The Other Side Academy
Impact score: 50
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado
Focus: Chronic criminal recidivism and addiction
The Other Side Academy - Fierce Philanthropy Research Report
Date: March 21, 2026 Methodology: Todd Manwaring's Social Impact Evaluation Framework Organization: The Other Side Academy (theothersideacademy.com)
PROMPT 1 -- Organization and Social Problem Summary
- Social Problem: Chronic criminal recidivism and addiction
- Population: Adults (18-64) with histories of incarceration, addiction, and homelessness
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado
PROMPT 2 -- Top 20 Negative Consequences of Chronic Criminal Recidivism and Addiction Among Formerly Incarcerated Adults in Salt Lake City and Denver
| # | Negative Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1 | Repeated incarceration cycling through the criminal justice system |
| 2 | Chronic substance abuse and addiction relapse |
| 3 | Chronic homelessness and housing instability |
| 4 | Unemployment and inability to secure stable work |
| 5 | Lack of vocational skills and work experience |
| 6 | Broken family relationships and social isolation |
| 7 | Mental health deterioration from unaddressed trauma |
| 8 | Financial instability and inability to be self-sufficient |
| 9 | Criminal behavior patterns driven by antisocial peer networks |
| 10 | Lack of pro-social skills for conflict resolution and communication |
| 11 | Low self-worth and learned helplessness |
| 12 | Inability to self-govern behavior and make responsible decisions |
| 13 | Physical health decline from substance abuse and neglect |
| 14 | Burden on the criminal justice system and taxpayers |
| 15 | Community safety risks from repeat offenders |
| 16 | Overdose deaths from relapse after incarceration |
| 17 | Intergenerational cycles of poverty and incarceration |
| 18 | Loss of civic participation (voting rights, community engagement) |
| 19 | Exploitation by others due to vulnerability and lack of support systems |
| 20 | Emotional and psychological damage to families and children of incarcerated individuals |
PROMPT 3 -- Negative Consequences Classified as Intermediary or Ultimate Outcomes
| # | Negative Consequence | Outcome Type |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Lack of vocational skills and work experience | Intermediary |
| 9 | Criminal behavior patterns driven by antisocial peer networks | Intermediary |
| 10 | Lack of pro-social skills for conflict resolution and communication | Intermediary |
| 11 | Low self-worth and learned helplessness | Intermediary |
| 12 | Inability to self-govern behavior and make responsible decisions | Intermediary |
| 6 | Broken family relationships and social isolation | Intermediary |
| 18 | Loss of civic participation (voting rights, community engagement) | Intermediary |
| 19 | Exploitation by others due to vulnerability and lack of support systems | Intermediary |
| 1 | Repeated incarceration cycling through the criminal justice system | Ultimate |
| 2 | Chronic substance abuse and addiction relapse | Ultimate |
| 3 | Chronic homelessness and housing instability | Ultimate |
| 4 | Unemployment and inability to secure stable work | Ultimate |
| 7 | Mental health deterioration from unaddressed trauma | Ultimate |
| 8 | Financial instability and inability to be self-sufficient | Ultimate |
| 13 | Physical health decline from substance abuse and neglect | Ultimate |
| 14 | Burden on the criminal justice system and taxpayers | Ultimate |
| 15 | Community safety risks from repeat offenders | Ultimate |
| 16 | Overdose deaths from relapse after incarceration | Ultimate |
| 17 | Intergenerational cycles of poverty and incarceration | Ultimate |
| 20 | Emotional and psychological damage to families and children of incarcerated individuals | Ultimate |
PROMPT 4 -- Positive Results Shared by The Other Side Academy
| # | Negative Consequence | Outcome Type | Positive Results Shared by Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Lack of vocational skills and work experience | Intermediary | Yes. Students work full-time in social enterprises (moving/storage, thrift boutiques, donut shop, furniture retail, construction) throughout the 2.5-year program. 81% have full-time jobs secured at graduation. Vocational training is integrated into daily operations. |
| 9 | Criminal behavior patterns driven by antisocial peer networks | Intermediary | Yes. Residential therapeutic community model replaces antisocial peer networks with a pro-social peer community. Students and staff come from the same backgrounds. Peer-based accountability is the core mechanism of behavioral change. |
| 10 | Lack of pro-social skills for conflict resolution and communication | Intermediary | Yes. The program teaches pro-social, interpersonal, and self-governance skills through daily practice in communal living and business operations. "Games" (confrontation exercises) and "Seminars" are used to develop conflict resolution and communication. |
| 11 | Low self-worth and learned helplessness | Intermediary | Yes. Program philosophy centers on character development and enabling participants to create "purposeful, connected, and happy lives." Students earn increasing responsibility and leadership roles throughout the program. |
| 12 | Inability to self-govern behavior and make responsible decisions | Intermediary | Yes. Self-governance training is one of the three core pillars (alongside education and vocational training). Students manage their own community, make decisions, and hold each other accountable. |
| 6 | Broken family relationships and social isolation | Intermediary | Partial. The residential community model builds new social connections. Some testimonials reference restored family relationships but no systematic data is shared. |
| 18 | Loss of civic participation | Intermediary | Partial. Students and graduates are re-engaged in community life through social enterprises and community events. No specific civic participation data shared. |
| 19 | Exploitation by others due to vulnerability | Intermediary | Yes. The residential model provides a protected environment with peer support. Students progress from dependence to independence through a structured hierarchy. |
| 1 | Repeated incarceration cycling through the criminal justice system | Ultimate | Yes. 23% recidivism rate (graduates rearrested) as of December 2025. 77% of graduates remain crime-free. For those who stay 3+ years, DCE rate rises to 80%. Population arrives with an average of 26 prior arrests and near-100% historical recidivism. |
| 2 | Chronic substance abuse and addiction relapse | Ultimate | Yes. 75% of graduates remain drug-free. 69% overall DCE (drug-free, crime-free, employed) rate. For 3+ year cohort, DCE rate is 80%. |
| 3 | Chronic homelessness and housing instability | Ultimate | Yes. Students arrive with 90% prior homelessness rate. The program provides stable housing for the full 2.5-year term. 50% of graduates voluntarily extend to a third year. Post-graduation housing stability implied by DCE rates but not reported separately. |
| 4 | Unemployment and inability to secure stable work | Ultimate | Yes. 81% of graduates have full-time employment secured at graduation. All students work full-time in social enterprises during the program. |
| 7 | Mental health deterioration from unaddressed trauma | Ultimate | Partial. The therapeutic community model addresses behavioral patterns but the program does not accept "dual diagnosis" applicants requiring specialized counseling. No mental health outcome data shared. |
| 8 | Financial instability and inability to be self-sufficient | Ultimate | Partial. Employment at graduation (81%) implies financial stabilization. No direct income or financial stability data shared. |
| 13 | Physical health decline from substance abuse and neglect | Ultimate | Partial. Sobriety maintenance (75% drug-free) implies improved physical health. No direct health outcome data shared. |
| 14 | Burden on the criminal justice system and taxpayers | Ultimate | Yes. Program is free to participants and takes no government funding. Revenue generated through social enterprises. Reduced recidivism (23% vs. near-100% baseline) implies significant taxpayer savings. |
| 15 | Community safety risks from repeat offenders | Ultimate | Yes. 77% of graduates remain crime-free. Community endorsements from neighbors, business leaders, and local officials attest to positive community impact. |
| 16 | Overdose deaths from relapse after incarceration | Ultimate | Partial. 75% drug-free rate reduces overdose risk. No direct overdose mortality data shared. |
| 17 | Intergenerational cycles of poverty and incarceration | Ultimate | No direct results shared on intergenerational impact. |
| 20 | Emotional and psychological damage to families and children | Ultimate | No direct results shared on family-level outcomes. |
PROMPT 5 -- Counterfactual Results Shared by The Other Side Academy
| # | Negative Consequence | Outcome Type | Positive Results Shared | Counterfactual Results Shared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Lack of vocational skills and work experience | Intermediary | Yes. 81% employed at graduation. | No formal counterfactual. However, program implicitly compares against baseline: population arrives with minimal employment history after averaging 26 arrests. |
| 9 | Criminal behavior patterns driven by antisocial peer networks | Intermediary | Yes. Therapeutic community replaces antisocial networks. | No counterfactual results. |
| 10 | Lack of pro-social skills for conflict resolution and communication | Intermediary | Yes. Daily pro-social skills practice. | No counterfactual results. |
| 11 | Low self-worth and learned helplessness | Intermediary | Yes. Character development focus. | No counterfactual results. |
| 12 | Inability to self-govern behavior and make responsible decisions | Intermediary | Yes. Self-governance training. | No counterfactual results. |
| 6 | Broken family relationships and social isolation | Intermediary | Partial. New social connections formed. | No counterfactual results. |
| 18 | Loss of civic participation | Intermediary | Partial. Community re-engagement. | No counterfactual results. |
| 19 | Exploitation by others due to vulnerability | Intermediary | Yes. Protected residential environment. | No counterfactual results. |
| 1 | Repeated incarceration cycling | Ultimate | Yes. 23% recidivism, 77% crime-free. | Partial. The organization cites that recidivism drops "from close to 100% to 12%" for the longest-staying cohort, using the population's own prior history as the baseline comparison. This is a pre-post comparison, not a randomized or matched control group counterfactual. No external comparison group used. |
| 2 | Chronic substance abuse and addiction relapse | Ultimate | Yes. 75% drug-free, 69% DCE rate. | Partial. Pre-post comparison: population arrives with chronic addiction histories. Post-program sobriety rates represent change from baseline but no external control group. |
| 3 | Chronic homelessness and housing instability | Ultimate | Yes. 90% prior homelessness rate, stable housing during program. | Partial. Pre-post comparison: 90% homelessness at entry vs. stable housing during and implied after program. No control group. |
| 4 | Unemployment and inability to secure stable work | Ultimate | Yes. 81% employed at graduation. | Partial. Pre-post comparison: minimal employment history at entry vs. 81% employed at graduation. No control group. |
| 7 | Mental health deterioration | Ultimate | Partial. No mental health outcome data. | No counterfactual results. |
| 8 | Financial instability | Ultimate | Partial. 81% employment implies stabilization. | No counterfactual results. |
| 13 | Physical health decline | Ultimate | Partial. 75% drug-free implies health improvement. | No counterfactual results. |
| 14 | Burden on criminal justice system | Ultimate | Yes. No government funding, reduced recidivism. | Partial. Pre-post comparison of recidivism rates implies taxpayer savings. No control group comparison. |
| 15 | Community safety risks | Ultimate | Yes. 77% crime-free. | Partial. Pre-post: near-100% recidivism baseline vs. 23% post-program. No control group. |
| 16 | Overdose deaths from relapse | Ultimate | Partial. 75% drug-free. | No counterfactual results. |
| 17 | Intergenerational cycles | Ultimate | No direct results. | No counterfactual results. |
| 20 | Emotional damage to families | Ultimate | No direct results. | No counterfactual results. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Section 1 -- Our Recommendation
We recommend The Other Side Academy for donor consideration. The organization demonstrates a compelling model for transforming the lives of individuals caught in cycles of incarceration, addiction, and homelessness. Its population arrives with an average of 26 prior arrests, 90% prior homelessness, and near-100% recidivism -- representing some of the hardest-to-serve individuals in the criminal justice system. The results are meaningful: 77% of graduates remain crime-free, 75% remain drug-free, 81% are employed at graduation, and the overall DCE (drug-free, crime-free, employed) rate is 69%, rising to 80% for those who complete 3+ years. The self-funded social enterprise model (no government funding, free to participants) is innovative and sustainable. However, the evidence base has important limitations: the 40% retention rate means these outcomes apply only to completers, and there is no external control group or matched comparison -- the organization uses pre-post comparisons against participants' own histories. Selection bias (who completes the 2.5 years) is unaddressed. For an organization of this type and size, however, the data tracking is strong and the results are encouraging.
Seven-Point Evaluation:
- a. Understands the Social Issue
- b. Has Intermediate Outcome Goals
- c. Has Ultimate Outcome Goals
- d. Measures these Intermediate & Ultimate Outcomes
- e. Measures Intermediate Counterfactuals
- f. Measures Ultimate Counterfactuals
- g. Evidence of Continual Learning & Adaptation
Section 2 -- The Social Problem
In the United States, approximately 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons each year, and within three years, about two-thirds are rearrested. In Salt Lake City and Denver, this cycle is compounded by intersecting crises of addiction and homelessness. The population served by The Other Side Academy arrives with an average of 26 prior arrests and a 90% prior homelessness rate -- individuals for whom the traditional criminal justice system, conventional treatment programs, and homeless services have repeatedly failed. Recidivism is driven not just by addiction and criminal behavior, but by the absence of vocational skills, pro-social relationships, self-governance capacity, and the basic life competencies needed to sustain stability after release. These individuals cycle through incarceration, addiction relapse, homelessness, and re-arrest at enormous cost to themselves, their families, and their communities. The negative consequences extend beyond the individuals: families are fractured, children grow up with incarcerated parents, neighborhoods bear safety risks, and taxpayers fund repeated incarceration without achieving lasting change.
Section 3 -- The Solution
The Other Side Academy operates a 2.5-year residential therapeutic community based on 70 years of therapeutic community research. The model's core insight is that lasting behavioral change requires intensive, immersive practice in a community of peers who share similar backgrounds. Key elements include:
- Residential Therapeutic Community: Students live together for a minimum of 2.5 years (50% voluntarily stay for a third year). The community is self-governing -- students manage daily operations, hold each other accountable, and progress through increasing levels of responsibility and leadership.
- Social Enterprise Vocational Training: Students work full-time in revenue-generating businesses -- moving and storage, thrift boutiques, a donut shop, furniture retail, and construction. These enterprises provide real vocational skills while generating revenue that covers most program costs, eliminating the need for government funding.
- Pro-Social and Self-Governance Education: The program teaches conflict resolution, communication, decision-making, and personal management through daily practice in communal living. "Games" (peer confrontation exercises) and "Seminars" provide structured environments for developing interpersonal skills.
- Peer-Based Model: Both students and staff come from the same backgrounds. Experienced peers (not traditional therapists) guide newer students, creating a credible and relatable mentorship model.
- Self-Funded, No Government Funding: The program is free to participants and accepts no government money. Social enterprise revenue covers most costs, with the remainder from donations.
Section 4 -- Key Outputs
- 2.5-year minimum residential commitment (30 months)
- 40% retention rate (participants who complete the full program)
- 50% voluntary extension rate (graduates choosing to stay for a third year)
- Two locations: Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado
- Social enterprises include: The Other Side Moving & Storage (5-star rated), The Other Side Thrift Boutique, The Other Side Donut Shop, The Other Side Builders, and The Other Side Designer Storage
- Zero government funding -- self-funded through social enterprises and donations
- Free to participants -- no cost to students
- Ages served: 18-64
- Population profile at entry: Average 26 prior arrests, 90% prior homelessness rate, near-100% historical recidivism
- Exclusions: Sex offenders, arsonists, dual-diagnosis requiring specialized counseling
- Founded: 2015 in Salt Lake City
- Data tracking period: 2015-2025 (internal records and surveys as of December 2025)
Section 5 -- Key Intermediate Outcomes
The Other Side Academy measures several intermediate outcomes reflecting behavioral transformation during the program:
- Vocational skill acquisition: All students work full-time in social enterprises throughout the 2.5-year program, gaining real-world work experience in moving/storage, retail, food service, and construction. 81% have full-time employment secured at graduation.
- Pro-social behavior development: The therapeutic community model provides daily practice in conflict resolution, communication, self-governance, and peer accountability. Students progress through increasing levels of responsibility and leadership within the community.
- Peer network replacement: Students replace antisocial peer networks with a pro-social community of peers who share similar backgrounds and are committed to behavioral change.
- Self-governance capacity: Students manage their own community, make collective decisions, and hold each other accountable -- developing the self-regulation skills that were absent during their criminal and addictive lifestyles.
Counterfactual note: No intermediate counterfactual measurements are reported. The organization does not compare intermediate skill development against an external control group.
Section 6 -- Key Ultimate Outcomes
The Other Side Academy tracks post-graduation outcomes through internal records and surveys (data as of December 2025):
- Crime-free rate: 77% of graduates remain crime-free post-program. Recidivism rate is 23% for graduates (rearrested after completing 2.5+ years). For those who stay 3+ years, the organization reports recidivism drops to approximately 12%.
- Drug-free rate: 75% of graduates maintain sobriety post-program.
- Employment rate: 81% of graduates have full-time employment at graduation.
- DCE (Drug-free, Crime-free, Employed) rate: 69% overall for all graduates. 80% for graduates who completed 3+ years.
- Housing stability: 90% of enrollees arrive homeless. Stable housing is provided throughout the program. Post-graduation housing data is not reported separately but is implied by overall DCE rates.
Counterfactual note: The organization uses pre-post comparisons -- comparing graduates' outcomes to their own prior histories (e.g., "recidivism from close to 100% to 12%" for longest-staying cohort). This is meaningful given the extreme baseline but is not a formal counterfactual. There is no randomized control group, matched comparison group, or external benchmark study. Additionally, the 40% retention rate introduces selection bias -- outcomes reflect only those who completed the full program, not all who enrolled.
Section 7 -- Continual Learning & Adaptation
The Other Side Academy demonstrates meaningful adaptation and learning, though its evidence is more operational than research-based:
Model Refinement Through Experience: The program is based on 70 years of therapeutic community research and has refined its model since its 2015 founding. The organization tracks outcomes over time (2015-2025 dataset) and the data shows that longer stays produce better results (69% DCE at 2.5 years, 80% at 3+ years), informing the recommendation that students stay for the optional third year.
Geographic Expansion: The organization expanded from Salt Lake City to Denver, adapting the model to a new market. This required establishing new social enterprises, building new community partnerships, and adapting to different regulatory environments.
Social Enterprise Innovation: The addition of new business lines over time (moving/storage, thrift boutique, donut shop, builders, designer storage, furniture boutique) reflects operational learning about which enterprises best serve the dual purpose of generating revenue and providing meaningful vocational training.
Data Collection Evolution: The organization maintains internal records and conducts surveys of graduates through December 2025, tracking DCE rates, recidivism, and retention. The existence of a results page with specific data suggests commitment to transparency, though the data collection methodology is not externally validated.
White Paper Development: The organization references an efficacy research white paper, suggesting investment in formalizing and sharing their evidence base.
Community Endorsements: The organization collects and shares endorsements from neighbors, business leaders, and local officials, indicating attention to community relationships and stakeholder feedback as inputs to program improvement.
Report prepared using Todd Manwaring's Social Impact Evaluation Framework for Fierce Philanthropy. Sources: theothersideacademy.com, theothersideacademy.com/results, Utah Business, Utah Stories, Gephardt Daily.
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