Text Box: Judy Robson “I want to serve on the board because I believe in the work of the Grassroots Empowerment Project and want to see it continue for many years to come. Whatever I can do to help that future, I will do. The skills I bring to the board are good problem-solving, good listening skills, public speaking, and lots of energy.” Jerry Huber “I have worked in the human services field for over 22 years and have always had a passion to improve the quality of life for those dealing with mental health concerns in their lives.  Having seen the effects of mental illness within my own family, I believe that, through advocacy and community support, we can improve the quality of life for many impacted by mental illness.  I believe GEP is one of those strong supports to hold up to needs and concerns of those with mental illness and I am proud to serve on the board.” Nate Swearingen “I serve on the Board because I enjoy and find it gratifying to give back to aspects of society that have helped improve my own life.  Consumer-driven mental health advocacy has helped me tremendously in my recovery, so it seems only natural to me to reinvest energy in an area that has energized me. The most important skill I think I bring to this board is my youth and inexperience--I only serve on this and one other Board, with a total of two years experience.  So, in not being a "career Board Director," I often see things from different angles and ask questions that spark discussion that may not have occurred without my influence.  With the critical point that GEP is at right now in its existence, I feel my unconventional perspective will be an asset in the problem solving needed for us to move forward.” Alyce Jablonski “I am very proud to serve on the GEP Board of Directors.  Since coming into recovery myself, I truly believe in consumer education and applying personal and system advocacy to ensure a healthy recovery. Consumer involvement and consumer-driven services are the keys to the future of the mental health system.  I am honored to be a part of a Board which represents consumers as an integral part of those "keys" in Wisconsin by promoting consumer advocacy and support of consumer-run services.   My experience on councils, boards and committees has been gained in community activities the past 30 years. I have many business skills and an associate’s degree in accounting. I worked in administrative positions for 10 years and ran my own company for 4 years. I have been active in the recovery community for the past 12 years, being a member of both GEP and NAMI.  I am a NAMI National Trainer for NAMI C.A.R.E. Support Group facilitators and a mentor for Family to Family and Peer to Peer education course. I am a founding and current member of the NAMI WI Consumer Council.  I have experience in conference planning as a member of the WI Crisis Conference planning committee since 2002.  I have also presented at several state mental health conferences.  I am an active participant with staff of the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Unit of Consumer Affairs, training county Comprehensive Community Services staff in Recovery 101 and Person-Centered Planning.  I am a member of the Wisconsin Recovery Implementation Task Force and co-chair of its Comprehensive Community Services Committee.  I am employed as a Peer Specialist at North Central Health Care in Wausau, WI.   Advocacy for myself and others continues to play a major role in my recovery.” Bob Driscoll “I want to serve on the GEP Board to share my experience, strength, and hope with others who share the same illness, and especially to represent consumers in the City of Milwaukee, which I love. The skills that I can bring to the Board are that I am sensitive and perceptive, am active in advocacy work, and have good writing skills. These are the qualities that I believe make for a good Board [member; I was] appointed at the GEP consumer conference last year.” Kathryn Ackley “In over forty years of my “working” career, [in] each job I had, I always advanced to higher levels because of my integrity, resourcefulness, and self-motivation, empowering others to work as a team for the benefit of the whole organization. I hope to do the same as a GEP Board member. As far as what skills I bring to the Board: Looking back, I can say [that] as a janitor, for example, I learned that someone has to do the dirty work, and I’m not afraid to jump right in and get my hands dirty; as a nurse’s aid at Central WI Colony (now Central WI Center), I learned compassion and resourcefulness; as a factory assembly-line worker and machine operator, I developed patience and coordination. Over the years as supervisor and/or manager for the state of WI, I honed the skills of dealing with difficult situations and people while keeping my eye on my original goals. As a trainer at Mendota Mental Health Institute, past member of Toastmasters International, and as a workshop developer/presenter, I have gained self-confidence. As a founding Board member of two nonprofit organizations (Women in Support and Healing (WISH), and Grassroots Empowerment Project (GEP)), I have learned to take risks and let other people get to know me for who I am. Since I haven’t been able to “work”, I [have] needed more then ever to be a productive member of society. I became a volunteer for numerous nonprofits such as Atwood Community Center in Madison, WISH, MC Video Productions, and GEP. [I left] some because I found I was no longer able to deal with some aspect of the job, [I was] “let go” because I was too slow and/or had to be retrained too many times, or [I] just needed to move on. The important thing is that I never quit trying to find out what I was still able to do. I am still experimenting to see who I am and what I can do in this new life, during this process; I am learning self-honesty, acceptance, and self-empowerment. I have also developed a strong spiritual connection, which I never thought possible. I’m looking forward to being a productive member on the GEP Board and invite readers to keep involved in the mental health consumer movement through volunteerism.” Benita Walker “I wanted to serve on the GEP board, as I believe strongly in the importance of good consumer-run services and believe strongly in a statewide network of consumer groups. Skills I bring to the board include over 17 years of experience on the board or staff of various nonprofit organizations and professional experience working with people with mental illness in community settings. I have a Master’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis on working with people with severe and persistent mental illnesses. I have done a considerable amount of public speaking on topics related to mental illness. I am very interested in WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) and use a WRAP plan to manage my own illness; in the near future I plan to start facilitation WRAP groups to teach others how to develop their own WRAP plans. I am especially interested in people with mental illness who get caught up in the criminal justice system, and have done individual advocacy around this topic.” Michelle Olson “I was recently honored with an election to the GEP Board of Directors and am currently serving as the Vice President. I have worked in the field of human services for over 21 years and worked with people with all types of disabilities in a number of different settings. I realized many years ago that my passion lies with advocacy. For the past fourteen years, I have followed that passion, and have worked as the Assistant Director of Independent Living Resources, Inc. in La Crosse. Through my work at Independent Living Resources, I have promoted consumer control and peer support, provided education to consumers in an effort to help people become their own advocates, and worked on many systems advocacy issues. I was fortunate to have access to all of this information and support when I finally came to terms with my own mental illness and recovery. I look forward to working with you, GEP sites and the GEP Board in an effort to create change in our communities to reduce the stigma around mental illness and continue moving forward with the recovery movement.” Barbara Storm “I am extremely proud to be on the GEP Board.  I thank God everyday for you and your support.  I never knew that recovery from mental illness was even a possibility before coming to Genesis.  The ten years spent in therapy taught me a lot, and I put into use every aspect of what I had learned.  But I never thought that I would grow in the direction I took.  Being a volunteer and serving in a field as special as ours has helped me grow ever so much.  I found my voice I once had before years of abuse.  I am able to make healthy decisions, keep healthy boundaries, and for the first time in my whole life, I can depend on myself.   As a paralegal from California, I graduated with a certificate of outstanding achievement and with high honors.  I went into civil law, so when coming to Genesis I found a cause that was of most importance, for me and those who do not fully understand what recovery means yet. But as I did, so they [will].   Through the conferences I have attended I have gained so much RESPECT for Grassroots Empowerment Project. I look at being on the Board as another training that I can bring back to my own site. I have, I will continue and I am learning!!!!  Just ask Sam, our TA.  All the GEP Board members have been so wonderful to me and a pleasure to work with. I also am able to serve those with mental illness with receiving SSI for free.  It is a labor of love.   Along with all of the learning on an educational level, I have learned so much about different mental health illnesses, and it is an eye opener.  I have also learned to run a business, though many mistakes were made along the way and there is so very much more to learn.  One more thing, this experience has made me so aware of our political system that I do not think I could ever go back to being a conservative Republican again.  That is not to put them down, but I love to know what I wish I did not sometimes, but that is the only way we can bring about change. I will forever be in your debt for giving me back something I lost a long time ago and so much more.” Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler “After spending more than 40 years as an RN, with much of that time spent doing volunteer work for persons with mental illness in the city of Milwaukee, I am now heading toward retirement. That means I can have more time to work on advocacy issues. I was thrilled to be elected to the GEP Board of Directors because I could become the voice of each of the members, representing all of us by sharing the many talents and gifts of each member of GEP. I am presently the President and one of the founders of Faith in Recovery, Inc., an organization that has support and education programs in more than 20 different faith communities. You can find more information about our program on our website, www.faithinrecovery.com. Along with my brother, John R. Veierstahler, I am the editor of a website, www.hopetohealing.com. This website shares stories of recovery, offering hope and healing in a very positive and uplifting way. This website was the first of its kind – focusing on recovery stories as a source of inspiration. Some of my favorite hobbies include walking, scrapbooking, meditation, yoga, photography, letter writing, making cards, traveling and daily prayer. For the past 15 years I have had the privilege of living with 25 sisters who nursed me back to health when I had stomach cancer 14 years ago. They have been so supportive of me as I went through my diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness, an illness that started in my life when I was 7 years old and was not correctly diagnosed until 50 years later. The story of my life is found on my website, www.hopetohealing.com. I love meeting the many members of GEP, love hearing their stories, and am deeply inspired by the courage and joy that so many members in GEP have taught me. Thank you to all members of GEP for electing me to your board. I will do my best to work with you and be your representative. We are living in very exciting times in the field of mental health.” Adam Malueg “I am glad to be on the GEP board and the Cornucopia board, as I am picking up valuable leadership skills for the future. Also, when I include my work at New Directions, I have become more confident in myself and those around me.” 2008 GEP board meetings take place on the 2nd Friday of odd months in Madison. All meetings are open to the public. To contact the GEP Board of Directors, you may write to: Bob Driscoll C/o GEP P.O. Box 8683 Madison, WI 53708 Or email: milwaukeemick at yahoo.com

Spring/Summer 2008
Text Box: Meet the 2008 GEP Board of Directors

How can YOU Empower People with Mental Illness? 
 

To accomplish our goals, we need your financial support.  The following are ways you can support people with mental illness in their wellness and recovery: 
 

Honorary Member $50 

Friend
$100 

Supporter
$500 

Benefactor
$1,000 

Visionary
$5,000 

Sponsor a Drop In Center for one year
$15,000 

Sponsor “Empowerment Days” for 100 people with mental illness
$20,000 

Sponsor “Leadership Academy” for 25 people with mental illness
$20,000 

 

For more information on contributing, e-mail mollycisco at msn.com.

Consumer network news

Grassroots Empowerment Project presents
Text Box: Creating opportunities for people with mental illness to exercise power in their lives