The Legacy Jessica poured into UMADAOP and created her vision -- An agency located in the commu- nity that provided services with an open door. She understood after working in recovery that the most effective method to deal with drug and alcohol abuse was through prevention. For her, prevention started with the youth. Aiming High, DRUMM, The Bethune Girls, The De- boise Boys, Drill Teams, Summer Camps and The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word are all programs that serviced thousands of kids from predominately Black neighborhoods in Cleveland. A tenet at the forefront of the pro- grams was the expectation of excellence and commitment. They all knew that she expected and quietly demanded follow through and to be a person of your word. She wanted them to walk in the royalty and majesty of their ances- tors. The youth in the program benefited from sit- ting at the knee of Ms. Horne to hear the sto- ries, get the support and the motivation to do what seemed like the impossible to many. When they succeeded and achieved, she was their cheerleader and if they fell short, she re- minded them that hard work and perseverance does not mean immediate success but to keep running the race.
Throughout her tenure at UMADAOP she continued the work with women in treatment through the signature program Akoma. It con- tinues to evolve but at its core its focus remains constant -- A program that supports and cele- brates treatment and recovery by helping wom- en and their families open the doors to change. It’s a place where these women can openly and honestly deal with their traumas in social con- nection with their fellow sisters that will lead to a brighter day. Rounding out the larger programs in the agen- cy is Circle for Re-Entry Ohio (CFRO). Each year, thousands of men are released back into communities from the judicial system. Many lack the basic skill sets necessary for successful re-entry but that does not minimize their desire to be productive members of their communi- ties. CFRO takes pride in its success rate that leads to a self-empowering, self-affirming and self-determined Black man. The historic Hough community also garnered focus and love from Jessica. The family house on 84th Street sits in the midst of this commu- nity. Cleveland UMADAOP resides in Hough and through Jessica’s leadership, it partnered
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