Cierra Eastep

She works a strenuous job and then shows up big time for her four kids, but Cierra wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s committed to helping others the way they’ve helped her.

What makes you feel proud?

I am very proud of how far I have come from where I was just three years ago. I graduated from the ReMerge program in 2020 and since then I’ve gotten an associate’s degree in addiction counseling and am working on my bachelor’s.

Who is the biggest influence in your life? Why?

It’s not just one specific person, but it’s a lot of people I have met in recovery. Being around other people who have been successful and gone through the same struggles, addiction and alcoholism.

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?

Right now my biggest obstacle is staying confident. Doing a new job, being in the professional world for the first time, it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes I lose confidence and it gets hard.

“Doing a new job, being in the professional world for the first time, it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes I lose confidence and it gets hard.”

What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?

Housing. I see it so much in the recovery world. The housing market right now is so difficult for people struggling with addiction. They get out of county jail and they’re expected to get sober and find a job and it’s really hard to do when you have no place to stay. Without a roof over your head, life gets really difficult. We should be doing more to help get people housed.