We heard from many who have traveled this road with us long before our inception, our Board of Directors’ President, Joan Geyer, strained against emotions as she recalled the origins of this passion project nearly three years ago, and acknowledged so many of our stalwart advocates. She has been a visionary for this expansion, and it was clear from her reaction that it was everything she had hoped it would be.

Our colleague, CEO of Centerstone of Florida, Melissa Larkin-Skinner was heartfelt as she spoke about the driving force behind everything we do: “Relationships.”  Melissa walks the walk. She has been a true friend and partner of the Academy for the past seven years while leading Centerstone, the primary mental health clinical provider in Manatee County.

We heard from Alan Davidson, President and CEO of Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN). As our primary public funding source for the Academy, Alan’s moving testimony revealed the humanity behind the business of Florida state funding. When he closed with “…if there is ever anything I can do to help,” those who know him knew he meant it.

Manatee County Commissioner Amanda Ballard took to the podium carrying her newborn son, saying “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Commissioner Ballard may be a newer friend to the Academy, but she is no less an advocate of what we do. As a champion of creating economic opportunity and relief to the most underserved of Manatee County, she articulated the value of our job training and employment programs, committing to helping us expand our reach.

A notable feather in our cap is our affiliation with Fountain House United, a coalition of seven nationwide network affiliates chosen for the quality of services and innovative programming. So, we were a little bit giddy when the Director of Network Services for Fountain House United, Alex Baldassare agreed to join us all the way from New York City. Alex spoke with such passion, rousing the crowd with inspiration to become solution-makers alongside of us. 

There was one speaker who really stood out. His was the voice that this gathering of friends and community leaders really came to hear. Academy member Michael Silverman did what only a member can. He provided a firsthand testimonial of the power of our Academy community. Michael eloquently articulated the “why” of what we do. Sharing just some of the ways in which the Academy has improved his quality of life – stronger relationships, increased confidence, and the longest he’s ever gone without a mental health crisis just to name a few – he described the Academy as “one of the sanest places I know.”  We couldn’t agree more, Michael.

The program was capped off by the reveal of our newly installed signage, followed by a big party inside our new Academy. Tray upon tray of extraordinary food – from lobster rolls and teriyaki chicken to vegan pastries and chocolate strawberries – created and presented by members and staff in partnership – were enjoyed by guests as they toured our building, mingled with members, staff and each other, and appreciated the impeccable musicianship of live jazz duo, The Jazzberries. It was a night to remember! 

When the last guest had left the building and it was just us, we rolled up our sleeves, changed back into our sensible shoes, and got to work cleaning up. It’s what we do; work the vehicle that carries our relationships forward. We are at our very best when we are working side-by-side.

With special thanks to The Ringling´s Executive Director Steven High, and Community Relations Coordinator Caitlyn Shanley, Academy members, along with our graphic design instructor Joanne Campbell, created a diverse and exciting show that captures the spirit of our community. Aptly titled “The Art of Recovery,” the show´s stunning pieces are accompanied by artist statements that reveal the healing nature of the artistic process, providing a glimpse into the hearts and minds of artists living with mental health challenges.

The show premiered this past Thursday evening with a reception of nearly one hundred guests – the largest audience the museum has seen in their community gallery. Members Erika Schlunk and Chantel Gingerich spoke eloquently about the vitality of artmaking as well as the impact of inclusion in this prestigious show. Joanne Campbell beamed from the podium as she shared her pride in our resident artists, sharing a bit about the how much love and effort went into its inception, and our Executive Director William McKeever shared his thoughts on the magnitude of the experience.

Not to be outdone, our culinary team also impressed the crowd. The Ringling usually caters these events in-house, but we weren’t about to leave our food artisans out of the show. From lobster rolls and tuna tartare to macha macarons and mousse, all artfully displayed, the buffet was yet another work of art for guests to savor. 

The Academy, now in its seventh year, has had many shining moments, but this one really stands out. Those of us who know these artists are not surprised by their success, but now the world gets to see what we have known: The power of creativity is strong medicine. As Erika Schlunk said at the reception, “even in my darkest moments, I learned that I could create something beautiful that someone would want to see. They would want something of me. Through art I was able to feel like a full and complete person.”

Because, as we say, it’s just us, we forged ahead, sometimes with only a vague notion of an idea. Our amazing multimedia team met our every challenge with a solution and made it all happen. Eleven promo videos shot at dozens of unique locations, filmed sketches, skits and interviews, endless hours of editing, rehearsing, and rewriting; this was a passion project for us all.

And when it was all said and done, it was an experience of a lifetime for us. The result is an apt snapshot of our creative, resilient community. Watch it and you will see the easy rapport of our emcees (and the first-ever member emcee, Cayman Sieffert, who charmed and endeared us), the joy and playfulness of our teams, and the vulnerability of those who stepped out of comfort to bring light to mental health. This is who we are.

Very special thanks go to the Steinwachs Family Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and the Giving Generously Fund for their considerable matches. And to everyone who watched, shared or donated, your generosity keeps us going, not just financially but in our hearts and minds. Your support sustains us.

Great news: if you missed it, you can still stream it by clicking here. Make sure to stay tuned until the end for fun bloopers and additional footage not seen live.

Our youngest members took the lead in planning our Earth Day celebration! Members young and less-young took part in the flower planting. Our garden has never looked lovelier, with the bright yellow-gold blossoms punctuating the greens and deep red hues. Once these precious marigolds  get a little older, we think that they will look stunning on a salad!

Speaking of salad, the days lunch fare consisted of a cornucopious salad bar (it’s not often that we make up a word, but we are standing behind it). Included in the planet-friendly feast was a selection of healthy smoothies with wild combinations drummed up by our young adults. Delicious!

The afternoon was spent playing Earth Day trivia games and in general merriment and awe of the great outdoors. We are fortunate to live where we do, and Earth Day was a great reminder to take care of our mother earth; she is the only one we’ve got.

Watch the wonderful video created by our own Multimedia Team:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0OV_jOo6R4

Members of the Culinary Arts team were on-point, coordinating service so that each of the four courses was served simultaneously to everyone. The meal began with fresh Florida shrimp ceviche with homegrown tomatoes, avocado purée, radish, red onion, cilantro and lime, served with crispy plantain chips. We didn’t think it could get any better than that, but we were so wrong!

Like a dance, plates were cleared away seamlessly as the next course arrived. Tender white fish was presented in hearty bowls of rich consommé with wild mushrooms and bok choy and finished with a Parmesan foam. It was as beautiful as it was deeply satisfying in textures and flavor.

Meanwhile, members in the back of house were artfully plating the entrée. Sous vide chicken looked almost too good to eat next to bright spring asparagus, a glossy pool of potato purée and a verdant drizzle of chimichurri. Servers mingled throughout the room, refilling glasses with our choice of refreshing Arnold Palmers or strawberry-infused water, making sure that our every culinary need was satisfied.

While we don’t often offer sweets, this was a special occasion and, as such, dessert was on the menu! Plant City strawberry shortcake, served on delicate buttery biscuits with fresh whipped cream and garnished with a strawberry fruit roll-up; it was playful, light and not-too-sweet but still oh so decadent.

When the last course was served, the culinary crew came out from the kitchen and were met by a round of raucous applause.  This meal was a sort of soft opening for our new Fine Dining concept, and it was a big hit. The Fine Dining Day is just one of many examples of innovative ideas that come out of our team planning days. Culinary Arts knocked it out of the park with this one; we hope, the first of many.

Beginning at 7 am on Saturday, October 10, each agency will be decked out in a t-shirt designed by our own Academy Arts & Communications team in their chosen color (ours is Kelly green). One at a time, each group will span the bridge carrying a banner displaying World Mental Health Day along with a message of empowerment. Upon completing the crossing, they will pass the banner to the next group who will take their turn. As motorists pass by, our message of hope and unity will be on display for all to see. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to reach someone who needs to hear that help is out there.

World Mental Health Day is celebrated in more than 150 countries. It’s heartening to think that as we walk in solidarity here in Sarasota, there are thousands of people across the world who are with us in spirit; another testament to the fact that we are never alone.

The Life;Story event will raise funds for Centerstone and increase awareness about depression, sharing the message that depression is a treatable illness and that suicide is preventable. The money raised at this event will help connect those with little to no financial resources to mental health services.

We all walk for different reasons. Many of us have been personally affected by depression, whether in our own lives or in the life of a loved one. Some walk in the memory of a life lost to suicide. Others come out to support the great work that Centerstone does, and to ensure that crisis intervention is available to anyone who needs it. And still others embrace the opportunity to lace up and spend time outdoors with great people. Whatever the reason, this is a great way to show support for a great cause, while possibly even saving the life of someone who feels just a little less alone knowing that depression does not have to be the end of the story.

The webinar was a response to the sudden demand for increased technology due to the pandemic. As we strive to stay connected with our members who can no longer attend our brick and mortar programs, we must find new ways of staying in touch. The Academy was happy to share the solutions that have worked for us.

Academy member Eric Flanagan, along with Program Coordinator Jeff Jean, presented on our behalf. They laid out the ways in which the Academy reaches our members through technology; from using programs such as Slack, to distributing tablets to our members who are participating from home. Zoom accounts keep us seeing eye-to-eye and screen-sharing helps us to work together safely at a distance and troubleshoot technology issues remotely. Their presentation was highly informative, and it was also heartwarming as they shared video of several appreciative members who are connecting to us from their homes. Maybe we’re biased, but we think that they were also pretty charming, garnering a few laughs along the way.

The other presenters, Sara Call and Oliver Wilhelmsson, are from the Swedish Clubhouse Coalition, which is comprised of 13 Clubhouses across the country. They spoke about their “Digital Inclusion” initiative, which will ensure that all Clubhouse members have access to the technology required to keep them connected to their Clubhouse and the work-ordered day.

Part of the WANA logo includes the words “Stronger together.” We at the Academy couldn’t agree more. We were inspired by the enthusiasm and momentum of the Swedish Coalition, and we are glad to be part of implementing innovative strategies for digital inclusion.

The telethon served a dual purpose as a fundraiser. We are pleased to report that our community came through for us in a way that is deeply moving. Thanks to a 1:1 match gift from the Steinwachs Family Foundation, we exceeded our goal with an event total of $34,000, with over 500 viewers tuning in and over 90 donors contributing.

There are so many people to thank for the success of this event; The Steinwachs Family Foundation for their 1:1 match and continued generosity to our mission. We are grateful to the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation for spearheading our Young Adults initiative. Were it not for our cohesive group of young minds, we would have been challenged to pull off the multimedia and technical aspects of this event. We thank Clubhouse International for supporting and promoting our efforts to the worldwide Clubhouse community. And most of all, we are indebted to our Academy members and their families, for their ongoing support, and for the trust that they place in us every day. They are the reason we do what we do.

If you missed it, rest assured that the telethon in its entirety is available for viewing at AcademySRQ.org/live. And know that it is never to late to make a charitable donation to the Academy. We invite you to become part of the solution.