
At Recovery in Community of the San Juans, we are your neighbors, friends, and fellow islanders. We are people with lived experience with addiction and recovery, in our own lives and in the lives of those we love. Many of us have lost family and friends to overdose and addiction, and many of us have also seen the power of recovery to transform and heal. We bring our past experience and our shared belief that no one should have to navigate recovery alone.
Our leadership includes a committed Board of Directors and a small, dedicated staff. Each of us brings deep roots in the San Juans and a strong commitment to peer support that is grounded in compassion, connection, and freedom from shame and stigma.
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do. They are the ones who make our work possible. They offer rides to and from treatment on the mainland, help people navigate healthcare and recovery systems, and show up with steady, non-judgmental support. They listen, advocate, and walk alongside others through some of the hardest and most hopeful moments of their lives. Our volunteers know that recovery is not a straight line and that every story is different. Their generosity, presence, and belief in second chances help remind people that they are not alone and that healing is possible.
Darrell Kirk (he / him)
President
I moved to Orcas Island to serve as a journalist for our local papers, where I cover the history, environment, and democratic life of the Salish Sea. My reporting chronicles everything from Indigenous legacies to modern land-use and housing debates. I view my work as a form of public service, framing questions of belonging as an ongoing conversation and keeping our residents informed and connected to the stories that matter most.
My background is defined by a commitment to volunteerism and community service. Over the decades, I have supported refugee youth through Catholic Charities, founded scholarships for students facing extreme hardship, and led initiatives for food security and environmental advocacy. Whether through prison ministry, Rotary International, or applying project management expertise to non-profits, my focus has always been on empowering communities through empathy and direct action.
Recovery in Community is deeply personal to me because I know firsthand the devastation addiction can bring to families and communities. I am honored to be part of a team that changes lives and mentors the next generation of island leaders. I believe stability and healing are built through connection and dignity, and I am committed to meeting my neighbors' needs with care and purpose.
Justin Paulsen (he / him)
Treasurer
I first visited Orcas Island in 2002 with the intent to spend a year working on a construction project. Sometimes things happen for a reason.
In the ensuing 25-ish years, Orcas has afforded me the chance to become a parent, raise a family, and ultimately, it has become my home. As a 'city kid,' I never would have expected to land in a rural location, spending time tending to animals and pretending to be a farmer—but here I am! Over time, the Orcas Island community has provided me with the opportunity to become involved in multiple organizations and serve on many fronts. As a parent of five children and a grandparent to five more (all islanders), being invested in the work of my community is an investment in the success of my family.
My involvement in Recovery in Community (RIC) is based on the experiences I have seen and participated in that highlight the importance of access to services and meeting the diverse, specific needs of individuals with compassion. In our remote, rural location, meeting the needs of our friends and neighbors struggling with addiction and mental health disorders requires extra effort and intentionality. The work of RIC is not only life-changing, but at its core, it is life-saving. I am honored to be part of something that improves the lives of my friends and neighbors.
Selby Lighthill (he / him)
Secretary
Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, with family roots on Orcas spanning over 100 years, I returned to the island full-time in 2014, where I work as an attorney in private practice focused on family law and civil litigation.
My work with Recovery in Community is rooted in both profound loss and a personal journey in recovery. I have lost too many friends and family to overdose and to addiction, but I’ve also seen the power of recovery to transform and to heal, in my own life and in the lives of others. As one of the founders of the Recovery Rides Program, I have helped build a volunteer network that helps islanders travel to essential inpatient treatment on the mainland. Getting off the island can be difficult enough, even in the best of times. For someone in the middle of a mental health or substance abuse crisis, those challenges can be overwhelming—and the consequences, when someone can’t reach help in time, can be devastating.
In addition to my legal career, I have served the islands through volunteer work with the Olga Strawberry Council, Doe Bay Community Association, Friends of the Olga Store, and as a firefighter and EMT with Orcas Fire and Rescue.
Mads Hall (she / they)
Director of Operations
I moved to Orcas Island in 2021 from Bellingham. My background includes serving as an AmeriCorps member at the Orcas Island Food Bank, interning with San Juan County Health & Community Services, and teaching English as a second language in Mallorca, Spain. These roles deepened my understanding of public health systems and the importance of collaboration in small, rural communities.
I support programs focused on addiction recovery, transitional housing, community outreach, and harm-reduction services across San Juan County. My work centers on strengthening organizational systems, supporting volunteers and partners, and ensuring that programs remain accessible, compassionate, and community-driven.
Recovery in Community matters deeply to me because I believe healing and stability are built through connection, dignity, and sustained community support. I am committed to creating systems that meet people where they are and respond to real needs with care and accountability. Alongside my professional work, I garden, do printmaking, film photography, and spend time with my cats Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
Be the Support. Volunteer Today.
Help us ensure that every San Juan County resident has the caring support they need.