Julia Lightfoot was a student at the College of St. Scholastic in Duluth, MN, when Homeless Activist Mitch Snyder came to lecture. Julia was so moved by his speech that she came to Washington, DC, to work with his group, The Community for Creative Non-Violence. She planned to volunteer for the summer and then return to Minnesota. The year was 1987. After participating in water fasts and protests with CCNV (she even got arrested with Martin Sheen), Julia knew that being a political activist was not her path.

That summer, Mitch asked her if she would create a program for drug addicts and alcoholics. She was given a 20,000-square-foot space located in the shelter at 2nd and D NW. In January 1988, New Way Recovery (now Clean and Sober Streets) opened its doors to several men—all struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, all desperately wanting help. The population would quickly grow to a hundred.

Soon after her arrival, she was joined by Marsh Ward and Henry Pierce. Michael K. Deaver (part of the Reagan administration and our first Board Chair) arrived in ’89. Julia, Marsh, Henry, and Mike all played an integral part in the creation of Clean and Sober Streets. Our backgrounds ranged from living on the streets to working in the White House, from college degrees to a GED from the penitentiary, from Paris, Texas, to Washington, DC.

What we all had in common was our recovery. Each of us had experienced the devastation of addiction, and each of us had found our way out of the darkness. That journey led us all to the back alley of 2nd and D Street, where thousands lined up to get help over the next 2 decades.

What evolved was an environment that facilitated change, healing, long-term abstinence, and recovery. We only worked with those who wanted help and were willing to change. We had a tight structure and a few hard and fast rules. Within a year, most would leave the facility independent and employed.

There were only four staff members for 75 to 100 men and women. Leaders evolved organically from the population. Senior residents helped new people. There was no money or salary for years. We were all doing service. We were all working and healing together. This is still the essence of our work.