Awake Receives the 2025 Greg Fizer Solutions Award
Awake Receives the 2025 Greg Fizer Solutions Award
By J. Coz
We are still a little speechless. The Center for Correctional Solutions has chosen Awake Window & Door Co. as the recipient of this year’s Greg Fizer Solutions Award. Until now, the honor has always gone to an individual, and the fact that CCS opened it up to organizations is humbling in a way that is hard to put into words.
“To be recognized in this space, alongside people doing such meaningful work, is something none of us will forget.”
— Maia Gates, Awake Window & Door Co.
What moves us most is not the award itself, but what Dr. Greg Fizer saw in us. Dr. Fizer is the reason any of this exists. Long before research, education, and community engagement were welcome inside the corrections world, he championed them anyway during his extensive career in the field of corrections.
“Awake’s purpose statement speaks of windows designed to maximize views. I cannot help but read it as a parallel to their reentry mission: to open the field of vision, to expand what can potentially be seen.”
— Dr. Greg Fizer
When he heard about our selection, Dr. Fizer noticed something in our own language. Our windows are designed to maximize views, and he read that as a quiet parallel to what we hope to do for people coming home. That took root.
We do not see ourselves as having it all figured out. We try to show up for the people on our team who have been impacted by the system, and to invest in their success whether they stay for a season or for a career. When we get things wrong, we try to name it honestly and do better. To be seen in the middle of that work means everything.
“I have never been more excited about our mission and how important it is. Dr. Fizer, thank you for lighting the way for the rest of us to follow.”
— Scott Gates, Awake Window & Door Co.
The award itself, the CCS Saguaro, was designed and built by Bruce Ward. Bruce is what becomes possible when someone is met with belief instead of a closed door, and his story is a quiet argument for why we keep showing up. Bruce, thank you for the care you poured into this piece.
“Thank you for your extended and innovative efforts to provide meaningful opportunities to the formerly incarcerated to be successful in their reentry journey. Your organization fully deserves to be recognized for contributing to public safety and enhancing lives.”
— Dr. Kevin Wright, Center for Correctional Solutions
To Dr. Fizer, thank you for carving out the path the rest of us are committed to walk along side you. To Kevin and the entire CCS team, thank you for the work you do every day, and for letting us play a small part in it. We are grateful, we are honored, and we are more committed than ever.