Great Strides July 2017

Join us for the 7th Annual Independence Center Anniversary Picnic Luau!

The IC will be celebrating 7 years at our current location.

Join us for the Annual Anniversary Picnic Luau at the IC! July 14th from 10-2:00 p.m.

21 Church Street, Waterbury *Food* *Fun* *Games* *Prizes* *Raffles* Wear your best tropical attire Rain or Shine!

“Going back to school makes me feel good and worthy”

-Lea D.

The IC would like to announce that this month’s faces in recovery is Lea D. Lea has been a member of the IC since 2014, and has shown herself to be an outstanding member and a great role model for her peers.

She successfully completed one of her goals which that was to graduate from ’Literacy Volunteers’ that she started 2 years ago. Lea’s goal is to now enroll in NVCC’s business courses. While in the program Lea has written stories for ‘Hear My Voice,’ a student journal collected from the Adult Learners of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury. We asked Lea what this accomplishment does for her and she informed us that “going back to school makes me feel good and worthy.” Lea is also a great artist and participates in the IC’s Mending Art program. Come down to the IC and see some of her work on displayed!

Last month, in current events, staff and members at the IC discussed the 2.2 million dollar project to renovate the Green in Downtown Waterbury. The group had different opinions on the cost the state spent. Many felt the cost the park could have had a more lavish look. Others felt it was over budgeted and overpriced; they even questioned how the city will pay for the up keep of the park.

2

The group agreed the money could be put to better usage throughout the city. Members also mentioned that the Green needed a new look to brighten up the downtown area, so it can bring people and business back into the community. After a year of waiting for renovations to be completed, the park opened on June 20th and it looks very nice!

I have been working with dreams and symbolism for many years, stemming from a background in Expressive Arts. Each painting is informed by the life that has made me who I am, beginning with an early upbringing in the countryside of Connecticut, where I was inspired by my English mother's recollections of the rolling moors of her homeland and the mysteries of nature around me. As I grew, I found inspiration in philosophy and psychology, graduating with a BA in Art Therapy from The College of New Jersey and beginning a life-long practice of art and imagination. Over the past thirty years, I have maintained a Decorative Painting/Mural business and worked with Expressive and Therapeutic arts, including teaching adults and children, facilitating workshops, and creating expressive therapies for hospice patients. I teach Expressive Arts at Hunter Montessori School in New Hartford, CT, and at Cherry Brook Health Care in Canton, CT. I am qualified as an Expressive Arts Educational Facilitator through Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, and completed the Pastoral Counseling Training Program, St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, CT. My life's work continues to be about creating space for the healing power of art for myself and for others.

If you would like to read more about Judith, please visit www.judithbirdart.com.

IC member, Rich, has been volunteering at the Waterbury Silas Bronson library for the ’Friends of the library’ program. Rich is committed to helping the library distribute books and videos for sale. With the sales it helps the library fund programs for children in the community.

Keep up the good work Rich!

For people who hear voices: www.facebook.com/cthearin gvoicesnetwork or http://www.hearingvoicesus a.org/ Alternatives to Suicide Support Group 399 Franklin Avenue Hartford Wednesdays 4-5pm http://toivocenter.org/ OCD support group http://psychiatry.yale.edu/o cd/patients/support.aspx Alcoholics Anonymous http://www.aa.org/ Narcotics Anonymous http://www.na.org/ Overeaters Anonymous https://oa.org/ Gamblers Anonymous http://www.gamblersanony mous.org/ga/ For additional information on Support Groups in Connecticut, visit http://www.mhconn.org/ed ucation/information%20and %20referral/ or call: 1-800-842-1510, ext. 10

3

The IC began a new group gathering for our members to appreciated the Hispanic Heritage and Culture. Here members are encouraged to get together and commemorate, embrace and show Latino roots, art and culture in our diverse community.

It is not a requirement that members of the club be Latino, as long as they are willing to learn about the culture and become engaged. The club’s intent is to create an awareness of Hispanic cultures.

Everyone is welcome, join us July 26th at 2:30pm.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan is in full swing.

Every Friday, at 11 am, we have a “Peer Support/Topics in WRAP” group. We have been discussing Triggers and Early Warning Signs along with coping skills and ways to handle stress.

On Thursdays we are in a “closed” WRAP/Curriculum also at 11 am. We have dedicated individuals studying. This course runs for 5 weeks. Participants will attend all 4 weeks of class and on the fifth week there will be a graduation and certificates will be awarded for completion.

If you missed our WRAP course, you can catch up again. We will be offering a “closed” WRAP/Curriculum again, see Jayne if you are interested.

Everyone is always welcome on Fridays, at 11 am! Come and join us!

Almost every day a member does something nice for another member and usually it would go unnoticed. In June the members made an “Acknowledgement Tree.” The tree was made out of white painted branches and some artificial flowers then placed in a tin container.

Tags in the shape of flowers were made to write the acknowledgement on and hung on the tree. All the nice gestures could be seen. IC members were curious to see who was mentioned or if they were mentioned. Next “Acts of Kindness” will be “Kindness Rocks”

During the grand opening of the green, the IC attended and displayed one of their new works of art. They had an opportunity to meet and share with the community.

4

Nazmi has been working in the IC studio for the last several months, where he began his work with creating images of houses, buildings, and churches that he sees around the city. Nazmi worked as an architect in Albania before he came to the U.S. to begin his journey in a new country. He is now creating cityscapes and people. When asked why he draws, Nazmi shared with staff that it helps him with his depression and negative thoughts. Nazmi says, “Art brings me happy memories.”

“Art brings me happy memories.” - Nazmi A.

IC members were introduced to a new style of art this past month, graffiti art. Members studied artist such as Banski and Hassani who are known world wide for their work.

Members learned about breaking stigma through this art. Thirty participants experimented outside on a large canvas with this style. Keep your eyes open for the final piece!

Mending Art artists of the IC came together at the Harwinton Library to share and discuss their artwork.

Douglas N.

07-01

David S.

07-05

James B.

07-13

Angelina T.

07-14

Enrique E.

07-15

Edward S.

07-16

David G.

07-16

Andrew K.

07-17

Anthony (Skip) C. 07-18 Stephen P.

07-22

Laurie J .

07-22

James L.

07-24

Michael W.

07-27

Julie C.

07-30

Ronald H.

07-30

Join us for a birthday bash on the 26th at 3 p.m.

5

It was a perfect day for the beach, I.C. Artists took a trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park to create some art in the sun.

Artists made sand sculptures, took photographs, created songs, wrote stories, and worked in their sketchbooks. The sun, sand, and water inspired the group! Images of beach-goers, fish, jetties, boats, beach umbrellas, castles, fortresses, shells, mandalas, rose bushes, sand, sky, water and seagulls appeared in the art. I.C. Artists felt the healing power of being by the sea and breathing the fresh air.

For inspiration members took a dip in the water, sun bathed, took a hike up the cliff. The view of the beach became captured in drawings and photographs. Artists visited the new nature center that the park opened up for the public to learn historical facts about Hammonasset and Long Island Sound.

Visitors of the state park took interest in the work that was being created, some sang, took pictures and admired the final pieces. Our seascape art work will be on display at the IC this summer, come take a look!

6

Why is World Hepatitis Day important? Viral hepatitis is one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 1.34 million deaths per year – that’s as many as HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. Together, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C cause 80% of liver cancer cases in the world.

Viral hepatitis is not found in one location nor amongst one set of people; it is a truly global epidemic that can affect millions of people without them even being aware. Currently, 90% of people living with hepatitis B and 80% living with hepatitis C are not aware of their status. This can result in the real possibility of developing fatal liver disease at some point in their lives and in some cases, unknowingly transmitting the infection to others.

With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, the elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable, but greater awareness and understanding of the disease and the risks is a must, as is access to cheaper diagnostics and treatment.

With the inclusion of viral hepatitis in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the recent adoption of the world’s first global hepatitis strategy, we are at a pivotal moment. Now more than ever political commitment is needed. Without urgent action, deaths will continue to rise and the epidemic will continue to grow.

World Hepatitis Day presents an ideal opportunity: an opportunity to join together and raise the profile of viral hepatitis among the public, the world’s media and on the global health agenda.

For more information you can visit: worldhepatitisday.org

As this year’s legislative session comes to a close, we know that the hard work of the Independence Center advocates will not be over. 2017 has proven to be a challenging year, and we hope that budgetary agreements as well as other issues can be met as soon as possible. The IC would like to acknowledge the following advocates for coming together at the drop of a hat sometimes, to testify, make calls or just show for visibility patrol.

Angela B.

Matthew R.

Annette B.

Dan G.

Douglas N.

David G.

Fred B.

Cynthia W.

Susan M.

Carol G.

Karen W.

Skip C.

Chris B.

Enrique E.

Terrex C.

Infoline CT 211 Logisticare 1-888-248-9895 Guiding Path Warmline: 1-860-482-1783 or 1-800-314-2680 5pm-10pm 7 days per week National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8522 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline 1-888-999-5545 En Español 1-888-999-8332 Crisis 1-866-794-0021 Dentists in Waterbury Who take Husky Health Staywell Health Center 203-597-9044 South Main Street 203-756-8021 Phoenix Avenue Community Health Center 203-574-4000 Columbia Dental 1-866-645-0111 Statewide # for Opioid (Opiate) Dependence 1-800-563-4086 You will be linked with walk-in assessment centers

7

Disclaimer: Articles which show “submitted by” are not written by an IC member.

They are articles that our members came across, were inspired by, and brought in to the Center to inspire and encourage other members.

Often the authors of these articles are unknown. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Independence Center’s members, the staff, or the Editor.

In our last edition we discussed Cynthia’s accomplishment in completing her program with the Parent Leadership Class.

Here are the pictures from the commencement ceremony for the Leadership Class at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford!

Cynthia W. and Deborah H.

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE

Independence Center 21 Church Street Waterbury, CT 0672 Phone: 203-756-5772 Fax: 203-756-9744