Rising Stars
The Awards Committee of The Museum of African American Addictions Treatment and Recovery recognizes and honor individuals who early in their career have demonstrated leadership, ingenuity and success in the Substance Use Disorders profession. Their early success suggests they will have a major impact nationally as it pertains to substance use disorders treatment and recovery. The Rising Stars for 2025 are Tarusa Stewart and Donald Gunther. Scroll down to learn about their work.
2025
Tarusa Stewart is a dynamic leader in the field of recovery, having been in a long-term recovery since 2002. She began her impactful work in the Behavioral Health field in 2010, strategically aligning her efforts with the Peer Workforce Model. In February 2015, Ms. Stewart proactively initiated community engagement through focus groups across three counties in Georgia, successfully leading to the creation of the Recovery Symposium in Houston County, GA. This initiative was designed to foster community solutions, advance the peer workforce movement, and cultivate collaborations that culminated in the establishment of iHOPE Inc., in two locations, a 501(c)(3) recovery community organization in Warner Robins and Fort Valley, GA, dedicated to serving Middle Georgia. iHOPE stands for Intentional Holistic Opportunities to Promote Empowerment.
October 2017 and 2020, Mrs. Stewart’s organization excelled as a subcontractor for the Building Community of Recovery (BCOR) Grant. As a vital member of the steering team, she concentrated on forging robust community partnerships, delivering asset-based community development training and implementation, and building collaborative frameworks. Mrs. Stewart led community workshops that not only promote recovery but also enhance recovery-oriented systems of care, while providing essential technical assistance to four emerging recovery community organizations.
June 2022 to June 2024, Mrs. Stewart led Georgia's participation in the "Black Faces and Black Voices of Recovery" initiative, a five-state collaboration funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). This project focused on Black women with experiences in substance use disorder (SUD) and the criminal legal system (CLSI). Under the initiative "Black Women (CARE) — Consulting to Advance Addiction Research and Empowerment," we developed recommendations to ensure researchers prioritize the needs of Black women in their studies. In March 2024, we published a report titled "Engaging Black Women with Lived Experience in Research Studies: Recommendations to Researchers," providing strategies to improve Black women's participation in research.
As a Certified Peer Specialist in addiction and mental health, a Forensic Peer Mentor, and a Certified Addiction Counselor, Tarusa Stewart is a skilled facilitator in the science of addiction and recovery as well as Cultural Competency. She supports others in recovery by actively sharing her own recovery journey, which empowers fellow recovery leaders in the rural community of Georgia. Ms. Stewart takes pride in her role within a diverse recovery community collaborative that has developed and hosted numerous National Recovery Month events to raise awareness of peer recovery services in rural Geogia. She excels at building and maintaining relationships with constituents, researchers, advocates, and peers. As the Founder and CEO of iHOPE INC, Tarusa Stewart, along with her Advisory Team and Board of Directors, continues to advance the recovery movement by fostering peer and ally leadership and forming recovery partnerships that help individuals maintain their well-being in our communities.
Donald Gunther, the son of Albert L Gunther, Sr., a World War II veteran who was challenged with an AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder). Presently, Donald is a husband of twenty-seven years and a father for twenty-five years to an Auburn University Magna Cum Laude first-generation college graduate in 2021.
Donald is working towards his (CAC1) Certified Addiction Counselor (Training) credentials. He continues to educate, engage and be empowered with psycho-educational resources and M.I (Motivational Interviewing) techniques/ skills. In fact, Donald has already obtained his national certifications from (CCAR) Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Coach Professional in 2021, a year later became a certified (RCPF) Facilitator of CCAR evidenced recovery based professional coaching curriculum. He has also obtained his certified peer specialist credentials as a CPS-MH, CPS-WH and RESPECT Institute of Georgia graduate from Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.
In 2023, beyond his certifications, Donald has received national recognition for his advocacy and expertise in the field. He was awarded the 2023 Catherine Caron Heart of the Family Award from Caron Treatment Centers, honoring his commitment to supporting families affected by addiction. His work has been spotlighted by Faces & Voices of Recovery, Shatterproof, and the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery. Additionally, he is a prolific writer, contributing numerous blogs and publications on recovery and mental health, where he shares his insights and promotes understanding around these critical topics. In 2024 on veterans' day, Donald was asked to be a presenter at the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia 3rd annual conference. Thanks to his blog on this website paying homage to his father “My Hero, A Tribute to My Father whose Alcohol Use Disorder Helped Me Discover My Purpose” .
Donald continues to work on creating a dual development program to re-unify families and reconnect with veterans nationally. However, first in Georgia there are communities with veteran’s and families that will utilize program (S.O.B2.E.R-F.A.C.T.S.). Systems of Beliefs and Behaviors Empowering Recovery with FACTS will educate and engage the (V-FIRST) Veterans-Families in Recovery from Substance Abuse and Trauma with a multitude of Veteran Family Workshops (VFW). “My dad’s silence (addiction) has given me a voice (recovery) to advocate for the underserved, stigmatized and abused in the USA.
Last but not least , Donald would like to thank his employer AACS Counseling Services https://www.aacscounseling.com/ for the platform and opportunity to empower the business development department , our IOP Group setting and many other services that we offer to strengthen our Recovery Community in Georgia and beyond. Donald has embraced his new endeavors with AACS counseling services. AACS specializes in a multitude of evaluations , Substance Abuse Counseling ,Diversion, Restorative, and Accountability Court programs that can be obtained in lieu of a life-altering criminal conviction ”. So, don’t be surprised when AACS and Donald call to assist with a holistic and a client centered approach to RECOVERY !
2024
Jessica A. Love Jordan, ABD, LCPC, NCC, CADC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor and board-certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor in the state of Illinois. Based in the Chicagoland area, she is an Instructor and Coordinator in the Addictions Studies graduate program at Governors State University, a Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor at Cultivate Your Essence, LLC, and the Owner/Operator of Love Behavioral Health Consulting, LLC. Jessica is passionate about providing education & training focused on helping clinicians enhance their knowledge, skills, and capacity for effectively addressing substance use and mental health disorders. In her tenure, Jessica has presented at national and regional conferences, coordinated facilitated professional and community-based training and advocacy initiatives, and has contributed to professional literature, including NAADAC’s “Advances in Addiction & Recovery”. She earned her MHS in Addictions Studies from Governors State University, where she is currently completing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Byron Thompson is the Regional Partnership Manager for The Phoenix in the midwest. In the spirit of a Recovery Oriented System of Care, the Phoenix has a mission to build sober communities throughout the United States which emphasizes fitness and community in recovery.
Byron has utilized his leadership skills to create partnerships with a range of organizations in Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit. Some of the partners include: The Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Ninja Gym, Legendary Fitness, Yoga Studio, numerous treatment centers and sober living facilities. Byron also organizes Recovery Basketball tournaments, drug free hip-hop events and the annual Soberfest in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
2023
Jarmichael Harris, MS, LCAS is the founder and CEO of Engage Recovery and serves as director of Scholastic Recovery for the Addictions Professionals of North Carolina. He provides consultations nationally on how to implement successful collegiate recovery programs. For a decade Jarmichael provided recovery support services for adolescents and young adults.
Jarmichael is also an advocate. Kristen Harper described Jarmichael as “A fierce soldier for recovery advocacy.” His areas of advocacy include: shifting from the acute care model solely towards a recovery oriented system of care and addressing racial disparities in behavioral health treatment. Jarmichael cares deeply about undeserved communities. He stated, I don't want to be a billionaire unless it means having more resources to invest in communities.
Jarmichael is also a gifted communicator. He is equally effective as a keynote speaker and workshop presenter. Meeting planners have said of Jarmichael's presentations, He is one of the best speakers in the industry! He has the gift to change thinking and uplift spirits. He motivates participants to achieve everything life has to offer. He is real, educational and motivational! Jarmichael's other modes of communication in substance use treatment and recovery includes written publications, video's, audio tapes, podcasts and TED Talks.
His work has received recognition and honors including: the East Carolina University 40 Under 40 Leadership Award; ECU DARS Alumni of The year and ARHE Collegiate Recovery Staff member of the Year.