MILWAUKEE — The Phoenix is a nationwide organization that builds sober, supportive and active communities. It offers a wide variety of social events and group classes with the goal to help one another rise above addiction.

What You Need To Know

  • The Phoenix is a nationwide organization that builds sober, supportive and active communities

  • Every Wednesday members part of The Phoenix meet at Legacy Gym in Menomonee Falls, where owner Brittany Holterman lets them workout for free

  • The only requirement is 48 hours of sobriety

Byron Thompson leads the Milwaukee Branch of The Phoenix. He’s proud to say he’s been sober for 23 years.

“It’s not only giving me a better life, but it’s also giving me the ability to give back to the same community that I leaned on when I got sober,” Thompson said. “Sobriety opened up the door to go back to school, to get my degree from Marquette University, to be able to hold a job, and be an entrepreneur and do things like this, which is giving back to the community and helping other people stay sober.”

Members of The Phoenix work hard to maintain sobriety. Every Wednesday they meet at Legacy Gym in Menomonee Falls, where owner Brittany Holterman lets them workout for free.

Holterman opened the gym to help people connect and live healthier lives. She’s passionate about fitness and is inspired by the members of The Phoenix. 

“This gym started from American Ninja Warrior,” Holterman said. “This is a perfect fit because meeting goals, trying new things and overcoming obstacles is what this gym is all about.”

Marshall Lock is newer in his sobriety journey. He struggled with drugs and alcohol at a young age and went to rehab, but eventually, relapsed.

“After losing my job, almost becoming homeless, broke, crippling depression, absolute desperation,” said Lock. “After feeling all those things laying on my couch in my stupor or whatever you want to call it, one day, I just cried out to God and he answered my prayer, and I’m here making better decisions.”

Lock said staying active and hanging out with people who understand what he’s going through makes a big difference. 

“All the social interaction is really encouraging,” he said. “It’s refreshing. The progress you see in yourself is definitely a daily reminder to why you need to stay on track and keep making good decisions.”

Thompson is working to grow the local chapter of The Phoenix and invites everyone to be part of it. There’s no cost. The only requirement, he said, is 48 hours of sobriety.

“I am a person who got sober, and I can tell you that it’s much happier on this side,” said Thompson.

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