Every year our counseling department commits to raising funds for the NAMI Walks Campaign. I am sure each of you has heard this word uttered and received plenty of emails suggesting that you sign up for NAMI walks. But although you may have heard the acronym N-A-M-I spoken a lot, I feel it is important to define what NAMI is?
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness and their mission is both to advocate for those with mental illness and pair individuals and families with mental health services and resources. NAMI of New Orleans, our local chapter, clearly states their mission:
“[WE offer] hope, help, and healing to people with mental illness – and to those who share their lives – through family support, education, and advocacy, and quality psychosocial services.”
In practice NAMI New Orleans uses it resources to teach families and individuals how to navigate and receive proper mental health services. Their facilities are safe spaces for those with mental illnesses to support each other and to learn skills to function more comfortability in the community. In addition, NAMI gives classes on mental health advocacy and leads legislative efforts to ensure our state and national government invests in improvements to services for those with mental illness. The money raised during the NAMI walk campaign is the primary way NAMI can offer many of their services for free.
NAMI has two locations in New Orleans, one in Uptown and another on the West Bank in Harvey. From these locations people seeking assistance for Mental Illness are provided counseling services, weekly peer-led support groups, and class instruction to aid them in the initial stages of recovery. Also, NAMI New Orleans focuses on the families and communities of individuals with mental illness by building awareness and open dialog about mental health issues. For example, NAMI New Orleans provides classes to help families understand how to live with a member suffering with mental illness and community presentations to decrease the misunderstandings and stigma associated mental illness.
How does NAMI fund their mission?
For the past six years NAMI New Orleans has hosted a “Second Line” walk in Audubon Park to support mental health services and advocacy in our community. In 2015 the NAMI Walk raised $144,000 to support their mission. This year they are looking to raise $160,000! It is through contributions by caring people during the NAMI Walks Campaign that provides the funding for this organization to function throughout the year.
Loyola’s Department of Counseling, organized by our Alpha Phi Chapter of the CSI honor society, has been a proud member of this fundraiser and walk for many years. The NAMI Walks New Orleans Campaign is an opportunity for all current students, alumni, faculty, and staff to contribute to a great organization. We are asked to stand up as professionals and future professionals to advocate for the population we serve or wish to serve. We are reliant on individual students, facility, and alumni working to support our counseling department’s team in many different ways. I invite everyone who would like to join our team to create an individual fund raising profile through the NAMI website to allow your family and friends the opportunely to donate. Plus, we have many fun events in store, like our after-hours fundraisers, raffles, and of course the NAMI walk itself at Audubon Park at 10AM on October 15th.
I invite everyone to consider joining our NAMI funding campaign by first checking out our team sign up link on the NAMI New Orleans website:
http://www.namiwalks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=546
Or email: smbrite@loyno.edu
Sincerely,
Sean Brite
In addition to creating your own fundraising page for NAMI walks and asking your family, friends, and coworkers to donate, we have set up other ways in which you can help this wonderful organization:
Tuesday, September 13th at Rock'n' Bowl 7:00pm-9:00pm
That's right, next Tuesday CSI Alpha Phi will be taking to the bowling ally located at 3016 S. Carrollton Ave. to have ourselves a NAMI fundraiser. You can see Sean Brite or any of the GAs about purchasing tickets, which are $10. You may also purchase a ticket at the door. Proceeds will go to NAMI and best bowler ever title will go to me (kidding, I am quite prone to gutter balls). Anyway, its going to be a really chance to engage in some quality community building and raise money for NAMI simultaneously, so please come out!
Friday, October 7th at Courtyard Brewery 5:30pm-7:30pm
Courtyard Brewery, located at 1020 Erato St, is a local brewery and tap room featuring an amazing selection of craft beers, delicious street food, and a nice, family friendly atmosphere. This will be another great opportunity to raise funds for NAMI and also strengthen our bonds to one another. No need to purchase a ticket. $1 of every beer purchased at this event will go to NAMI, so come out and show your support!
Another thing we are going to do in the near future is a NAMI raffle. Although we haven't quite gotten all of the items and tickets together, this is something you can expect to make an appearance soon. Tickets will be sold in the big room, and prices are TBA. Feel free to ask a GA and/or a CSI officer if you are curious!
