April has been a whirlwind month, but in the best sense of the word.
The club was thrilled to have NAMI NYS members, including executive director Wendy Burch, come in to talk with us about other NAMI NYS programs such as Breaking the Silence, and the upcoming NAMI Walk in September. I also had the wonderful opportunity to go in and speak with many members of the NYS Office of Mental Health, including commissioner Ann Sullivan. I was so pleasantly surprised at how much they cared about the club and truly believed that it should spread to other schools. I really cannot fully express my gratitude for their kindness and generosity with their time and advice. It was good practice for me to be asked questions about the club and for presenting, which I hope will help me for my Signature presentation! The OMH also said they would be happy to right a letter of support for the club, which I believe could help tremendously in spreading the club to other schools. I also was notified this month that NAMI@Emma would be receiving a What's Great In Our State award for Children's Mental Health from the OMH.The awards ceremony is Tuesday, May 3rd. Lastly, I was ecstatic to learn that I was accepted to the ANNPower fellowship program for 2016-17, which begins with a leadership seminar in New York City from June 14th-17th. What makes me the happiest about this acceptance is that last year I was rejected, I believe in part due to my lack of a concrete idea about how to combat stigma and enhance mental health education. I am excited that they see the promise in the NAMI@Emma model, and hope to learn many skills I can use in club meetings and in spreading the club.
1 Comment
William Wallace
5/3/2016 09:38:04 am
Why to go Katherine, now there's another place I have to drive you. ;{o
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all. -Bill Clinton
Katherine WallaceEmma Willard Class of 2017. Archives
May 2017
|