About

EMPOWERING YOU TO CARE FOR
ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE YOUTH.

OUR MISSION:Providing a path of hope for young adults aging out of foster care to realize their God-given potential.

OUR VISION: Our program graduates will be fully equipped to thrive as adults, leading productive and independent lives; reversing the cycles of poverty, abuse, neglect, and homelessness for generations to come.

Our Core Values:

Unwavering Faith: We model our Christian faith by meeting and serving people with respect where they are, equipping them for what they need, and where they hope to go.
Safe Community: We are a safe community. For our residents, we are a place to heal and hope for their future. For our team, we are practicing humility, serving, sharing and valuing each other.
Wise Stewardship: We are mindful managers of all our resources, practicing transparency in all we do, from programs to finances, to our policies and procedures.
Collaborative Partnering: We cannot do this alone. Partnering with other ministries, non-profits, agencies, churches, and businesses, maximizes our impact on those we serve and on each other.
Forward Thinking: We are always learning, encouraging new ideas, methods, programs, and services to be the best we can be for our residents, our team, and our ministry.

Our Team

Kathy Lista
Founder and Director
Angie Caldwell
Program Coach
Symone’ Thompson
Program Director

Our Board of Directors

Ron Galecki
Board Chair
Ron Galecki joined the Board of Directors for The Open Door House in 2023, and currently serves as Board Chair. Ron was previously Vice President of Dispersions for BASF Corporation, a division of the world’s largest chemical industry. Ron has been a member and active volunteer of Venture Church in Harrisburg, North Carolina since 2013. They also regularly volunteer at the Harrisburg Food Pantry, picking up and delivering donations from local grocers to the Food Pantry.
Jane Cauthen
Board Member
Jane Cauthen worked in all aspects of Child Welfare, spending the majority of her career in the areas of Foster Care and Adoption. She retired after 30 years of service and joined The Open Door House Board of Directors in 2021. Jane is also an active member of the Leadership Team at St. James Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant, serves on the Sonshine Backpack Board and the Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair Board and is a member of the St John's Grange and FFA Alumni Board. Jane truly embodies servanthood.
Kathleen Reeder
Board Member
Kathleen Reeder and her husband Justin have owned The Bead Lady in Downtown Concord for 22 years. Kathleen is also active in the Downtown Concord business community, helping to promote the message of Shop Local. Kathleen's philosophy is customers and partners are always first above all else in her daily business life. She and her husband are constantly seeking God, balance, and truth. Giving back to the community is their heartbeat and one of the principle reasons why their business has survived 22 years- people come first. Kathleen also serves on the Concord Downtown Developement Corporation.