New News
New
Network Advocacy Coordinator
~ from Ann Benner, VOCAL Network Director
I
am delighted to announce the hiring of Bonnie Neighbour as Advocacy Coordinator
for the VOCAL Network. Bonnie is a VOCAL volunteer, a Wellness Recovery Action
Plan (WRAP) facilitator, and has been a leader in Richmond's Depression and Bipolar Support
Alliance. She is currently employed by Mental Health America/ Virginia
as Consumer Empowerment Leadership Training facilitator. Bonnie also has
fifteen years experience in youth ministry and directing Christian education.
We look forward to welcoming Bonnie to our Richmond office when she starts work on
December 3. Bonnie can be reached at
Bonnie@vocalvirginia.org
Firewalkers
We
plan to create a new project called Firewalkers: 7 Stories of 7 People
Transformed by Mental Illness - telling the stories of ordinary people
whose experiences with mental illness have transformed their lives. We hope to reach
out across our state with a message of a different way of viewing mental
illness, and create a deeper understanding of what it means, and what is
possible.
We
want to give people the message that being diagnosed with a mental health
disability is not a death sentence. It's not the end of the line or the
last thing that will ever happen in your life. It's a strange and unexpected
journey that most of never asked for, or ever wanted. But after walking through
the fire, it has brought us somewhere. And for some of us, we would not go
back. Even if we could.
Along
with personal stories, we will also include the "bigger picture," so people can
see things in a larger context. We will include information on different ways
of viewing mental illness. For example, in some native cultures people who have
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are not feared, but are instead seen as
having special powers and are taught to become shamans and healers. We will
also discuss how people can define mental illness by their personal experience,
and it can be understood differently by every person. This project will
include:
* Seven Storytellers
* Firewalkers Book
* Firewalkers Photo Project
* Creating Teaching Tools
* Reaching Out Across Virginia
To
learn more, read our full proposal at:
http://vocalsupportcenter.org/file%20cabinet.htm
For
questions or ideas, the contact person for this project is Cassandra: Cassandra@vocalvirginia.org
NAMI
Peer to Peer Mentor
Training
Learn
how to facilitate Peer to Peer educational classes for mental health consumers
(taught by consumers to consumers) December 14 - 16 in Richmond, Va.
Training, lodging, meals, and course materials are provided free of charge.
For more information see: NAMI trainings
Free
Training on Work Incentives
"Understanding
the Myriad of Rules Governing SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare & Related Work
Incentives for People with Disabilities" Thursday, December 6, 2007 - Friday,
December 7, 2007 in Williamsburg. Learn more or register at:
Work Incentives Training
New
Member Program
Welcome
to Central Peer Connect, a new member program of the VOCAL CO-OP:
Central Virginia Region
Central Peer Connect
Number of consumers: 50
Mental health consumers meeting together on a monthly basis
for connection, networking, and special programming.
804-343-1777
yolande@vocalvirginia.org
CO-OP Point Person: Yolande Long
Temporary
Organizers Needed
An exciting job opportunity this December and January. The
Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants (VAPCA) is looking to hire
temporary organizers to help Virginia's
Seniors, People with Disabilities, and their home care attendants secure more
funding for home care and allow Seniors and People with Disabilities to live at
home as long as they choose.
You will be working with a team of organizers in Virginia and may be assigned to various cities in Virginia, including Richmond,
Roanoke, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Harrisonburg, etc. We're
looking for people who can make a minimum commitment of two weeks. Your work will include calling members to
attend events, working with members to make phone calls, driving members to
local events and to Richmond,
working with the media to cover events, and encouraging members to write
letters and make phone calls to their legislators.
Organizers will receive a
daily stipend. You must have a valid drivers license and a clean driving
record. If you are interested, please email jschockemoehl@virginiapca.org with
your name, email, phone number, what dates you would be available to work, and
any preference on what city you would to be assigned to. For more information,
you can visit www.virginiapca.org or call Jennifer at 804-787-3857.
