July 2019 By Lois Maharg The Empowerment Gala lived up to its name. NAMI Washtenaw’s second annual gala, held May 18 at the Portage Yacht Club, netted almost $20,000, nearly twice the amount raised by the gala last year. “I think there was more participation from the board this year and a little more leadContinue reading Gala Attracts Show of Support
July 2019 By Michelle Frias About 30 horse riders gathered at the Pinckney equine trails on June 1, 2019, to help raise funds for NAMI Washtenaw County. NAMI volunteer Alison Paine hosted this Ride for Mental Health with her horse club, the Pinckney Trail Riders Association (PTRA). Many participants were young community members who wereContinue reading Equestrians Raise Funds for Mental Health
APRIL 2019 BY BARB HIGMAN and MARILYN WEDENOJA When longtime NAMI Washtenaw County member Dr. Marilyn Wedenoja let me know she was retiring from her position as a social work professor at Eastern Michigan University and interested in volunteering in our office, I was thinking of putting together a proposal that would provide an opportunityContinue reading Lend a Hand (and Enjoy Yourself While You’re at It)
APRIL 2019 BY MARK CREEKMORE, BARB HIGMAN, PAT ROOT, & LOIS MAHARG In the current climate of austerity, can the Michigan State Legislature be persuaded to restore full funding to Community Mental Health (CMH)? Three volunteers from NAMI Washtenaw County spent Thursday, April 11, in Lansing in hopes that by sharing their stories with HouseContinue reading NAMI Volunteers Urge Funding for Community Mental Health
APRIL 2019 BY LOIS MAHARG “I am not sick, I don’t need help.” Many of us have heard that line before. Here’s the likely context: We’re convinced that medication and/or psychotherapy will help a loved one’s mental health condition, but they want nothing to do with it. In fact, they seem to be in denialContinue reading A Leap Toward Better Communication
APRIL 2019 BY LOIS MAHARG Volunteer recruitment and retention is a challenge for all nonprofit organizations, and NAMI Washtenaw County is no exception. So Judy Gardner, NAMI WC’s executive director, decided to apply for a Community Engagement Fellowship, hoping to learn more about recruiting and supporting volunteers. “I applied for the grant and I gotContinue reading Executive Director Is Awarded Fellowship
APRIL 2019 NAMI Washtenaw County has invited Judy Krieg to serve on the Board of Directors. Krieg works in the pharmaceutical industry selling psychiatric medications to hospitals, VA’s, Community Mental Health Centers and physicians in private practice. The part of her job she likes the most is advocating for people with mental health conditions. ToContinue reading Meet Our New Board Member
FEBRUARY 2019 BY LOIS MAHARG NAMI Washtenaw has made presentations at faith-based venues before. But 2019 began with something new: NAMI Washtenaw conducted a series of four interactive workshops called “A Christian’s Response to Mental Health Challenges” at the First United Methodist Church of Saline, where Darlene Wetzel is a member of the congregation. “DarleneContinue reading Mental Health Challenges: What Should Christians Do?
FEBRUARY 2019 BY GIZEM YAGCI Hello Readers! My name is Gizem Yagci and I am a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) facilitator at NAMI Washtenaw! Since I was trained in the summer of 2017, I have facilitated five P2P classes, and I am super excited to announce that we have a new curriculum for our outstanding program! IContinue reading Course Is Interactive & Improved, Says Peer-to-Peer Facilitator
FEBRUARY 2019 NAMI Washtenaw County took part in a daylong Mental Health Matters event on Feb. 7 at Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter. Volunteer Bob Nassauer described the day as “well organized and powerful.” The Corner Health Center kicked off the event to the whole school. The presentation included a TED Talk by comedianContinue reading NAMI Washtenaw Goes to Middle School for Mental Health Event
