King County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Legislative Forum

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Town Hall Seattle

1119 8th Avenue (at Seneca Street), Seattle

The forum will include:

• King County’s legislative priorities in mental health and substance abuse for 2014.
• Key outcomes and innovations in the delivery of behavioral health services in King County.
• Personal stories of individuals recovering from mental illness and/or substance use.
• The perspectives and priorities of state and federal legislators representing our region.
• A chance to show legislators how much King County values behavioral health services

Please bring family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, clients, peers, allies, and advocates. Everyone is welcome!

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Puget Sound Equity Summit

About the Summit

Puget Sound Equity Summit: November 2013

The Regional Equity Network and partners are planning a Puget Sound Equity Summit in November 2013.  This is an action-oriented Summit that will bring together stakeholders across the region.

Summit goals

1. Identify shared issue areas and further develop key strategies to achieve healthy communities, building upon community organizing and work underway.
2. Create a structure for community, policy makers, philanthropy to jointly identify key issues and problem solve.
3. Connect various efforts and people in the region focused on equity/ equitable development and create a platform for community leadership.

Seattle Office of the Community Police Commission Survey

As part of the ACLU’s work in support of efforts to promote police accountability, they wanted to let you know about an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Seattle Office of the Community Police Commission. The Commission is seeking opinions from community members about the Seattle Police Department. You can find out more about the work of the Commission here, and you can take the survey here.

Upcoming Event: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

Dr. Joy DeGruy author of “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome”

to Speak at the Edmonds School District Thursday 10/24, 7-9:30 p.mFrom Darlene Flynn, City of Seattle:

“Hello all,

In collaboration with the Edmonds School District, The Hazel Miller Foundation, Communities of Color Coalition and Families of Color United In Service (FOCUIS), I am excited and proud to let you all know we will be hosting Dr. Joy DeGruy author of “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” to Speak at the Edmonds School District Thursday October 24th 7-9:30 p.m.

This event is FREE and seating is limited.

The Edmonds School District is located at:

20420 68th Ave W Lynnwood, WA 98036 (just south of Edmonds Community College)

Dr. DeGruy is the foremost expert on Black historical trauma and its effects on the community today.

Dr. DeGruy’s presentation is a call for us all to identify the manifestations of trauma, a call to healing and a call to action.

We look forward to you seeing you Thursday October 24th from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Edmonds School District!

For more information on events like this, please join FOCUIS on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EAACH2012?ref=hl

Sincerely,
Daniel VanArsdale
Director of Families of Color United In Service (FOCUIS)

Upcoming Events / Juvenile Justice Zine Release Party

Juvenile Justice Zine release party thrown by WISH

(Washington Incarceration Stops Here),

Friday, 10/11 7-10pm, at Queer Youth Space (upstairs at 911 E. Pike Street).

Full invitation from WISH as follows:
“I am writing to let you know that WISH has just finished compiling a great zine – Plan A – featuring poetry, art, and articles presenting a vision for alternatives to the new youth jail and juvenile courts.

“We will be having a zine release party on Friday, October 11th, and would love it if you and your members (and anyone else you think may be interested) can attend. The party will be at Queer Youth Space from 7-10pm. It will feature a short program, including speakers discussing WISH and poetry from zine authors, followed by lots of music, dancing, and refreshments! Although we won’t have any formal tabling, please feel free to bring any materials from your organization that you would like to share. You can click on the links below to see the facebook event page and the new postings to WISH’s blog:  https://www.facebook.com/events/219384354892998/, http://nonewyouthjail.wordpress.com/

Best,
The members of WISH

Social Justice Film Festival!

The Seattle Social Justice Film Festival is back! Films will cover all aspects of social justice but, in conjunction with their lead sponsor, Books to Prisoners, this year’s special festival focus will be on issues related to Prisoner Justice. More information here.

Opening Night:

Mothers of Bedford

October 10th, 5pm

The Market Theater

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Books to Prisoners!

Join Books to Prisoners for a special Opening Night Celebration screening of Mothers of Bedford as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the festival’s Founding Sponsor, Books to Prisoners.

Is it possible to become a better mother while serving time in a maximum security prison?  Mothers of Bedford, a feature length documentary, follows five women incarcerated in the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and looks at their lives through the lens of motherhood.

The film examines the struggles and joys these five women face as prisoners and mothers. It shows the normal frustrations of parenting as well as the surreal experiences of a child’s first birthday party inside prison, the cell that child lives in with her mother, and the biggest celebration of the year, Mother’s Day in prison!

Following the film, there will be a Q&A with Tanya Erzen and Traci Matheson.

Tanya Erzen, Ph.D. is a 2013 Soros Justice Fellow and teaches at the University of Puget Sound.   She is the director of the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, a college program in the Washington Corrections Center for Women.  FEPPS works in collaboration with the Village, an organization formed by women inside the prison.  Since January 2012, FEPPS has offered 20 college courses and a monthly lecture series at the prison taught by professors from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma Community College, Evergreen and the University of Washington.

Traci Matheson spent 11 years at Washington Corrections Center for Women.  She is now a full-time student and a hair stylist.

Upcoming Justice Event

I will be presenting on the Prison Industrial Complex at this criminal justice workshop. Would love to see some folks there!