Member Moment: Kyle

Meet our resident musician, doodler, bike fixer, and a true mainstay of the Café: Kyle. 

When Kyle first came to Recovery Café Longmont almost three years ago, he was instantly struck by two things – the delicious food and the School for Recovery Classes.

“I kept coming back because it was something to do,” Kyle shared, “but now this place is my second home.”

While the food has remained a constant draw, Kyle has found another reason to continue coming back to the Café: music.

“I was pursuing music in college, but now it’s more of a hobby– I find it very entertaining and a good way to occupy my mind,” he shared. “I lost touch with music for a while, so I’m thankful to be able to pursue that here and enjoy just a little bit each day.”

On any given day, you can find Kyle playing and maintaining our guitars and

ukuleles, learning Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata on the keyboard, or studying a new chord chart. His creativity is seemingly endless; Kyle also often joins in on “Art & More” or spends the morning creating intricate sketches, all displayed around the Café.

“I enjoy visual art because I am still learning. I feel like a kid,” he said, explaining his current pursuit of teaching himself to paint. “I want to be well-rounded in all forms of art.”

“This place is my second home.”

Building Community

Beyond reconnecting with music, Kyle has built something important: community. “Being homeless,” he said, “this is the only community I have.” He continued, “It’s people who accept and encourage, we are all trying to better ourselves, together.”

One of the first people Kyle remembers meeting at the Café is our Bilingual Program Manager, Kristina. “In the past year or so, Kyle has really stepped up by demonstrating what a member leader looks like at the Café. He is highly resourceful and uses that to give back,” she said. “He’s learning Spanish to be a better part of the community – he stays late to help us clean. He is just always ready and willing to help.”

Kristina continued: “It’s been inspiring to watch his hunger for knowledge, especially with music. He is so eager to learn.”

Since coming to the Café, Kyle has become a face we expect to see daily – he shows up with gratitude and excitement each day.  “This place aligns with everything I’m interested in,” he shared. Once a shy, quiet presence, Kyle now confidently leads our members in chore assignments, reads aloud in Spanish, and includes other members and guests in his jam-sessions.

The Café is a safe space where he can reconnect with his passions, make friends, and be a part of something – all pieces that come together to create a refuge of healing for those in recovery.