John Volken Academy - AZ

John Volken Academy - AZ We are a not-for-profit moving company that services all of Arizona. We specialize in all your moving needs from residential to commercial relocation.

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A huge thank you to Dr. Adil Lokhandwala for joining us as our guest speaker this past Tuesday!As a trauma surgeon and U...
09/10/2026

A huge thank you to Dr. Adil Lokhandwala for joining us as our guest speaker this past Tuesday!

As a trauma surgeon and U.S. Army combat surgeon, Dr. Lokhandwala knows firsthand what it takes to perform when the stakes are highest. His powerful message on dedication, perseverance, and leading under pressure resonated deeply with our students.

Hearing his personal journey, and the relentless work ethic behind it, served as a tremendous reminder that discipline and resilience can overcome any obstacle.

We are deeply grateful for leaders who take the time to invest in our students and lead by example. Thank you, Dr. Lokhandwala!

Corwin R just recently became our Student Council President and is a pillar for many of his fellow students! His journey...
09/02/2026

Corwin R just recently became our Student Council President and is a pillar for many of his fellow students! His journey has centered around learning to look inward, take accountability, and challenge himself beyond what he thought was possible.

He’s already earned his GED and is now working toward a Lean Six Sigma certification before starting college. His long-term goal is an associate’s degree in organizational management.

One of his favorite parts has been the opportunity to push himself, whether that means challenging himself in the gym or taking on more responsibility through leadership. He says the Academy has shown him that he can push past limits he once thought were impossible.

His sister inspires him most, showing him what it means to consistently show up for the people you love. Corwin wants to become someone his family can rely on.

Corwin’s message to the younger students is to understand how much can actually change in two years if you stop putting limits on yourselves. His challenge is to dream bigger, use every day they have, and be willing to put in the emotional and physical work required to become someone completely different.

More than 40 cadets from the Gilbert Police Department recently spent a day serving alongside our students at the John V...
08/28/2026

More than 40 cadets from the Gilbert Police Department recently spent a day serving alongside our students at the John Volken Academy.

With their academy graduation coming this week, the cadets chose to spend part of their final week giving back. Together, they sealed asphalt, painted fences, and helped repair sections of decking and roofing around the ranch following recent storms.

They also helped prepare supplies for Gathering Humanity, another Phoenix nonprofit serving people in need throughout our community.

But the day was about more than getting work done.

Many of the people our future law enforcement officers will encounter in their careers are people who share struggles many of our students were once all too familiar with. Spending the day together allowed everyone involved to see what can happen when someone is given the structure, support, and opportunity to change.

At the same time, our students had the opportunity to build positive relationships with the cadets and share their own experiences. Healthy connections can come from many places and can give a more personal perspective on the people we serve.

We are grateful to the Gilbert Police Department cadets for choosing to serve with us and for taking the time to learn from and connect with our students.

Recently, our students had another opportunity to serve alongside other volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, and the...
08/24/2026

Recently, our students had another opportunity to serve alongside other volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, and the impact of those two hours was incredible.

Service is an important part of what we do at the Academy. Our students are learning that rebuilding their lives is not just about what they can accomplish for themselves, but also about becoming people who are willing to show up, contribute, and make a difference in the lives of others.
Together, our group packed 290 boxes containing 62,640 meals. That is enough food to provide three meals a day for an entire year to 172 children.

We are grateful for opportunities like this to serve alongside our community and see just how much can happen when a group of people chooses to give their time for something bigger than themselves.

Service can look a lot of different ways, but sometimes it looks like simply showing up and taking care of people.During...
08/21/2026

Service can look a lot of different ways, but sometimes it looks like simply showing up and taking care of people.

During National Service Week, PDS Health visited the John Volken Academy and spent the afternoon caring for our community. Doctors assessed our students for dental and general health needs, helped identify next steps, and connected the guys with offices and resources that can continue supporting them.

For some, it meant getting a better understanding of what they need to do next. For others, it meant addressing years of dental neglect and finally getting the care they had been putting off.

The impact went far beyond a single day. It gave our students answers, direction, and access to care that can make a lasting difference in their lives.

A huge thank you to PDS Health for choosing to partner with the John Volken Academy during National Service Week and for spending your time serving, caring for, and investing in our students.
You've set a great example of what it means to support a community!

Earning a GED is more than the certificate. For Doug, it became proof that consistency and effort can get him where he w...
08/12/2026

Earning a GED is more than the certificate. For Doug, it became proof that consistency and effort can get him where he wants to go.

Accrediting working at a steady pace as one of the hardest parts of his journey. What kept him going was having his brothers beside him, watching them accomplish their own goals and using their progress as motivation to keep moving forward.

Now, Doug walks away from this accomplishment with a different view of what he’s capable of. As he put it, “I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.” His GED is a reminder that determination is rewarding, and that steady progress can take him further than he ever thought possible.

Congratulations, Doug! This is another goal earned and another reminder of what happens when you refuse to give up.

There was a time when many of these guys couldn’t imagine themselves completing something like this, physically or menta...
08/10/2026

There was a time when many of these guys couldn’t imagine themselves completing something like this, physically or mentally.

This mountain biking trip was more than a day on the trails. It was a chance for our senior students to look back at the work they’ve put in over the last 18+ months and realize just how much they’ve changed.

Local volunteers showed up, rode alongside them, encouraged them, and helped create a healthy environment where our students could challenge themselves and experience something new. Our community gives our men the support, accountability, and opportunities to discover that they’re capable of far more than they once believed.

For these students, the biggest accomplishment wasn’t reaching the end of the trail. It was realizing somewhere along the way that they had become the kind of person who could.

With a new calendar month beginning, it also means we had another group of students advance to new stages in the program...
08/06/2026

With a new calendar month beginning, it also means we had another group of students advance to new stages in the program as they continue pushing themselves down the path of lasting change.

This month, we'd like to recognize Victor M and Fernando S on advancing to the Freshman Phase, Jesus Z on reaching the Teacher Phase, Corwin R on advancing to the Senior Phase, and congratulate Thomas M on officially graduating from the two-year program.

Pushing forward in the program means far more than simply putting in the time. It reflects the commitment to show up every day, the consistency to keep working through challenges, and the willingness to develop the habits, values, and leadership skills that will support not only themselves, but also their families and the communities they'll return to. Every new phase is another opportunity to take on greater responsibility and continue becoming the men they set out to be.

Sometimes the best nights aren't the busiest ones.This month's Burgers & Brackets looked a little different. Fewer teams...
08/03/2026

Sometimes the best nights aren't the busiest ones.

This month's Burgers & Brackets looked a little different. Fewer teams meant fewer games happening over the course of the night, but it also meant longer conversations, more laughs between matchups, and the chance to actually get to know the people who came out to spend their evening with us.

It's easy to measure a night by the number of people who show up. We'd rather measure it by the relationships that were built.

To everyone who came out, the students who helped serve the food, and everyone who played ball, cheered from the sidelines, or simply spent time with us, thank you. You made it a night worth remembering.

We'll see you on the court next month! 🏀🍔

Jonathan Y is in his Senior Phase and previously served as a Family Leader. His journey has been about learning to step ...
07/31/2026

Jonathan Y is in his Senior Phase and previously served as a Family Leader. His journey has been about learning to step outside of himself, recognize destructive behaviors, and replace them with accountability, gratitude, and a genuine desire to serve others.

One of his biggest challenges in the program was learning to serve as a leader and balancing the workload that comes with increasing responsibility and trust. Leadership taught Jonathan that trust is earned through consistency and accountability.

In the short term, Jonathan is working toward certifications in supply chain, retail, and logistics. Long-term, he wants to strengthen his math, language, and comprehension skills to create more career opportunities.

When asked what he values most, Jonathan points to the brotherhood. Having genuine friendships with men who hold each other accountable has become one of the most meaningful parts of his journey. He says the men around him inspire him most because watching them struggle, overcome challenges, and keep moving forward reminds him the work is always worth it.

His advice to younger students is simple: "Commit yourself to changing your life and becoming a better person for yourself and your family. Hold yourself and others accountable to that commitment."

Address

24014 S Val Vista Drive
Gilbert, AZ
85249

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

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