Recovery Learning Communities Honored at the DMH 2010 Commissioner's Distinguished Service Awards

Community was first in this year's Mental Health Month observance as Commissioner Leadholm honored the Recovery Learning Communities (RLCs) at the Commissioner's Distinguished Service Awards ceremony held last month in the Great Hall at the State House. Each of the six Area RLCs staff and community members gave their own unique presentations.

"By honoring the work of these distinguished award recipients, we are making the strong statement that adults, children and adolescents with mental illnesses have a right to dignity, to a place in their communities, to programs and treatment that help them recover, to realize their dreams and to live productive and satisfying lives," said Commissioner Leadholm in her welcoming remarks. DMH Area leaders Ted Kirousis, Susan Wing, Sue Sciaraffa, Cliff Robinson, Ron Dailey and Susan Sprung joined the Commissioner in presenting the awards.

The Western Mass. RLC Co-Directors Sera Davidow and Oryx Cohen told their own personal stories of their recovery, the goals they have achieved and how they are living examples to individuals who come into their RLC for support in their own recovery from mental illness. The Western Mass. RLC produced a remarkable short film, Hope and Healing through Community. It explains some of the values around peer support that can be modeled across the state. The film is online and can be viewed at www.vimeo.com/westernmassrlc.

Metro Boston RLC leaders Chuck Weinstein, Howard Trachtman and Ann Whitman were joined in accepting their award by community members Janel Tan, Director, CSRLC who presented a poem; Sarah Selvitz, Director, PERC; Joanne Roberts, Co-Director BRC and Eric Jones, Peer Specialist from North Suffolk. Eric ended the presentation by expressing his recovery story through a high energy rap.

June Cowen, Executive Director of the Northeast Independent Living Program, and Jo Bower, Director of the North East RLC, were accompanied by a large group who entitled their presentation "The Gifts of Recovery." Bonnie Barish from Gloucester and Nancy Williams from Rockport pictured concluded the presentation with a heartfelt rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical "Carousel."

The excitement of the afternoon continued as Acting Southeastern Area RLC Director Elizabeth Amaral, RLC staff, guiding council and volunteers each presented a short narrative and held signs that displayed a component of recovery such as self respect, positive thinking and wellness tools.

Acting Metro Suburban RLC Director Carol Gapski introduced "Metro Suburban Recovery Learning Community: A Recovery Story," a performance in which participants formed a pyramid shape and the leader in the front row began a story, with each row joining in at the beginning of each paragraph. The chant grew louder and louder as more voices joined. The performance group then invited the audience to join in, creating a powerful atmosphere of voices that joined as one.

Concluding the festivities was the Central Mass. RLC led by Co-directors Brenda Vezina and Colin Cooney who introduced a high-energy performance by the Central Mass. RLC Drumming Circle. The drummers took over the center of the Great Hall and led by Colin, distributed various percussion instruments to audience members, and created a high energy drumming and chant session that filled the room and filled the hearts of all in attendance and confirmed that recovery is real.

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