Nikita Lukichev is a Community Support Worker (CSW) and Castle Operations Manager at TribaLights, bringing over nine years of personal recovery work and lived experience into his role. After years of searching for sustainable sobriety, spending nine months in the TribaLights program became a defining turning point—providing purpose, stability, and a deep commitment to ongoing personal growth and supporting others on their recovery journey.

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At TribaLights, Nikita supports new arrivals to the program, helping ensure they are welcomed, grounded, and set up for success from the start. As the manager of The Castle residence, he plays a key role in maintaining a safe, functional, and supportive living environment where participants can focus on healing and transformation. His approach blends accountability, practical problem-solving, and empathy shaped by firsthand experience.

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Nikita’s professional background includes operations management, nonprofit leadership, and skilled trades such as construction, electrical, and plumbing. He has held roles with Citizen Schools, the Santa Fe Artists’ Medical Fund, and Amenergy, contributing to after-school programming, artist medical support, and off-grid and large-scale renewable energy projects. He holds a dual B.A. (Hons) in Business Management and Linguistics (Russian) from The University of Manchester and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International for his contributions to international relations in New Mexico.

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Outside of TribaLights, Nikita enjoys building projects, fishing, spending time in nature, wild mushroom foraging, and gathering around bonfires. He lives in Budaghers, New Mexico, and remains deeply committed to recovery, service, and creating environments where others can stabilize, grow, and reclaim their lives.