The seeds of OUR Place were planted in 2014 with two determined women: Jessika Easterling, a person in long-term recovery, and Mim Cherrie, a fierce family advocate with OhioCAN and the mother of one of Jessika’s close friends. Witnessing the urgent need for compassionate, non-judgmental support in Portage County, they joined forces to launch a grassroots harm reduction outreach effort, accompanied by a Facebook group that quickly became a lifeline for many. Drawing from Jessika’s lived experience with medication-assisted treatment, SMART Recovery, and 12-step programs — and Mim’s tireless advocacy for families affected by addiction — they envisioned a space where all paths to recovery could be respected, supported, and accessible to all.

Their early work helped reduce stigma and raise awareness throughout the community. By 2018, that momentum sparked deeper conversations with like-minded changemakers Lanika Mutsach and Lindsay Washington. Together, they became the founding board members and shaped the foundation for what would grow into a vibrant and trusted Recovery Community Organization (RCO). It was through their shared passion, insight, and unwavering belief in the power of peer-led healing that the full vision of a dedicated Recovery Community Center began to take form and gain momentum.

Through community collaboration — and a collective vote — we became OUR Place (Open United Recovery), a name chosen to reflect our deep commitment to unity, inclusion, and shared healing.

We began by hosting sober social events and launching Portage County’s first SMART Recovery meeting. Weekly recovery dinners and peer-led support groups quickly became the heartbeat of our community. As we grew, so did our offerings — trauma-informed yoga, family support, educational trainings, and more. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted through drive-thru outreaches, virtual groups, and safe in-person gatherings — always showing up for our community when it mattered most.

In 2022, our dream found a permanent home in the heart of downtown Ravenna with the opening of Portage County’s first Recovery Community Center. Since then, we’ve expanded our team, secured 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and earned recognition as a certified Peer Recovery Organization through OhioMHAS.

Today, OUR Place is more than a center — it’s a movement. We’re reaching underserved communities, offering family-friendly, healing-centered programs, and continuing to celebrate diverse pathways to recovery. At OUR Place, every story matters, every voice is honored, and together — we continue to build a brighter, more connected future.