History Corner (Voices from the Past)

As we approach Sun Street Centers’ 60th Anniversary in 2028, History Corner honors the individuals who helped build and shape our agency from its earliest days. Launching in April 2026, this series will feature one story each month leading up to our anniversary celebration, sharing reflections from former partners, community allies, and past board members whose dedication played a critical role in the growth of Sun Street Centers.

Through personal stories and firsthand accounts, we celebrate their leadership, commitment, and contributions, keeping alive the history, values, and vision that continue to guide our mission today.

Oly Gomez: Five Times Stronger!

When Oly Gomez first became involved with Sun Street Centers in 2000, the organization looked very different than it does today. There were fewer programs, fewer locations, and even fewer staff. As Oly remembers it, Sun Street was probably only a third of the size it is now. But even then, the purpose was clear, helping people find a path to sobriety and a better life.

Oly’s connection to Sun Street Centers came during a very personal time in his life. After losing his brother in an alcohol-related tragedy and seeing the effects of alcohol use disorder on his family, he was looking for a way to help.

“The timing couldn’t been better because I was trying to find a way to help.”

What started as an effort to give back eventually became more than 25 years of involvement with Sun Street Centers. Over the years, Oly served in nearly every leadership role on the Board of Directors, including Treasurer, Vice President, Secretary, Board Member, and eventually Board President. Today, he continues that commitment as a supporter and member of Sun Street Centers’ Legacy Circle.

Looking back, Oly shares that founder Martin Dodd played a major role in shaping the organization.

“The biggest thing that helped this organization was his commitment.”

Oly remembers Martin as someone who stayed focused on the people Sun Street Centers was there to serve. Whether the organization was helping a few people or hundreds, the goal was to give people an opportunity to find sobriety.

“Martin is going to live through Sun Street Centers just because of the name. He created it, he created an opportunity for people to find sobriety.”

Over the years, Oly has watched the growth of Sun Street Centers. Some of the programs and facilities that are part of the organization today were once just ideas being discussed. The Huntington Recovery Center is one example that stands out to him.

“The property that we are sitting in right now, it was a vision, it was a hope, it was a dream. We talked about it the year I joined the organization.”

Oly remembers the years of conversations, setbacks, and persistence that eventually turned the property, once known as a drug house, into a place where people could come for recovery and support. For him, seeing that vision become a reality is one of the clearest examples of how much Sun Street Centers has changed over the years.

But the buildings and programs aren’t what have kept Oly involved for more than two decades. It’s the people. He has watched friends, family members, and others in the community come through Sun Street Centers’ doors and find a different direction for their lives. Those experiences have continued to reinforce why he believes access to treatment and support matters.

“I am committed to helping Sun Street Centers because it has helped people that are close to me and not just those people but I know people in the community.”

When asked about the future, Oly doesn’t necessarily focus on making Sun Street Centers bigger. For him, what matters more is continuing to build programs that meet people where they are and give them a chance to move forward.

“Whether that’s from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz, or Hollister or further. It’s building programs that help them find hope…”

“It’s not necessarily do I want to see it five times bigger. I want to see it five times stronger.”

He has seen changes in the community, changes in the way people view substance use and recovery, and new needs emerge over time. But he continues to believe that Sun Street’s role is to be there when someone is ready to take that first step.

“Truth is you have to want it. Sun Street Centers can only be there to participate and educate them on that path.”

Before the conversation ended, Oly returned to the people who helped make Sun Street Centers what it is today. He emphasized that Martin Dodd didn’t build the organization alone. Family members, community leaders, donors, volunteers, board members, staff, and other supporters all played a part in keeping the organization moving forward.

“He got the community to believe in his dream and it’s that dream that we need to keep the light on because that’s the mission of this organization.”

More than 25 years after first becoming involved with Sun Street Centers, Oly is still here. He has watched the organization grow from a much smaller agency into what it is today, while remaining connected to the same reason he got involved in the first place, helping people.

For Oly, being part of Sun Street Centers has never been just about watching the organization grow. It has been about seeing what can happen when people believe in the work, support the mission, and keep showing up for the community.