We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication provided by everyone that participated in the twelfth-year of the Emerging HOPE Mental Health Forum. Thank you for joining with us to accomplish our mission of inspiring others with a message of hope as we walk alongside them in their struggle with mental illness. |
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Thank You We thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing us to present such a delicate subject that is oft-misunderstood. A subject that continues to stretch us outside of our comfort zone and compels us to cast our nets out into deep, often-times, unchartered waters! God showed up and brought our infectious, passionate vision to fruition once again. This year we began the event the night before with a friendly Meet and Greet - Ice Breaker and fine dining at the exclusive Bravo! Restaurant. The fellowship was wonderful as we connected over a delicious meal. | | |
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Purpose of the Forum As a 2017 Doctoral of Ministry graduate from Apex School of Theology, my dissertation examined the attitudes of the congregation toward adults ages 18-35 with mental illness. My hope was to benefit the church by increasing the membership and discipleship through involvement in the ministry of those with mental illness. Likewise, the purpose of my study was to benefit the church by helping to fulfill its mission “Advancing the Kingdom of God in the fulfillment of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.” Matthew 28:19-20 I designed a replicable model that examined beliefs, and behaviors of an African-American faith community towards adults with disabilities. The research was a pilot of a multi-modal approach to incorporating members with disabilities into an inclusive context by educating parishioners about mental illness and disabilities while presenting the content from a faith-based perspective. The model comprised a series of Three sermonic presentations, followed by a congregational survey, focus groups, and educational workshops, a webinar, and community outreach events. Subsequently, I realized the reach of the African American church and pastor collectively has the potential to galvanize African Americans to positive mental health behavior change. Moreover, the church and faith communities are largely untapped resources for promoting healthy lifestyles among African Americans. This type of influence, faith-based and community-focused, signifies the value, trust, and credibility of the African American church and why it is often viewed as a change agent in the African American community. In like manner, my research findings supported that there is an ongoing need for advocacy for individuals with mental health challenges who attend urban churches, as well as a need to continue to raise awareness about the social stigma these individuals encounter. Stigma has complex roots in society and often goes unnoticed and unaddressed. Stigma complicates the process of recovery for patients for many reasons and it also interferes with people’s willingness to seek professional help due to a fear of being labeled, misunderstood, or judged as having a lack of faith. While I was exploring issues with the church becoming more open to accepting mental illness in the church, I too had to explore and accept suicide and a deeper level of mental illness in my own family. The project served as a catalyst for healing conversations our family had not yet had. As a result, the project has assisted us in becoming transformational ministry leaders. Furthermore, families with a member with mental illness often do not know where to turn for help. Understanding and coping with the illness, as well as the search for services and support, drains them spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially. Often relationships with extended family members and friends are strained. The illness itself and the associated stigma of mental illness can lead to feelings of guilt, denial, grief, isolation, and loss of hope. People who live with mental illness are disproportionately impacted by the social injustices of prejudice, poverty, inadequate housing, unemployment or underemployment, lack of access to health care, especially mental health care, and inequalities within the criminal justice system. Subsequently, throughout our 12 years of hosting the Emerging HOPE Mental Health Forum, we learned that people need a healing community, whereby they can receive support and unconditional love in several ways. Additionally, we learned that hurting people desired, most of all, to know that they were not alone, that someone else was willing to hear their story and will accept them just as much after they tell it. They needed to know that their pain did not mean God had turned His back on them. Notably, the Forum was established to foster dialogue among a broad range of stakeholders—pastors, faith-based institutions, practitioners, policymakers, community members, recipients of services, and others—and to provide ongoing opportunities to confront issues of mutual interest and concern. Likewise, the Forum provided a neutral venue for broad-ranging discussions that aided in coordination and cooperation between public, faith-based, service recipients, and private stakeholders in eradicating the stigma of mental illness. Incidentally, as a result of twelve years of diligently walking in obedience to God’s Word, we've made the soil fertile—we've laid out a strong foundation, we've prepared the soil and planted seeds. Yet, there's still lots of work to do ... Just as a garden needs constant tending, so does the topic of Mental Illness in Urban Church Settings. We take pride in the fact that our community has recently experienced an increase in African American churches and mental health agencies openly addressing the topic of Mental Illness. Additionally, it is our hope that African American churches continue to seek ways to present factual Bible-based information about mental illness with the goal of correcting misinformation or contradicting negative attitudes and beliefs. HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD! In conclusion, of all the characters of the Old Testament, King David is the most closely related to Jesus Christ – not only as a forefather but as a ‘shadow’ or ‘type’ of Jesus to come. “Son of David” was the first title given to Jesus (Matt.1:1), and in one of his last statements, Jesus said, “I am the Root and Offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16). Acts 13:22 states that God “found David . . . a man after my own heart.” David certainly had amazing abilities: courage, strength, musical ability, and great leadership skills. But the quality of David’s character that most fully represents Jesus is found in the story recorded in 2 Samuel 9:1-13, the story of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul. David’s motivation in his actions toward Mephibosheth had nothing to do with elevating himself in the eyes of others. It was all about kindness, compassion, mercy – three of the translations of the Hebrew word khehsed, also translated “steadfast love” and “loving kindness” to represent God’s love. David initiated the relationship with Mephibosheth and did everything for him. In the same way, God initiates the relationship with each of us; Jesus said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). David takes no notice of Mephibosheth’s disablement. He took him as he was. Back then, lameness was a social disgrace, a sin. Yet David regarded it not. All of us have entered this world crippled with sin. We can do nothing to remove this sin in our own strength. We are all Mephibosheths who experience the compassion of Jesus. He calls each of us by name. Moreover, each of us has entered this world with some type of ailment. There are times in each of our lives that we may need a shoulder to lean on. More empathetically, it was our hope that the Forum served as that shoulder. Additionally, it goes without saying the gratitude that we feel as a result of the collaborative community partnership that has lasted over the last 12 years. Subsequently, our ministerial responsibilities have increased to the degree that we have decided to no longer host the Mental Health Forum. Therefore, this will be our last year hosting the Forum. Above all, we are thankful that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ entrusted us with such great work. A work that resulted in us having to stretch outside of our comfort zones; to blindly cast our nets into deeper, often-times, unchartered waters! Nevertheless, the Lord undergirded us with His grace and mercy which resulted in our infectious, passionate vision coming to fruition time and time again. Bear in mind, we will continue to champion the cause of Mental Health disparities; specifically, among African Americans. We are grateful to have partnered with the Greater Kalamazoo community as we worked tirelessly to accomplish our mission of inspiring others with a message of hope as we walk alongside them in their struggle and their silence with mental illness. | | |
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We Extend Sincere Gratitude We extend gratitude to the host of sponsoring vendors which included mental health agencies, health professional associations, faith-based groups, community pantries, and private-sector business; many whom we highlighted the extensive work that they have already done on this topic as forerunners advocating for those in our community with mental health challenges. Furthermore, we extend gratitude to Patricia Davis of Davis Delectables for the simply delicious catered lunch. The sponsoring vendor booths consisted of the Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service, Recovery Institute of Southwest Michigan, ReGeneration Next - Alternatives Care Centers, Gryphon Place, Edge Water Music Therapy|Thompson Tutoring, Sea Green Art Therapy, Merry Battles Counseling, Special Education Mediation Services, Parents for Transition, Need to Talk Counseling Agency, and Lisa A. Reeves, PhD, Educational Consultant. | | |
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We thank the National Alliance on Mental Illness In Our Own Voice presenters for the courage to share their powerful story of living a successful life with a mental health diagnosis. It goes without saying, the bliss that was in the room as Mr. Calvin expressed his deep emotional healing through live artistry. Likewise, Mr. Nollie F. Rodney, II, Artistic Reading was stunning. Moreover, we were deeply moved by the beautiful songs that Ms. Lonna Harding graciously sang. Gratitude is extended to our Mistresses and Master of Ceremony, Ms. Monica Landwer, Mrs. Merry Battle, Ms. Mollie Peterson, and Mr. Dave Davis for a par-excellent job. We sincerely thank the presenters, Kevin Fischer, MA, Executive Director of NAMI Michigan, Lansing, MI, DeLisa Rodney, CPCU, CLU, Motivational Speaker, Certified Personal Development Coach. CEO and Managing Principal of DeLisa Rodney and Associates, LLC, Cumming, GA, Tamiko L. Garrett, MA, Ph.D., CEO/Founder of Parents for Transition, Kalamazoo, MI, Deborah Johnson Spence, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, SLP, Need to Talk Counseling Agency, Counselor, Southfield, MI, and Lisa A. Reeves, PhD, Author, Educational Consultant, and Entrepreneur, West Bloomfield, MI, for presenting cutting-edge, culturally-relevant information to the participants. |
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Likewise, we thank our majestic keynote speaker, DeLisa Rodney, CPCU, CLU, Motivational Speaker, Certified Personal Development Coach. CEO and Managing Principal of DeLisa Rodney and Associates, LLC, Cumming, GA, for the compelling and informative speech “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care.” We received many favorable remarks about the speech and the style in which she delivered the information. |
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Moreover, we appreciate Mr. Howard and Mrs. Robyn Robinson and Ms. Angela Anderson for announcing the Mental Health Forum on your respective 1560 Radio Broadcast. Mental Health Forum will air on PMN channels 187-191 and At&T Channel 99 later this month and next month. Please check the PMN website for specific airing times. Generous Donors Meijer 5121 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI Wenke Greenhouse, Kalamazoo, MI Living Water Ministries New Era, MI Kalamazoo, MI J Rettenmaier USA LP, Schoolcraft, MI Volunteer Kalamazoo, A Program of Gryphon Place Sarkozy Bakery, Kalamazoo, MI MacKenzie’s Café & Bakery, Kalamazoo, MI Huntington Bank, Kalamazoo, MI Walmart Supercenter, 8350 Shaver Rd, Portage Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI Taste of Heaven, Kalamazoo, MI Ample Pantry, Kalamazoo, MI Air Way Lanes, Kalamazoo, MI Youth Development Network, Kalamazoo, MI RJ's Printing, Inc, Kalamazoo, MI |
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Last but not least, we extend gratitude to the Emerging HOPE Board Members Reverend J. Barrett Lee Mrs. Celeste Tyree Former Board Member - Reverend Rachel Meier Laughlin, Senior Pastor - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Former Board Member - Turnera Croom Dvm, Founder, President at VetsIn3D.com |
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Results and Analysis The data that will be compiled from participant surveys will be presented to our state and local officials to draw attention to existing federal, state, and local policies and protocols for crisis standards of care; to present potential solutions to some of the most difficult challenges such as the proposal to eventually move $2.5 billion of Community Mental Health Medicaid money and service management to private insurers in the state's Medicaid Health Plans. We are grateful to partner with the Greater Kalamazoo community as we work tirelessly to accomplish our mission of inspiring others with a message of hope as we walk alongside them in their struggle and their silence with mental illness. Warmest regards, Ministers Curtis and Dr. Pamela Robinson, Sr. |
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