11/14/2025
đ Alumni Spotlight: Dakodaâs Journey Home to Himself đ
Some stories remind us why we do this work â and Dakodaâs is one of them.
The first time Dakoda came to Mountains Edge Recovery, he was still figuring out what recovery meant for him. He was a little shy, unsure of where he fit in, and carrying the weight of wanting to be better â which is something many of us can relate to. He dipped his toe into recovery, hoping for change, but still searching for the strength to fully step in.
But there was one thing he held onto the entire time â the love he has for his daughter. Being a father, knowing that his little one needed him healthy, present, and alive⌠that became the heartbeat of his âwhy.â
When Dakoda was ready to try again, he chose to come back to Mountains Edge Recovery. This time, he walked in with courage. He came back because he knew the faces, the support, and the safety waiting for him here. He knew he could open up. He knew he wasnât alone. And the second time around, Dakoda didnât just participate â he showed up.
He became a leader within our community â someone other men looked up to. Someone who held space for others while rebuilding his own life piece by piece. We watched him find his voice, his confidence, and his purpose.
When it came time for him to transition to sober living, Dakoda said, âIt felt like Mountains Edge held my hand.â Knowing he had a family behind him and a real community that believed in him helped strengthen not only his sobriety, but also the belief he had in himself.
And along the way, there were people who made a lasting impact on his journey â people who showed up for him in ways he will never forget. He shared that Austin, his counselor, our chefs Fran and Glenn, Jason and Jeff from our maintenance team, and Cindy, our owner at Mountains Edge, were each incredibly important to him. Their kindness, support, and consistency helped him feel safe, seen, and motivated to keep going.
And we always want to acknowledge this truth: no matter what your role is at Mountains Edge â clinical, tech, chef, maintenance, admin, ownership â you are a part of helping every client who walks through our doors. Every job here touches a life. Dakodaâs story is a reminder of that.
And the most beautiful part? Dakoda has stayed sober. He has continued showing up for his recovery, for the men around him, for his daughter â and most importantly, for himself.
Today, Dakoda has his own apartment, works at Dunkinâ Donuts, and works alongside us at Mountains Edge Recovery as a tech, giving back to the same program that helped change his life. Heâs helped so many men find comfort, courage, and hope â the same hope he once came searching for.
We are deeply honored to have Dakoda as part of our Mountains Edge family. His strength, vulnerability, and love for his daughter inspire all of us. We are so incredibly proud of the man, the father, and the leader he has become.
⨠Thank you, Dakoda, for letting us be part of your journey. The world is brighter because you are here, because you chose recovery â and because you choose it every single day. â¨
