A Roadmap to Stability: Lavon’s Story
Lavon with S:US President & CEO Perry Perrlmutter and chef Andrew Zimmern at the 2026 Dinner for a Better New York®.
“When you don’t have what you need to get a good start in life, it can feel like the road is closed before you even step onto it.”
For Lavon Turner, that road was shaped early by challenges beyond his control and by the strength it took to find a new direction.
Born in 1980 to young parents, Lavon experienced instability from a very young age. After his mother began struggling with substance use, he entered foster care in first grade, where he was exposed to a domestic violence environment. After a short time, he was then placed in the care of his great aunt, who raised him and became a steady presence in his life.
As he grew older, Lavon began navigating his own struggles with substance use. He started using marijuana at 12, crack cocaine at 16, and heroin at 23. By then, he had already become a father at just 16 years old. Addiction and incarceration repeatedly interrupted Lavon’s life and separated him from his family.
But after years of cycling through substance use and the criminal justice system, Lavon reached a point where he knew he could not continue living the same way. He needed stability, support, and a chance to rebuild his life.
“The gang life won. I was in the street. I’m walking around aimlessly looking for the next [fix] — in the rain, not showering, wearing the same clothes. I don’t care. I was beat up, I was in despair… What I needed was an opportunity. Services for the UnderServed gave me that opportunity.”
Introduced to Services for the UnderServed (S:US) through another New York City program, Lavon began his recovery journey at Starhill (then a residential treatment program and now an affordable and supportive housing building). He later continued his recovery through Ujima House, which provides reentry-focused services for individuals returning to the community after completing a detox or rehabilitation program, and Wellness Works, S:US’ Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
“When you’re moving forward, you don’t have to worry about what you were. It’s where you’re at and what you’re doing now. S:US’ mission works. I’m proof of that.”
Now, Lavon has come full circle. He is a full-time staff member at S:US’ Ujima House, where he works as a porter, assisting in building maintenance. Beyond his official responsibilities, he serves as a trusted source of support for residents.
Each day, Lavon makes a point to check in with Ujima residents, offering a listening ear, encouragement, and understanding rooted in his own recovery journey. Having faced many of the same challenges himself, he helps those at Ujima feel seen, valued, and supported during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
“Lavon is more than just a staff member here at Ujima, he gives so much more to our peers,” said Michele Harris-Semple, Psychologist at S:US Ujima House.
“He respects everybody in here. He makes you feel like a person, because we come in [Ujima] broken and not feeling ourselves — not feeling human anymore. He makes you feel alive, like you’re wanted here,” expressed Nicholas, current Ujima House resident.
“If I have an issue, or if someone has an issue, you can pull Lavon to the side and talk to him whether it’s personal or program. And he will give you his attention and he will definitely try to help you,” shared Ralph “Z”, current Ujima House resident.
Today, Lavon is approaching a major milestone in his recovery.
“I will be ten years clean from substance use. I don’t like to say I’m proud of myself. But I’ll tell you this: I am psyched for myself. I am psyched for the man I’ve become, and I am psyched for the future I’m building for me and for my children. Because that’s what this is really about. Building something my kids can stand on. Giving them a different start than the one I had.”
The compassion and encouragement Lavon brings to his community have made a lasting impact on those around him. In recognition of both his recovery journey and his commitment to helping others, Lavon was honored with the Andrew Zimmern Award at S:US’ 2026 Dinner for a Better New York®, which honors resilience, transformation, and community impact.
“I accept this award not just for myself, but for my mother, for my children, for everyone at S:US who believed in me, and for every young man still out there waiting for somebody to give him an opportunity.”
From a childhood marked by instability to nearly a decade of recovery and a career helping others find their own path forward, Lavon has transformed his lived experience into a source of hope for his community. Recovery is possible, and that with the right support, people can build lives defined not by their challenges, but by their strength, purpose, and potential.
Watch Lavon share his story
