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.