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.