A New Tomorrow’s former clients helping light the path for others toward recovery

Many of those alumni have returned as peer navigators, helping guide others down the path they know so well to recovery.

“I just wanted to help support others, and I kind of learned that through my recovery,” said Mitch Finley, who graduated from A New Tomorrow in 2024. “That allowed me to really work on myself and understand addiction and everything that comes with it, and then what it takes to move forward in life.”

“I’ve had nothing but good feedback, people proud of me,” added Daniel Barnay, who graduated out in September 2025. “And people see that gives them hope, want to change, and luckily I get to do that. I get to help people and be that person.”

The need for recovery options is great, with a constant waitlist a sizable hurdle within a time-sensitive field.

“Anything can happen in-between. A lot of people change their mind,” offered 2025 A New Tomorrow graduate Ashley Howarth. “‘Oh I had a really good day today, maybe I don’t need to go’. I think when you are ready and say, ‘I want to go,’ the sooner the better.”

“It’s easy to have pushback toward getting clean and going into treatment,” said Dre Hewon, who graduated from the program earlier this year. “But I think once you actually open your mind to the idea, it’s a lot easier for you to go along with it instead of fighting it.”

Recovery is often seen as a first step. Those who have walked the path realize a lot of the hard work comes before they can even stand on their own.

“Before I understood that you have to love from a distance, I used to want to help everyone and almost do it for them. I can get you into treatment, I can get you connected with this person and that person,” said Luke Eadie, who graduated from A New Tomorrow in August 2025. “And then finally, you realize you can’t. You have to take a step back and also have open arms for when they are ready.”

For four years now, A New Tomorrow has provided a new beginning.

“Meeting people where they are at is really, really important, wherever that is for them and we want to meet them where they are at,” said Executive Director Allison Archibald.

CFJC News will have more from A New Tomorrow on the challenges facing recovery on Monday, highlighting the continued impact of stigma around addiction.

Those in need of help can reach out to A New Tomorrow or attend their open self-help meetings on site.

by Michael Reeve

A New Tomorrow’s former clients helping light the path for others toward recovery

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