NAMI Lansing has had a busy and exciting year. We provided two10-week family education series this year, “Families Helping Families”, in collaboration with our CEI-CMH Family Education Coordinator, Cathy Adams. Cathy teaches the topics dealing with services provided through CMH, and the concept of case management. She also helps to arrange for speakers who participate in the classes when we discuss Dual Diagnosis, and Crises Intervention. Three dedicated NAMI Lansing board members also participate in leading the series of classes: Greta deWolf, Margaret Keeler, and Teresa Ritsema. We provide a monthly support group meeting at the Foster Community Center, the second Wednesday of each month, led by Don Martyn and David McFarlane. Our newest adventure has been to launch the NAMI Connections, Recovery Support Group. Led by Sharon Strouse, the group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. NAMI Lansing was the host sight for a NAMI Connections training, and also in October of 2006 we hosted an In Our Own Voice training. This was possible due to a grant from The Community Foundation of $424.00 for “In Our Own Voice”. Our presentors gave twelve IOOV presentations from June of 2006 until June of 2007, and our group recently met to plan for 2007-2008.

In 2005 NAMI Lansing became an active member of the Mental Health Partnership Council, which is a group of organizations in the Lansing Area who are committed to providing education to the community about mental illness, and advocacy for policies and programs that support person’s with mental illness. As a member of the MHPC we assisted in providing five educational events for 2006-2007: “Out of the Shadows” was shown at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, with many high school teachers and counselors attending, as well as students and community members. “Depression in the African American Community” was held in conjunction with the African American Health Institute. We also sponsored James Gordon in a performance: “Breaking the Mask: Exploring Mental Illness Through The Arts”. And Susan Ford Bales presented on treatment of alcoholism. The Partnership Council wrote a grant for “Creative Recovery”, and several NAMI members have gained employment in this exciting project to support recovery through various creative venues. At the NAMI Michigan Conference in April 2007, they presented “Creative Recovery”.

Calvin Sterk, Sharon Strouse, Margaret Keeler, David McFarlane, Teresa Ritsema and Greta de Wolf collaborated on several grants this year, one to enhance our organizational capacity through The Power of We Consortium. We applied for two of the NAMI National grants for Inclusion and Enhancement of Cultural Diversity. Unfortunately we were not awarded funds, but the grant writing experience has been beneficial. We continue to be supported by the United Way through community donations. NAMI Lansing continues to work on recruiting members and supporting our members through support of the Justice in Mental Health Organization, and also the YCAN program and our local clubhouse, Charterhouse. We enjoy a supportive working relationship with our local CEI-CMH, and we are making progress in our community visibility and name recognition. Together We Can, Together We Will!

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