In Arizona, generosity is more than a value; it is a way of life. From boardrooms to classrooms, ballfields to board service, countless individuals quietly give their time, talent, and resources to strengthen the communities they call home. This Mission Monday column shines a light on those difference-makers. Each week, we spotlight a philanthropic leader or volunteer whose passion for service is creating real, lasting impact across the state. Through their stories, we explore the “why” behind their giving, the mission that fuels their commitment, and the nonprofit organizations working tirelessly to serve Arizona’s most pressing needs.
Today, we welcome Ben Meadows, a senior roofing consultant at SUNVEK Roofing, who serves on the board of directors for Axiom Community of Recovery.
What inspired you to get involved with this organization, and why has its mission remained important to you?
This is very personal for me. I have been in recovery for more than 20 years, so volunteering time to an organization focused on helping others along on that journey really resonates with me. I got introduced to Axiom Community of Recovery a few years ago through a friend who knew Axiom Care founder Vern Johnson. She thought given my personal story and history of giving back to recovery-focused organizations that he and I would have a lot in common. Over lunch, I learned about the organization and its approach – a peer model led by individuals who have been in clients’ shoes. I was invited to join the board in 2022.
For those unfamiliar, can you share the core mission of the nonprofit and the community it serves here in Arizona?
There are many programs available to help individuals working toward long-term recovery. However, many programs end way too early. For so many of us, there is a window after traditional treatment ends when we still need support. Without it, the risk of relapse is catastrophically high. Axiom Community of Recovery is the solution for those individuals. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping individuals rebuild their lives through peer-driven support, workforce development, and creative expression programs. We believe every individual has the potential to reclaim their future. Therefore, we give people the resources they need to rebuild their confidence and reintegrate into society with a renewed sense of purpose. Our tailored programs offer the support, mentorship, and community needed to foster long-term recovery and personal growth.
What is a program, initiative, or moment that truly captures the impact this non-profit organization is making right now?
While all of them come to mind, I would love to share three of our core programs:
- First, through our workforce development program, we provide both computer lab and digital literacy training to help individuals develop essential tech skills. The program also offers employment readiness including resume building, job search assistance, and professional development as well as mock interviews and career coaching, through which we prepare individuals for employment opportunities through real-world interview practice and guidance.
- Second, I am exceptionally proud of our justice-involved services. We provide reentry support – so connecting justice-involved individuals with resources to transition successfully into the community – as well as do direct prison in-reach, providing support, education, and resources to individuals before they are released to help prepare them for reintegration.
- And finally, there is the expression piece. We partner with Brandon Lee and Art Of Our Soul, which provides a holistic approach to healing and self-expression through creative and meditative practices. We have a wide range of services under our expressive umbrella, including guided artistic and musical sessions to support emotional and mental well-being; vibrational sound therapy for relaxation and stress reduction; meditation and mindfulness sessions to promote inner peace, focus, and emotional regulation; and even yoga for recovery, which is movement-based healing to enhance physical and mental wellness.
Are there any upcoming or recent events, campaigns, or initiatives you are especially excited about?
Where do I start? First, we recently opened the John McCain Veterans Center, created because veterans deserve more than housing alone; they deserve a community and a pathway forward. Located on the campus of Victory Place, a 200-apartment veteran-focused affordable housing community in Phoenix, the John McCain Veterans Center is a 60-bed transitional housing program designed to serve veterans navigating challenges related to substance use disorders, mental health conditions, trauma and homelessness. We truly believe it is not enough to provide four walls; we must provide community.
On the heels of this, we also recently dedicated the Axiom Care Mofford Center, an outpatient campus in Phoenix in partnership with Axiom Care. It offers a full continuum of care, from substance use treatment and mental health services to peer support, workforce development, art therapy through Art Of Our Soul and physical health care. Recovery is complex, and people deserve support that addresses the whole person.
And, of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention that we are a 501c3 qualifying charitable organization for the Arizona Tax Credit program. Axiom Community of Recovery’s Qualifying Charitable Organization Code is 20961.
How do you balance your professional life with your commitment to giving back, and what advice would you offer to others who want to do the same?
I try not to think about balance at all. To me, professional and personal life should flow into one another. There is not one version of who someone is at work and another after hours. Values like integrity, mentorship and treating people the way we want to be treated should show up everywhere, both personally and professionally. For more than 20 years, people have shown up for me, and now I have the opportunity to show up for others in that same way. I have also been fortunate to have incredible mentors, and that shaped how I think about giving back. Some advice: Get a mentor and be a mentor. Philanthropy should not feel like something separate that only happens after 5 p.m. or when the calendar clears. Just show up, and it naturally becomes part of life.
I would also tell people not to wait. There were times I was able to give back early in my career, later in my career, early in recovery and later in recovery. Do not wait until there is more money, more time or some feeling of perfect readiness. Find an organization whose mission resonates, start small, and simply do something. Showing up matters.
If your philanthropic work had a theme song, what would it be and why?
I would have to say either “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel, as both speak to the importance of peer-led support.
Outside of your work with the organization, what are three local spots that you especially love?
I am a huge fan of Hobe Meats, an old-school butcher shop in Central Phoenix. They have been around since the 1960s, and when you visit, you will see why they’ve stood the test of time.
While outside of the Valley, GiGi’s Pizza in the Overgard region of Arizona is another favorite. Proudly family owned and operated, we love nothing more than visiting for a slice or a few pies when in the area.
And last but certainly not least, Sean “Chambo” Chambers. He himself doesn’t have a physical location but is a dear friend and Phoenix multi-media artist whose work centers on mental health and trauma. His work is so honest and real, and much of what I see so effectively illustrates the work we are doing at Axiom Community of Recovery. His work has been awarded The Dr. Eugene Grigsby Visual Artist Award at the Mayor’s Arts Awards presented by the Phoenix Center for the Arts in 2022.
