What does My Voice Media Center do to advocate for Mental Health?
My Voice Media Center has been proud to be such a big part of the Art's Consortium's First Friday live show on YouTube.com, usually during part of the months Artwalk here in Visalia, CA. The Artwalk has been a part of many communities and has deserved its nickname because of it's ability to bring those n the community who love to enjoy art together in a journey of organizations and businesses in just a few hours on the First Friday of each month. This Friday that is now a part of many communities as the art-night, in which many galleries and restaurants support shows, have shows and other events that present and showcase artists.
In having such a big event support the My Voice Media Center creates an advocacy for adults who have lived-experienced mental health in their lives. Mental health awareness month is in place to help create an environment of it's "no stigma", create strengths, bring people together and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals.
My Voice Media Center helps participants become a part of the artistic side of themselves. They continue to venture into the journey of creating and expressing in their lives, and their stories become a part of the recovery and wellness. In the ways of the trade and craft of artmaking, My Voice Media Center offers free art sessions to kindle inspirations, develop important skills and technically involve the response of expression.
MVMC has many different sessions. We offer Video Editing, Photo Editing, Photography, Acrylic Painting, Pastels, and Guitar. Each session aims to integrate mental health tools and advocate for each participant both socially interactively and as individuals. We encourage the unique craft of individuals and the inventions of new ideas that come from creating, and connecting with peers. Or facilitators understand and use their own talents to help train the artistic side of each participant including recovery and wellness. The facilitators have been carefully selected for their own accomplishments and continued positive involvement in the My Voice Media Center's goals and directions for individuals who have lived-experienced mental health in their lives. We are guides for each other's wellness and recovery.
Guidance can be a gift, guidance can guide, and an advocate for our mental health can be the strength that we need.
In each journey there is a story, we help participants begin telling their story in the NSSB, No Stigma Speaker's Bureau Meeting. There is no time limit, no due date, but participants and staff work at beginning a draft of the story that they would share with professionals that are in direct contact to the mental health community. Doctors, teachers, policemen, recruits, and hospitals are just some of the many groups that their stories will be told to. They will share these stories to express the journey that led them to My Voice Media Center, and the journey transformation that has been accomplished thought their continued involvement with My Voice Media Center.
In this professional atmosphere, participants gain presentation skills and develop a pride and confidence for themselves.
You can still come and enjoy the Installation: "OUR WORLD< OUR PERSPECTIVE" every Thursday during May from 10-12 PM during the Photography Session as a participant, so come join us!
Stay tuned and READ THE BLOG for more events!