UCSF School of Nursing

Today, we took our Unheard Voices documentary to the UCSF School of Nursing to screen the video in front of 30-40 nurses (in training). The film was well-received, and after the video they asked a lot of relevant questions. This was a good sign because in the future many of these nurses will come across patients who suffer from mental illness. My hope is that through this film they would see these people not just through the lens their medical profession but see them as fellow human beings who happen to live with mental illness. Hopefully future health care providers will remember to treat their patients with care and dignity that everyone is entitled to.

Screening at San Jose State University

It's been awhile since I last posted. Our project has evolved quite a bit during the last year. We are no longer filming. But our story continues to be heard. We've had multiple screenings in the past couple of years at various venues. Today at San Jose State University, the film is screening in front of future mental health workers (i.e. social work students). Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the event (as I am spending time with family in the East Coast) but the real "stars" of the documentary will be at hand to meet the students and talk about their filmmaking experience with the audience. Here is a nice little blurb about the event on the San Jose State University blog.

AS WE LIVE IT--Comes to an End

"AS WE LIVE IT" exhibit came to an end a couple of weeks ago (9/9/11). Today, I went to San Francisco Arts Commission to pick up the remainder of the artwork submitted by our clients. I met up with Amy Le Duc, Gallery Manager and organizer of the exhibit. She told me that this exhibit was the most successful exhibit of its kind in City Hall in over 6 years. Commercially speaking as well.

The boost in recognition & sales peaked after an article by San Francisco Chronicle featuring one of the artists. It was good to know that the artists who sold their work would get 75% of the proceeds. I'm not sure where the rest of the money goes (certainly not to the clinics, but that's okay). I think it is a fair deal for the artists. Thanks again to SF Arts Commission and to Heidi Swillinger of SF Study Center for organizing this exhibit.

Aside from monetary gain by some of our artists, there were so many more intangible benefits generated by this exhibit toward the artists and to the community mental health system in San Francisco. The following "profits" come to mind:

self-expression,
self-assertion,
meaning,
grieving,
celebration,
empowerment,
pride,
beauty,
community-building,
myth busting,
myth making,
inspiration for others,
defiance,
exploration of different ideas,
sharing of perspectives,
seeing old things in new ways,
joy-making,
collaboration,
developing skills,
smashing stereotypes,
provoking,
evoking,
educating,
fun,
and many more.

Opening Reception--City Hall

The opening reception of "As We Live It" exhibit which took place last Wednesday (June 8th) at City Hall, sponsored by San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Study Center, featured incredible art work created and submitted by some 30 plus artists from all across San Francisco's community behavioral health clinics. While the event was billed as highlighting the works of "people in treatment", the level of artistry and sophistication represented by the pieces was truly astounding.

I was simultaneously flattered and humbled that our "unheard voices" film--which is to be played in a continuous loop throughout the duration of the exhibit which runs through September 9th-- helped to inspire this exhibit.

Reception is Tomorrow!

The opening reception for As We Live It exhibit at City Hall is tomorrow.

Hope to see a lot of people in support of the 30+ artists whose works will be exhibited at City Hall. This is a big event for many of the consumers who have taken the courage to be vulnerable by exposing their art & lives to the public. For some, this is their first time in the limelight...which can be incredibly stressful. I'm grateful for their willingness and generosity to share their work with the world. Thanks also to San Francisco Arts Commission, Community Behavioral Health Services, and the San Francisco Study Center.

Unheard Voices to be Screening at San Francisco City Hall

Unheard Voices will be screening at City Hall as part of an upcoming exhibit sponsored by San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Study Center. The exhibit, As We Live It, is a juried exhibition that features works made by mental health consumers of San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services.

The gallery website reads: "As We Live It celebrates the vast and deep talents of artists who use their visual art practice as one form of articulating their identities in a way that words cannot."

Opening reception: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 5:30-7:30
Exhibition dates: June 8 – September 9, 2011
Location: SF City Hall, ground floor, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 8 pm

Stomp Out Stigma--Nice Turnout at San Francisco State University

The screening at San Francisco State University's "Stomp Out Stigma" presentation had some glitches in the beginning, mostly of a technical nature, but once the film got started, we were off and rolling.

We had a larger turnout than expected. I suppose some of the students came in to get extra credit points from their instructors. The event seems to have been well advertized as there were ads spread out all over the campus when we arrived.

I felt lots of energy in the room. The audience asked some good questions related to the documentary and mental-illness--even prior to the screening. This was while I was "stalling" and attempting to entertain the audience while the technical crew were fixing up the glitches with the projector and sound equipment.

The three clients who came with me to participate in the panel discussion & Q/A after the screening were terrific. They were a bit nervous in the beginning but, as usual, spoke eloquently about their experiences with mental illness and what they hoped to achieve through their films. One of the clients said to me, afterwards, that a student approached her and thanked for sharing. This student was also struggling with mental illness. The client noted how glad she was to be a part of this panel and be able to "make a difference, even to one individual."

My main message that evening was that prejudice, not mental illness, is the main problem in our society. We made this video project to fight stigma against mental illness using creativity as a weapon.

Thanks to ACTIVE MINDS and Counseling/Psychological Services of San Francisco State University for putting this event together.

National Stomp Out Stigma Day at San Francisco State University

Next Wednesday (March 16, 2011), we will do a screening of Unheard Voices at San Francisco State University at Rosa Parks D. It starts at 4:00PM--food/beverages are provided. What a great opportunity to raise awareness for the students on campus and to fight against stigma.

This screening (plus panel discussion) is presented by ACTIVE MINDS & Counseling & Psychological Services at SFSU as part of their campaign to "Stomp Out Stigma". Four of the film's consumer-participants have agreed to participate in the panel discussion after the screening. It looks as though these consumers are turning into activists and educators indeed!

Under His Wings Screens at CBHS-sponsored Conference at the Zoo

The screening at today's conference, "Through Strengths and NOT our Weaknesses", at the Great Hall located inside San Francisco Zoo went very well. Rochelle's film, Under His Wings, was very well-received by the audience composed of about 50+ members from all walks of life including consumers of mental health services, their family & friends, clinicians, and physicians. They asked lots of great questions, and Rochelle was very articulate during Q/A. Many of the consumers who were moved by the film came up to her and gave her big hugs.

This conference, organized by San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services, explored ways to promote the Recovery Model within mental health, a collaborative model that emphasizes working with client's strengths, rather than focusing on their problems. The topics involved utilizing Positive Psychology, defining categories of strength, and using Solution-Focused approach to achieving goals. This seems to be the wave of the future in mental health. Our film project seems to embody these values.

Screening "Under His Wings" at The San Francisco Zoo

This coming Friday, December 10th, one of our films, "Under His Wings," will screen at The Great Hall in The San Francisco Zoo as part of a mental health workshop entitled "Through Strengths and Not Our Weaknesses." To my knowledge, however, none of the attendants at the workshop walk with four legs. It is intended for consumers of mental health, their families, physicians, nurses, and mental health practitioners.

This workshop, organized by San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services, is designed to promote a greater understanding of recovery from mental illness. Recovery is not a "one size fits all" model but requires ongoing support of family, friends, consumer-focused treatment, and developing self-empowerment and responsibility (as its brochure suggests). The values promoted by this workshop are also echoed by the film and embodied in the life of Rochelle--the subject of this film.

Thanks to Norman Aleman, organizer of this event, for inviting me and Rochelle to this event. Rochelle plans to bring her entire family to the zoo!

Screening of Unheard Voices at California State University, East Bay

Taken from an entry from the Facebook page of P.E.E.R.S.:

P.E.E.R.S. (Peers Envisioning & Engaging in Recovery Services) ‎

"Sharing Our Journey: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness Through Wellness and Recovery"
11/29/10, 11 AM – 1 PM California State University East Bay, New Student Union, Multipurpose Room A. Lunch will be served!

"Workshop will include poetry and art from people who live with mental illness, a panel of mental health consumers, a movie about mental illness, and a small group discussion."

Two consumers involved in our film project were at the workshop as panelists. I couldn't make it due to an unexpected family emergency, but I hear the workshop went well.

Open Studio at Hunters Point

Yesterday I went to the 2010 Fall Open Studio/Sale at Hunters Point Shipyard, which is the largest open studio in San Francisco Bay Area featuring 125 artists. One of the featured artists was my friend Charles (Trey) Houston--photographer/filmmaker/producer. He was there to represent a wonderful arts organization that works to nurture creativity in diverse communities including young people called ARTSEED.

Trey exhibited his amazing photographs & "looping" video alongside his sidekick and mentee, Raven. Raven is only in the 8th grade yet her works betray a seasoned artist with a wide range of creative skills ranging from music video (which she wrote, photographed, and edited), photography, paintings, book art, dolls, and crafts.

Some of my favorites include Raven's iBroke among her other incredible pieces (see photographs). Keep up the good work, Trey, and thanks to organizations like ARTSEED that seek to nurture creativity in young people such as Raven.

A Nice Article about our Film Project

Here's a nice article about our film project published by a local San Francisco mental health consumer advocacy group in their latest issue of Voices at Bay. This group is supported by San Francisco Study Center which has become a vital resource for organizers since 1972. The article was written by Maria Leach, an artist/writer and advocate involved with community mental health.

Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema 2010

My film, "Under His Wings", will be screening at the 7th Annual Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema. There will be lots of music and plenty of local filmmakers & artist during the weekend.

My short will be playing on the closing night, Sunday September 5th, at 7:30PM at Precita Park. Hope to see some of you there.

Clinic Saved!

It's been awhile since I returned from vacation. Did not get a chance to update this blog as the budget crisis knocked a wind out of me. But while I was in Korea, the clinic continued to put up a valiant effort in order to save the clinic. Our collective effort paid off as the budget was eventually restored--fully restored. So we will be around for at least another year.

Off to Korea

Tomorrow, my wife and I head out to south korea for our scheduled 3-week vacation. This couldn't have come at a better time. I need to get away for a few weeks to regain my strength and perspective.

Last Thursday, the Mayor Newsom's office contacted our clinic to schedule a meeting. This came a day after KRON 4 news channel and SF Chronicle opinion simultaneously released their segments. We are hoping that this meeting would mean that our clinic budget would be fully restored.

I also received an e-mail from Carolyn Tyler from ABC News. She wanted showcase our clinic for her next segment on the city's budget cuts. I passed this information on to our director, David Fariello, who will (hopefully) do an interview with ABC.

The Media Are Paying Attention to Us

After two long weeks of grueling campaigning, we have finally gained some momentum. Jeff Bush from KRON 4 responded to my e-mail last night and came to our clinic to interview our director, David Fariello. Check out the news segment about Citywide & Community Focus Center on this link.

Also, David Fariello's impassioned speech in defense of our clinic was published in SF Gate's (San Francisco Chonicle) Open Forum section. Check out the article here.

We are slowly, but surely gaining momentum. The staff are becoming more encouraged, and our client's are continuing to speak out in the form of letters to the City supervisors.

Started Facebook Group Campaign Today

As part of our fight to save our clinic and to give voice to the unheard, we activated our first ever Cyber-campaign via Facebook Group. As of this writing we have over 100 new group members who joined. My goal is to have at least 1,000 people join us (give or take a few hundred) in solidarity. We want to send the message to the powers that be that people care about other people. WE ARE WATCHING.
Join our Facebook group at Unheard Voices of San Francisco Speaking Out.

Proposed Budget Cuts by DPH Target the Most Vulnerable in San Francisco

This past week, i found out that our Citywide & Community Focus Center, which provides intensive case management services to over 700 of the MOST SEVERE & CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS in the city of San Francisco, was the target of DPH's (Department of Public Health) largest proposed budget cuts for any outpatient mental health clinic in the city.

Wow! It just doesn't make sense. Imagine how much more it would cost the city if our 700-plus clients lose vital services--spikes in hospital & emergency costs, increased homelessness, and possibly crime. I think it may even affect the tourist industry in San Francisco given that many of our clients live in/near the Tenderloin area which is right next to the hub of San Francisco's major tourist attraction: Union Square/Powell St./Cable Car...

As is often the case in economically troubled times, those who are most marginalized and poor suffer the most. "The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest." I wonder if the current proposed budget cuts reflect what is best about San Francisco.

We Win The Spirit Award at City Shorts Film Festival

At the City Shorts Student Film Festival tonight, our film "Under His Wings", won the Spirit Award which was one of only three awards given out at this 10th annual film festival at Diego Rivera Theater. There were approximately 90-95 submissions for the film festival, and it was good enough for me that our film was chosen. But to win the Spirit Award was an exhilarating experience! One minor blot to this incredible evening was that the film festival misrepresented the title of my film. The award certificate reads, "Underneath His Wings", when in fact it should have been "Under His Wings." But in reality, they both mean the same, so no big deal.