John Volken Academy - UT

01/13/2026

Today for Transformation Tuesday, we want to highlight Iseli, one of our incredible staff members here at John Volken Academy Utah. Iseli serves as the Moving Manager for John Volken Academy Movers - UT and is also part of our program staff. What makes Iseli especially valuable is his deep understanding of our community and our program, because he has walked this path himself. Iseli entered the program in 2021 as a student at Red Barn Academy. During his time in the program, he worked as a crew lead with our moving company, served as an office clerk, and was part of the leadership team supporting our newest students in the house.

Iseli chose to commit to an additional voluntary third year, focused on strengthening his recovery, rebuilding relationships with his family, and securing the future he was working so hard to build. During that time, he was invited to step into a staff role. Since then, Iseli has taken on several roles, including Moving Company Coach, Program Manager, and now Moving Manager! He uses his firsthand experience to guide and support our students, especially those in their third year, with clarity, humility, and purpose.

Iseli is a shining light in our community. He lives out our values daily, goes above and beyond in his work, leads by example, and consistently puts others first by doing the next right thing. His transformation has been truly incredible, and we are deeply grateful to have him on our team.

01/10/2026

Academy Movers is one of the social enterprises of John Volken Academy, built on the belief that we change lives one box at a time. Our crews operate with honesty, integrity, accountability, and hard work at the center of everything they do. What you see here is what we call “High and Tight.” This is how our professional movers carefully pack a truck by expertly stacking and fitting each item together to maximize space and protect your belongings. When items are packed just right, they support and cushion one another so everything arrives in the same condition it left. That’s the Academy Movers difference. We treat your items like our own, while creating real opportunities for men rebuilding th

John Volken Academy Movers - UT

01/09/2026

We’re proud to recognize the hard work and dedication of one of our students, Nathan, who recently earned his GED!

Nathan is an incredible example of what commitment and perseverance look like at John Volken Academy. Between working on construction projects and remodels, contributing to our corporate development team, and stepping up as a leader in the house by mentoring other students, he still made time to put in extra hours a few nights each week studying for this milestone.

Nathan’s success is the result of consistent effort and a willingness to push himself, even when his schedule was full. We’re proud to celebrate this achievement and the example he sets for others in the program. Great job, Nathan!

01/08/2026

Nearly a year ago, Fox 13 reporter Julia Sandor helped tell the story of Red Barn closing its doors. This week, we were honored to welcome her back, this time to our John Volken Academy campus, to see what can happen when people refuse to give up. She saw firsthand the hard work, growth, and real transformation that has taken place over the last year, and she captured it with the same care and heart that made her first story so impactful. Miracles do happen. Sometimes all you have to do is believe. Thank you, Julia Sandor and Fox 13, for telling our story so beautifully and for continuing to shine a light on hope and second chances.

FOX 13 News

It was almost a year ago when the well-known Red Barn rehabilitation center shut its doors and sold all its property, leaving the community worried about the future of the students in the program.

01/07/2026

This weekend, we had the chance to celebrate some of the men who help keep our social enterprises running strong. Crew leads from our Movers, Thrift, and Construction teams were treated to a Sunday outing at Monster Jam at the Delta Center as a small thank-you for the leadership, consistency, and hard work they bring every day.

Huge shoutout to Sharetix for making this opportunity possible. Experiences like this matter, and they remind our guys that their effort and commitment do not go unnoticed. We are grateful for these leaders and the example they set for the teams they serve.

Delta Center Monster Jam Sharetix

01/06/2026

This week for Transformation Tuesday, we are proud to highlight our most recent graduate of John Volken Academy Utah, Brandon Sanchez!

When Brandon first arrived in 2023, he sat on our bench scared, broken, and unsure of what came next. Today, after completing his full 27-month commitment, he stands as a man of integrity, accountability, and honesty.

Throughout the program, Brandon applied himself fully. He became a leader in the house, consistently showing up for others and helping coach the younger men behind him. He earned respect through his actions and commitment, proving what is possible when you trust the process and put in the work every single day.

Brandon’s journey shows the stark contrast between where addiction can take you and where discipline, structure, and perseverance can lead. We are incredibly proud of the man he has become and excited to see where life takes him next.

Congratulations, Brandon. Your future is bright.

01/03/2026

Every purchase at our thrift store does more than find a new home for great items. All proceeds directly fund our life-skills programming, supporting men as they build stability and responsibility. Shopping here is an easy way to give back while finding quality clothing, home goods, and furniture at great prices.

Our new North Salt Lake location features new inventory added daily, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Don’t forget, we’ve got current sales happening now, and we gladly accept donations, including furniture. Free pickup is available, making it easy to support the mission in a meaningful way.

John Volken Academy Thrift - UT

01/01/2026

As we step into the new year, we find ourselves reflecting on where we came from. The first photo is from our final family meeting as Red Barn. The second is from our most recent family meeting just a few weeks ago. Between those two moments, we have walked through one of the most challenging seasons we have ever faced. The announcement of Red Barn’s closure. Moving campuses. Acquiring and renovating a new home. And through it all, continuing our mission of helping men reinvent broken lives.

This season reminded us of something important. The new year is not about becoming someone else. It is about continuing the work of becoming who we were meant to be. We may have a new name, a new board of directors, a new location, and even a new t-shirt, but we are the same people, grounded in the same values and purpose. We are excited about the foundation we have built and continue to strengthen, and we are proud of our students who show up day after day, putting in the work to become their best selves as they step into the year ahead.

We also want to take a moment to thank the people who made it possible to get here. First, our fearless leader, Jaynee Poulson, for navigating us through this season with clarity, steadiness, and heart. She not only kept our team together, but helped guide us through the uncertainty and out the other side stronger than before. We are deeply grateful to John and Chawna Volken, along with the JVA Board of Directors, for stepping in when we needed them most. Thank you for believing in this work and for helping make the Utah John Volken Academy a reality. We also want to recognize Rich Haws and the founding team of Red Barn Academy for laying the foundation that made everything after possible. And finally, thank you to the countless believers and supporters who have stood by us over the last few years, and especially this past year. So many people have played a part in bringing this vision to life, and without each and every one of you, this would not have been possible.

12/30/2025

Sixteen of our students had the opportunity to attend a Utah Jazz game last week, creating a night full of excitement, connection, and positive memories. Experiences like this matter. They help our men build healthy relationships, enjoy sober fun, and remember that recovery includes joy and community.

A huge thank you to Sharetix for donating the tickets and making this experience possible. We’re grateful for partners who help open doors to moments that strengthen growth and belonging.

Utah Jazz Sharetix

12/29/2025

We are proud to highlight David Stubbs, one of our 5-Star students at John Volken Academy, who recently earned his CPSS, Certified Peer Support Specialist, certification. The 5-Star phase is a voluntary additional year where men choose to go further by continuing their education, strengthening life skills, and solidifying their recovery as they prepare for long-term stability. David is a great example of what this phase is all about. He has used his time at JVA with focus and purpose, building skills that will allow him to support others while creating a meaningful and stable future for himself. Congratulations, David, on this well-earned achievement.

12/27/2025

Service is one of our core beliefs at John Volken Academy. We believe recovery is about balancing the scales by giving back, putting more good into the world, and learning to live beyond ourselves. This Christmas morning, we were proud to serve alongside the incredible team at Fit To Recover, a local nonprofit that shares this same commitment to service. When the opportunity came to distribute food and clothing to our unsheltered neighbors in Salt Lake City, our students stepped up without hesitation. They showed up with humility, selflessness, and a genuine desire to make the morning about someone else. We are grateful for opportunities like this and for the strong recovery community we are blessed to be part of here in Utah.

Fit To Recover

12/26/2025

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, our Angel Tree campaign was a tremendous success. Together, we exceeded our fundraising goal by 56 percent, allowing us to go above and beyond for the men at John Volken Academy this Christmas.

As a result, we were able to provide Christmas gifts for 63 students. Each student received two complete outfits; formal and casual, a new pair of shoes, socks and underwear, and a Harry’s five-blade shave kit. Thanks to the generosity of Minky Couture, our students also received brand-new blankets.

Beyond the numbers, this experience was deeply meaningful for everyone involved. We shared a beautiful family-style Christmas together that reinforced the hard work and progress each man is making. Moments like these remind our students that they are valued, supported, and believed in, and that impact goes far beyond anything that can be measured.

We would like to thank everyone who supported!
Minky Couture Minky Couture
Layne Denton
John Volken Foundation
Scheels Scheels
Stubbs Dental Stubbs Dental Implant Center
Wayne & Carol Carlson
Jennifer Clark
First Community Bank First Community Bank Utah
Brian Cordner
Raymond & Laurie Cutler
David & Melita Hill
James Sorenson
Robert Lisonbee
Alisa Plummer
Barbara Finn
Tracy Murray
Nancy Tomon
Lorna Koci
Shawn Kearns
Tracy Williams
Shelby Lopaz
Justin Hoaglin
Francois Carrier
Michelle Salas
Nicole Cummings
Brad Lloyd
Jaynee Poulson
Aspiree Stathis
Kevin Riehl
Michael Jones
Barbara Butterfield
Al Richards
Lori Pehrson
Rob Berman
Dane
Kizzi
Angie Sterner
Selena Sass
Reina, Mom and Carmen
Lacee Klem
Lacee, Bradley, Kaymen, and Aria
Justin Jones
Jason Moon
Levi Ball
Lamar Wasden
Katie
The Eichelbergers
Carson Maughan
Bryan Jensen
Heather Gooss
Tina Prieto
Brooke Scheurer
Rori & David Doty
Louise McDowell
Jesse Sass
Lorenzo
Miguel Valdez
Dean Jones
Chalee Thompson
Barbara Butterfield
Mark Taylor
Shawn Frasier
Cesar
Wendy Phillips
Angela Silver
Terri Musgrave
Wes & Jenn Guy
Beth Bowers
Adam & Christina
Aunt Niecy

We would also like to give a shoutout to Layton Hills Mall, Centerville Mountain America Credit Union, Layton First Community Bank, Bountiful First Community Bank, and the South Davis Rec Center for hosting Angel Trees for us!

Mountain America Credit Union Layton Hills Mall South Davis Recreation Center

If there is anyone we may have missed, please know how deeply grateful we are for every gift, every share, and every act of support. This campaign was only possible because of you, and we truly could not have done it without our community.