The Other Side Academy (TOSA) has become one of Denver’s most effective and inspiring approaches for helping people break long‑standing cycles of addiction, homelessness, and criminal behavior. UpDoNA recently visited their Denver campus, met students, and saw firsthand how this long‑term, peer‑driven residential program is transforming lives through structure, accountability, and daily coaching. We were hosted by Ashlee Uden and Zack Burns, who generously spent several hours with us and offered remarkable insight into every aspect of TOSA’s operation. They also shared powerful, deeply personal stories about their own life experiences and the work they now do at the Academy – stories that left a lasting impression on all of us.
TOSA describes itself as a “classic therapeutic community” – a residential environment where students commit to 24 months of living, learning, and working together. Many arrive facing long prison sentences or seeking an alternative to incarceration. What they find instead is a community built on honesty, responsibility, and mutual support.
Potential students begin the process by writing a letter to The Other Side Academy expressing their desire to change and their willingness to commit to the program. From there, they participate in an intensive, face‑to‑face interview with TOSA staff. The Academy is looking for individuals who genuinely believe they are ready to rebuild their lives and who are willing to go through a rigorous, structured process to achieve it. That process requires full‑time residential living, strict adherence to the Academy’s rules, and participation in daily work responsibilities. In many cases, the court must approve the placement, as enrollment at TOSA may serve as an alternative to incarceration.
Students learn pro‑social behavior, emotional regulation, communication skills, and vocational trades. They work full‑time in TOSA’s self‑sustaining enterprises, gaining real‑world experience while contributing to the community’s success. The program is free of charge and supported by the social enterprises run by the Academy.
The results speak for themselves: graduates leave with stability, skills, and a renewed sense of purpose. Between 60-70% of graduates remain drug free, crime free and employed.
How You Can Help
TOSA is seeking connections to Denver‑area businesses willing to consider students and graduates for employment. These are individuals who have either graduated or they are in the process of completing the rigorous 24‑month program and demonstrated reliability, accountability, and strong work habits.
If you know:
- a business owner
- a hiring manager
- a company with entry‑level or skilled‑trade opportunities
…UpDoNA will pass your contact along, and TOSA will follow up directly.
To share a contact name or business connection: Email gilvon2001@gmail.com – your introduction can change a life.
TOSA Work Programs: Building Skills, Stability, and Community Value
A central part of The Other Side Academy’s success is its set of student‑run work programs, where residents learn real‑world skills, develop strong work habits, and contribute to the financial sustainability of the Academy. These enterprises are operated with professionalism, accountability, and a level of customer service that reflects the discipline students build throughout their 30‑month residential commitment.
TOSA Moving Company
The TOSA Moving Company is one of Denver’s most respected moving services, known for reliability, care, and exceptional customer reviews. Students work fulltime, learning logistics, teamwork, customer service, and leadership – skills that prepare them for long‑term employment after graduation.
TOSA Moving Company
Address: 4400 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO
Phone: 303-335-0525
Website: www.tosamoving.com
The Other Side Thrift Boutique
The Other Side Thrift Boutique offers high‑quality furniture and décor at affordable prices. Students manage inventory, customer service, merchandising, and store operations – gaining retail and business experience that translates directly into future employment opportunities.
The Other Side Thrift Boutique
Address: 3125 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80211
Phone: 720‑615-0005
Website: www.theothersideacademy.com/thrift-boutique
Both enterprises are open to the public, and every purchase directly supports TOSA’s mission while giving students meaningful work experience. They also willingly accept gently used furniture that will be offered for sale in their store.
The Other Side Academy’s Coaching Model
The Other Side Academy’s success is rooted in a coaching model that blends behavioral science, social learning, and structured peer accountability. Unlike traditional treatment programs, TOSA is not clinical, therapeutic, or short‑term. It is a community‑based coaching environment where students learn new behaviors by practicing them every day.
A Community That Coaches Itself
Students and leaders who graduated from the program coach one another through:
- direct, honest feedback
- clear expectations
- consistent accountability
- structured consequences
- daily practice of new skills
This peer‑driven model works because students learn from people who have lived the same experiences and successfully rebuilt their own lives. Coaching happens everywhere – in meetings, during meals, at work, and in the daily rhythm of community life.
The Theory Behind the Model
TOSA’s approach draws from several well‑established principles:
- Social Learning Theory: people change by observing, practicing, and receiving feedback within a community.
- Behavioral Accountability: consistent consequences help interrupt criminal thinking and reinforce pro‑social habits.
- Cognitive‑Behavioral Principles: students learn to examine the stories behind their choices and replace distorted thinking with healthier patterns.
- Mutual Help: each student teaches and supports others, reinforcing their own growth.
This combination creates a powerful environment where destructive patterns are replaced with responsibility, emotional regulation, and productive behavior.
Gil Vondrasek Vice President Upper Downtown Neighborhood Associati
