Mission in Action!

Our bus trip last week to Harrisburg for Capitol Day perfectly illustrated how NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania lives its mission of support, education and advocacy. On Tuesday, June 5, our mission was ADVOCACY. We coordinated a bus trip for 50 NAMI staff and members to the state capitol to take part in a rally and make personal visits to all of our state legislators. Our goal was to ask our legislators to:

--STOP the 20% funding cuts to community mental health services.

--STOP the block grant that puts community mental health dollars in jeopardy of being spent on other services.

--STOP the elimination of General Assistance cash benefits and cuts to General Assistance health care benefits.

While the day was successful, our work is not done! Now more than ever YOUR voice must be heard. Contact your state representative and reiterate the three points listed above. To find your state rep, click here. Every phone call, every visit and every email truly does make a difference! Call the NAMI office at (412) 366-3788 if you have questions.

The gang's all here! Our group of advocates took on Harrisburg for Capitol Day!

Executive Director Chris Michaels, Associate Director Debbie Ference and
Marketing and Development Manager Darcey Garda pose with Rep. Gene DiGirolamo. 

Sen. Vincent Hughes stirs up the crowd!

Largest turnout we have ever seen for a state budget rally.

Executive Director of NAMI Southwestern PA Chris Michaels and NAMI PA Director Jim Jordan ask the legislature to "Save Our Services!"

NAMI's Sharon Miller, Sara Levine and Alan Corn join the rally.

Alan Corn and Paul Freund want their voices to be heard in Harrisburg!

The PA Independent interviews Chris Michaels

 

NAMI meets with Rep. Dan Deasy.

After lots of other visits to legislators, the NAMI advocates return to the bus
for a late drive home to Pittsburgh and Butler.

Til next time...