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Blog Post

Support Group for Parents of Suicidal Children

by Sunny29

A new support group for parents caring for children with suicidal thoughts and behaviors will have its first meeting on Monday, August 21, 2017 from 7pm-8:30pm. This meeting will be held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) building located at 1819 South Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

This new support group will be led by trained National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) volunteers, and is a collaborative effort with NAMI Washtenaw County, Washtenaw County Public Health, Community Mental Health, University of Michigan Depression Center and the WISD.

Please note that participants will be the parents or guardians of children (middle-school aged to 25 years old) who are currently exhibiting suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or have done so in the recent past.

Please contact Alison Paine, NAMIWC at alisonpaine21@hotmail.com with additional questions.

AADL has a number of books related to this topic, as well as occasional events for those going through the grieving process.

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Blog Post

SPRING AWAKENING

by shurand

Spring Awakening today is, for some, what Rent was in the ‘90s. Originally written as a German play by Frank Wedekind in the 19th century (and promptly banned), it resurfaced as a rock musical by Duncan Sheik in 2006. Starring Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff of future Glee fame, the show took home eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It was recently revived on Broadway by Deaf West Theater in 2015, receiving an additional three Tony nominations.

The story follows teens under oppressive boarding school and home regimes as they navigate a multitude of difficult topics including sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, suicide, neglect, and abuse – serious stuff! That’s why Ann Arbor in Concert – which is producing the show for one night only on Saturday, July 15th – is working to ensure that prospective patrons learn as much about the musical’s content and topics as they can before deciding if the show is right for them. The Ann Arbor District Library is presenting, Spring Awakening: How a 19th-Century German Play Rocks with Relevance Today,” a talk and discussion led by Corner Health Center Health Educator, Social Worker, and Teen Peer Education Theatre Troupe Leader, Craig VanKempen, MSW, MPH. This event will take place on Monday, July 10, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Library’s Downtown Branch.

The Library offers a plethora of additional resources for community members to educate themselves about Spring Awakening and its topics. Patrons can check out the musical score or soundtrack to hear the incredibly powerful music and decide if the more explicit lyrics are their cup of tea. Frank Wedekind’s Four Major Plays is also available for those interested in reading a translation of the original story.

One of the primary conflicts of the musical is that the adults prioritize avoiding their own discomfort over their children and students’ safety. Today we know that, although uncomfortable at times, understanding and talking about sex, consent, suicide, and bullying reduces shame, promotes accurate information, and enables people to access resources when they need help. How different would the story of Spring Awakening be if Wendla’s mother had talked to her the way that Grandma talks to her grandchild in Anastasia Higginbotham’s book, or if members of the entire community had been about to check out resources like Kate Bornstein’s book from their local library. Today we also have many excellent organizations in our community including Ele’s Place, Ozone House, SafeHouse Center, and Corner Health Center to provide additional support and resources to those who need them.

Spring Awakening is not a show for everyone, and Ann Arbor in Concert has posted a parental advisory to encourage prospective patrons, particularly those with younger family members, to learn more about the show before purchasing tickets.

AADL's Pulp has published a preview about the show.

Ann Arbor in Concert’s one-night-only performance of Spring Awakening will be on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 8 p.m. at the Power Center. Tickets are on sale at www.a2ic.org or at the Michigan Union Ticket Office.

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Blog Post

Queer Prom

by Sunny29

Join Ozone House and Corner Health as they host this year's Queer Prom! The event will be held Friday, June 23rd from 7-11 p.m. at Bona Sera Underground.

If you are 14-20 years old, and identify as LGBTQ or are an ally, this party is for you! Admission is free, but an RSVP is required. Interested persons should text "TXTRSVP QUEERPROM" to 313131 or visit the Ypsi Queer Facebook page.

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Blog Post

Is the Good Neighbor Project Right for YOU?

by Beth Manuel

The Good Neighbor Project is co-mentorship program designed to match up free-world individuals with Michigan prisoners who are serving Life or long sentences.

The Project is a program that applies restorative justice practices and principles by way of a one-on-one “co-mentorship” within the community by providing tools for repairing harm in relationships caused by crimes committed by our incarcerated neighbors. The program also seeks to foster the change necessary to facilitate the political will to advance criminal justice reform.

Many of these prisoners have been incarcerated for so long that they have lost their network of social support from family, friends, and the community. It is through letter or email correspondences that the co-mentors develop strong & meaningful relationships that are meant to promote transformation, redemption and healing. The next two (2) hour training session in providing our outside participants with all the information necessary to create a productive “co-mentorship” will be at The AFSC Michigan Criminal Justice Program, 124 Pearl Street, Suite 607, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (734) 761-8283 "> Prisoner number: (734) 761-9796 on Thursday, October 5th from 6:00-8:00 PM. Other sessions are as follows, all from 6:00-8:00 PM: Wednesday, October 18

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Blog Post

Dawn Farm's Educational Series

by Beth Manuel

You’re invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. The Education Series schedule can be found here. You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All programs are free, and all are welcome to attend! Registration is not required. Programs will be held at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center Auditorium (ground floor,) 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti.

Does Addiction Treatment Work? will be presented on Tuesday May 16, 2017, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, by Dr. Carl Christensen, MD, PhD, FACOG, FASAM, ABAM. Recent publications claim to define research-supported definitive truths about the root causes of addiction and efficacy of treatment modalities; however, conclusions are conflicting and have been subject to differing interpretations. Dr. Christensen will review the recent criticisms of treatment for addiction including Twelve Step, residential, and medication assisted therapy, the scientific studies that do and do not support their use and other controversial issues.

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Blog Post

Washtenaw Literacy and VISTA

by Beth Manuel

Washtenaw Literacy has been awarded two AmeriCorps VISTA positions by the Michigan Non Profit Association for 2017-2018. Click here for posting and link to application. The VISTA positions will support the development of the Community Opportunity Center by providing outreach and onsite management. Additionally, VISTAs will be working on projects to improve financial and workplace literacy for adult learners. Interviews are conducted now! For more information, contact Alison. These full-time positions begin August 8 and are a great opportunity for someone just graduating college, changing careers or newly retired. Don't miss out on a chance to have a significant local impact through VISTA service!

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Blog Post

Ann Arbor Arab American Parent Support Group Meeting

by Beth Manuel

The Ann Arbor Arab American Support Group, A2A2PSG, will be hosting their final meeting of the school year on Sunday, May 21, in the 3rd floor freespace of the downtown library.

The Ann Arbor Arab American Support Group:

  • Promotes the success of all students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) with special attention to students of Arab descent.
  • Partners with AAPS staff to create an environment of respect and appreciation for diverse cultures within and beyond the school community
  • Serves as a liaison between AAPS and students and their families

Coordinators of A2A2PSG typically meet in the freespace on the 3rd floor of the downtown AADL, once a month during the school year. You may contact the group at: annarborpsg@gmail.com, or for more information, visit: http://annarborpsg.wix.com/aapsghome (this site requires flash). New members are always welcome.

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Blog Post

Medication Take-Back Event

by monkk

Three in five teens say prescription pain relievers are easy to get from parent’s medicine cabinet. Help protect your teens against drug abuse and overdose by disposing of unused and expired medications. On Saturday, May 20 from 10:00-2:00 in the Pioneer High School parking lot, join the University of Michigan Division of Pain Research (Department of Anesthesiology) and the Ann Arbor Police Department to battle the very frightening but real trend of prescription drug abuse. They will be accepting the return of pills, capsules and patches. Not accepted items include needles, syringes, lancets and liquids. If you have any questions, contact Kristin Bennett at 734-998-0455 or krisbenn@med.umich.edu.

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Blog Post

LGBTQ+ Support Groups

by Sunny29

SafeHouse Center provides support for those impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault. Beginning this Spring, SafeHouse will be offering support groups for those that identify as LGBTQIA who are experiencing intimate partner violence and/or sexual assault.

Some areas of focus will include:

 LGBT-specific domestic violence and sexual assault information
 Learning coping strategies
 Safety-planning (trans-friendly tool)
 Identifying healthy relationships
 Self-esteem
 Self-care

If you have other questions or would like to register for this free group, please contact Adrienne at adrianam@safehousecenter.org or 734-973-0242 ext. 205. Don't forget to look through previously assembled Public Lists focused towards LGBT interests.

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Blog Post

Dawn Farm's Education Series Continues...

by Beth Manuel

The public is invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium, at 5305 Elliott Drive in Ypsilanti. You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All are welcome to attend! Registration is not required.

Grief and Loss in Addiction and Recovery will be presented on Tuesday April 18, 2017, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, by Jerry Fouchey, BS, MA, SpA, CADC; Dawn Farm Outpatient and Personal Medicine therapist; and Barb Smith, author of “Brent’s World.” Unresolved grief and loss frequently accompany people throughout the process of moving from the culture of addiction to the culture of recovery. Families of people with addiction experience grief and loss as well. The epidemic of opioid-related overdose deaths has left bereaved families across our country and our community. This program will explain theories of grief and grief recovery related to losses that people with addiction and their families experience throughout the addiction and recovery processes, and will include a personal story of grief, loss and recovery.

On Friday, April 21st, 2017 from 12:30-2:30 PM pm Dr. Kevin T. McCauley, MD; co-founder of the Institute on Addiction Study; writer of the award-winning DVD Pleasure Unwoven will present a free program on the seeming end of the drug war & rise of recovery.The last twenty years produced an explosion of understanding not only about addiction and brain research, but the most current neuroscientific research about addiction - research that explains how the brain constructs pleasurable experiences, what happens when this process goes wrong, and why this can have a dramatic impact in our ability to make proper choices. There will also be a free reception from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.