First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Serenity Grove is a women’s addiction residential recovery center based in Athens, that helps women get the help they need in order to reintegrate into society. The full-time staff focuses on making the house feel like a home, while the women work toward their goals including reuniting with their families and recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Amber Snyder, left, hugs her son while he and his father visit the Serenity Grove house. Snyder had been recovering at the house for 7 1/2 months before moving out to live with her family.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Executive Director Betsy Anderson (right) tells Shauna Hyde about how Serenity Grove functions as Hyde is starting a recovery house with her own group home in Parkersburg, W.Va.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Board member and secretary Melissa Egan (left) meditates before the weekly community dinner with other members of the Serenity Grove community, which involves residents, board members, and volunteers.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”(Clockwise from left) April Alexander, Eileen Lynch, Rose Mary Rader, Liz Vandendrien, Betsy Anderson, Amber Snyder, and Rachel Morley gather for Serenity Grove's weekly community dinner.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Jessica Littler (left) helps Cate Matisi with her phone while Melissa Egan looks on at the Serenity Grove weekly community dinner. Mutual support is a major part of their recovery.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Teresa Murphy, a former resident, throws a leaf while sitting outside the Serenity Grove house. After moving out, she spent time working in the house before moving on to new things.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Amber Snyder leafs through her recovery scrapbook that she began while in prison for drug possession and keeps updated to the present.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Jordan Mumford (left) waves to her son, Kyler Ludwig, as he leaves the skatepark at the Athens Community Center. Mumford's mother brings him to Athens in order to for him to spend time with his mother while she is living at Serenity Grove.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Jessica Littler gives her concluding speech on her recovery from drug addiction with the help of the friendships she made while at Serenity Grove at the Purple Gala in the Baker Center Ballroom at Ohio University.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Jessica Littler laughs with joy as she signs out of the Serenity Grove house as a resident for the last time.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Erin Burk / Ohio University, “Serenity Grove”Emotions are high as resident Jessica Littler (left) prepares to move out. Eileen Lynch (right) who is funding Littler's move to a new home, and Lee Ann Brooks embrace outside of Serenity. Helping Littler is Betsy Anderson, executive director.
