The Journey of Dorline Levels

“I spent thirteen years carrying my life in a trash bag and sixty years carrying a sacred secret, only to realize that the poison meant to bury me was the very soil God used to grow my wings.”

In this profound follow-up to her first work, FENTANYL: FROM LOSS TO LIFE, international author Dorline Levels uncovers the roots of a warrior. While her first book served as an urgent cry for justice after the loss of her son, Dwan, STILL STANDING is the raw, unflinching “why” behind the mission.

From the “barefoot humility” of her grandmother’s porch in Florida to the cold, homeless streets of Rochester at thirteen, Dorline’s life has been a collision with the “Confusion” of addiction and systemic betrayal. She has faced the

“Gatekeepers” who tried to push her toward the poison and the “demons” of family abandonment that forced her to defend her home and her grandsons against a broken system.

But this is not just a memoir of survival-it is a battle plan. Dorline reveals how the fentanyl crisis is a community wildfire, backed by the haunting reality that a person dies from fentanyl every 7 minutes in the U.S., leaving an average of 8 family members per victim to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.

Through the founding of Levels of Life, Dorline and her “Village of Valor” are turning grief into a shield. This book is the voice that refuses to be silenced-proof that for the nomads, the grandmothers, and the survivors, your story ends where you decide to build.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dorline Levels | Founder, Visionary & International Author

Dorline Levels is a globally recognized voice for fentanyl awareness and community restoration. As an international author, her writing bridges the gap between personal tragedy and systemic change. Following the loss of her son, Dwan, to fentanyl poisoning on his 31st birthday in 2023, she dedicated her life to ensuring no other parent walks that path alone. She is the heart of Levels of Life, a published advocate, and a champion for the homeless and stroke survivors.

Shalonda Levels | Co-Founder & Director of Operations

Shalonda Levels is the strategic architect and “Peace in the Storm” behind Levels of Life. A talented entrepreneur and community organizer in the DFW metroplex, Shalonda ensures her brother Dwan’s legacy is felt through tangible action. She is dedicated to bridging the awareness gap for the next generation and transforming empathy into high-impact community programs that save lives.

THE VILLAGE OF VALOR

Standing on the front lines with:

Brianna (Community Outreach) • Jessica (Young Adult Team) • Cynthia Pursley & Anthony Delabano • Richard Brown • Nekeshia Servis • Tonya Christopher • Amy Brewer • Pastor Dusty Petree • Dan Midgett • Tim Grigsby

• Misty Veal – Michael Land • Dr. Marian Jefferson