John Volken Academy - UT

John Volken Academy - UT Red Barn Academy has transitioned to John Volken Academy—continuing to change lives through hard work and accountability!

"We are a Life-Skills Academy with a focus on Addiction Recovery and Mental Wellness which provides Transitional Living, Educational Opportunities and Jobs for individuals and Families."

This weekend, we had the chance to celebrate some of the men who help keep our social enterprises running strong. Crew l...
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

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

As we step into the new year, we find ourselves reflecting on where we came from. The first photo is from our final fami...
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.

Sixteen of our students had the opportunity to attend a Utah Jazz game last week, creating a night full of excitement, c...
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

We are proud to highlight David Stubbs, one of our 5-Star students at John Volken Academy, who recently earned his CPSS,...
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.



Service is one of our core beliefs at John Volken Academy. We believe recovery is about balancing the scales by giving b...
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

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, our Angel Tree campaign was a tremendous success. Together, we exc...
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.

Merry Christmas Eve from John Volken Academy!We are beyond grateful for the incredible outpouring of generosity shown du...
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas Eve from John Volken Academy!

We are beyond grateful for the incredible outpouring of generosity shown during our Angel Tree campaign. The support from our community was truly overwhelming, and because of you, we were able to fully fund Christmas for all 62 of our students.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers and staff who wrapped 248 presents with so much care and love. Your dedication made this possible.

Tomorrow’s festivities are going to be absolutely unforgettable for our students, and it’s all because of the kindness, compassion, and generosity of so many. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping make this Christmas so special.

This weekend, we went Christmas caroling at The Abbington Senior Living, a reminder of how important it is to serve and ...
12/23/2025

This weekend, we went Christmas caroling at The Abbington Senior Living, a reminder of how important it is to serve and give back to our community, especially during the holiday season. We shared a lovely program, singing favorite Christmas carols accompanied by an incredible volunteer, Wendy. Several of our students also shared parts of their stories, and we closed the evening with a cello and piano duet performed by one of our staff members, Ethan, and his mother. This annual tradition is always a highlight for us. It pushes us beyond our comfort zone and gives us the chance to share hope, joy, and Christmas spirit with others.

Wendy Sing-Sing Jensen Ethan Jensen Abbington Senior Living of Layton

We attended the Christmas Spectacular put on by Odyssey Dance Theatre this weekend, and it was an incredible experience ...
12/22/2025

We attended the Christmas Spectacular put on by Odyssey Dance Theatre this weekend, and it was an incredible experience for our house. We are so grateful to Odyssey Dance for donating the tickets so we were able to take all of our students. While we work hard every day, it is just as important to make space for healthy, shared experiences that allow us to connect, reflect, and enjoy life together. Moments like this help strengthen community and remind us why balance matters, especially during this season. We are thankful to Odyssey Dance Theatre for creating such a meaningful opportunity for our students!

Odyssey Dance Theatre

A huge thank-you to a generous donor and longtime supporter who made an unforgettable evening possible for our men at th...
12/19/2025

A huge thank-you to a generous donor and longtime supporter who made an unforgettable evening possible for our men at the Tabernacle Christmas Concert.

Thanks to their kindness, our students were able to dress up in suits and ties and attend this special performance together. For some of the newer guys, it was the first time they had ever worn a suit. Being able to step into a space like this, feel confident, and truly belong, without feeling like an outcast, is something that goes far beyond a night out.

Experiences like this matter. They remind our men of who they are becoming and the future they are working toward.

We are deeply grateful for the continued support that helps make moments like this possible.

Address

1130 W Center Street
North Salt Lake, UT
84054

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 7pm
Tuesday 6am - 7pm
Wednesday 6am - 7pm
Thursday 6am - 7pm
Friday 6am - 7pm
Saturday 6am - 7pm

Telephone

+18019395100

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