Alethia Thurston (Ms. Lee) is a non-traditional student at UNLV who completed an undergraduate internship with The Phoenix in the Fall 2025 semester.
This is what she had to say about her experience: “With 36 years in recovery from alcoholism, I entered this experience with a solid foundation, but this internship showed me how many different pathways to sobriety now exist. I have learned that recovery is not one-size-fits-all, it looks different for each person, and that is okay. Seeing how peer support, community, fitness, mental health, and connection all play a role deepened my respect for the process and for the courage it takes to show up. This experience strengthened my belief that recovery is not only about staying sober, but about building a full, meaningful life.”
Ms. Lee will continue supporting The Phoenix as an outreach volunteer at Clark County Detention Center. She found her calling through her participation in Criminal Legal System events with The Phoenix, and she recently received a scholarship for a chaplaincy program to provide ongoing support for those who are incarcerated in Clark County!
