Walking down beautiful Main Street Ravenna, I noticed a new (to me) tenant. Curiosity piqued, I wandered in, as the sign said that all are welcome.
I entered O.U.R. Place, a safe place for those in recovery from addiction. Founded by Jessica Easterling, this is their third year at this location, 260 West Main, Ravenna. I was greeted by Jackie, who was currently running the front desk. Jackie contacted Jessica to come in for a conversation and then took time to sit down with me and Board Member Pat to explain the mission of O.U.R. Place. Throughout our conversation, one could tell that both Jackie and Pat were passionate about this place and committed to seeing it thrive.
O.U.R. Place is there to serve anyone in need, regardless of recovery stage and type of addiction. They offer a safe place to be (though no overnights), a place to hold meetings, have direct services, volunteer, peer support and gather with others that are fighting the battle of addiction. They also serve people who are on probation. This is a Peer Run Organization, meaning that at least half of the staff is comprised of people in recovery. This is very meaningful is very meaningful to Jackie, as she came here originally as someone in need. It is a nonprofit organization, funded through mental health grants and donations.
Most ‘clients’ have an informal pathway to O.U.R. Place. Often, and as in Jackie’s case, they come in and just hang out for a few visits. There is comfortable furniture, a television, some games and books, etc., to pass the time. After a few visits, the staff often casually visits with the person, letting them know what they can offer. This approach allows for relationships to be built, in a less structured environment than a meeting. As many of the staff started out in a similar situation, they know how precarious this part of recovery is…come on too strong and the person won’t return. Jackie herself said she tried over 40 times to become sober, then finally it became a way of life for her.
O.U.R. Place has many activities for their ‘family.’ They have official meetings for groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, MARA (Medically Assisted Recovery Anonymous), Alcoholics Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous, which are spread throughout the week. In addition to these structured meetings, they also offer live and Zoom meetings for OATH (Older Adults Thriving and Healing,) SMART Recovery, and Manifesting Wellness. As they seek all pathways to recovery, they also have Bhuddist and holistic influences, as well as social activities. They hold fun social events, such as Saturday Night Vibes. The first Saturday of the month is Bingo, second Saturday is Open Mic, the last Saturday is SOBEROKE, and they offer kids activities every Saturday.
On August 31 they held Overdose Awareness Day at the Ravenna City Park. Every victim of overdose was someone’s loved one, so the mission of this day is to celebrate the lives of those lost to overdose and taken way too soon. It was a huge success, with an incredible turnout and great community support. They were joined by community partners from BrightView, Axcesspoint and others. Pictures of those lost were up for remembrance, and NARCAN, hygiene bags and food were available. “It was moving to see so many organizations and people come together in support and rememberance,” say Jessica.
The next big event they are planning is Sober October Recovery Fest, to be held on October 5th beginning at 1:00pm. It is scheduled on the courthouse lawn and there will be informational tables for treatment providers. Already MedMart, Coleman Mental Health Services, Town Hall II, Bright View Counseling, Mental Health Recovery Board, HopeTown Recovery System and Recovery Works Detox Center are committed to being there. There also will be live music; provided by 6 String Renegades, 2Fluent, Matt Keegan and Logan Bruce. They are all talented performers who bring messages of recovery through their music. If you are part of an organization that would like to participate or become a sponsor, please call Jessica at (330) 839-7060.
Jessica entered and took me on a tour of the facility. The front has a reception desk, then there is a small ‘shop’ with donated clothing, a table and chairs, then there is a lounge area with comfy furniture and a television, a kitchen area and a back room for more private conversations as well as restrooms and an office. Most items there are donated. I also met the center cat. The cat joined the center of its own accord.
We talked, about what this facility means to Jessica, her personal recovery journey and where she sees this in the future. O.U.R. Place (Open United Recovery) was originally in the house next to the Shepherd’s House (formerly the Haven of Portage County) and moved here about three years ago. She shared with me her path to recovery, relapse and recovery again. This personalized the facility to me. There is a such bias regarding addiction, but it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, age or socio-economic status. Sometimes recovery takes different forms, and many tries. O.U.R Place offers a place to not only actively fight the addiction, but also for harm reduction.
Harm reduction comes in many forms. Often people in need want help but don’t know where to go. Sometimes it’s having a safe place to hang out for a while. Sometimes it is being offered a good meal. Loved ones having access to NARCAN can save a life. Jessica shared that her best friend taught her how to be safe while she was striving to become sober. It clearly made a difference for her; one she hopes to pay forward.
To that end, once Jessica achieved recovery, she took training for Peer Support and sought other ways to reach her potential. While working on a master’s in public administration, she learned about recovery community organizations. In doing so, she learned about 12 Step programs, recognized the need for socialization and the need to broaden the definition of recovery. Through O.U.R. Place, Jessica and the staff strive to meet the needs of those who are struggling. They ask for a commitment to attend 2 recovery meetings/groups, 2 hours of peer support and 2 hours of volunteer service. Often there is a growing reliance on digital communities, but that can exacerbate the disconnect that people often experience, so the center does focus on peer support and in-person services in addition to some online functions. Through these and other services available at the center, it is hoped that no one ‘falls through the cracks.’ I noticed during my visit that all were accepted, and none were judged-truly staying to the mission of harm reduction and support.
If you are interested in donating, volunteering or are in need of support, please visit the website, www.openunitedrecovery.org or check them out on Facebook.
