Annual Giving Letter 2015

Annual Giving Letter – 2015 It’s been 15 years since we opened our Nuçi’s Space doors. That’s quite a benchmark and I’m sure that Bob and I did not imagine in 2000 that we’d still be open 15 years later! It’s safe to say given the fact that two weeks after our big opening party and an almost empty checking account that there was in both our heads a little voice asking are you crazy? How are you going to make this work? But make it work, we and a lot of others did.

It has been a year of retrospection for all of us at the Space and for me one of introspection as well since I celebrated my 70th birthday in April. For those of you who are thinking, “wow! she is old!” let me say that 70 is not bad at all. I feel great and I can still stand on my head! So there!

Part of my introspective process includes a question that nags me from time to time. If knowing what I know now, would I live my life again? Honestly there are many days my answer is emphatically no. Too much loss. Too much pain. But a beautiful thing happened the night of our anniversary party. I had reconnected with many I’d met over the past 15 years, hugged them all, eaten cake and reveled in the feel goodness of Nuçi’s Space when it happened.

I was standing in a corner watching Mother Tucker and the Knockouts do their thing. I looked out into the all age crowd and for a brief but powerful instant it struck me that these people are here because they love Nuçi’s Space! At this moment, they are care free, they are happy. They have found something here that fills a need. It felt like pure joy filling the Space! It was a surreal and precious moment for me and one I’ll remember each time that question pops into my head.

Of course I’d do it again. My family and my experiences (good and bad) provide the texture to shape and make me who I am.

Life is a challenge but it is all we have. We must accept it and do our best. No one comes into this world with a guarantee of a long and healthy, happy life.

If only! We must be prepared.

We have lost some very special people from the Nuçi’s Space Family in the last 15 years. Each one has left an indelible impression on the Space and we are better off for having known them. Although losing someone is devastating, we have the responsibility to not let him or her be forgotten and what better way to remember than to help someone else in their name?

Nuçi’s Space was started to remember one musician in particular but it has become something bigger than one person, one family. It strives to inculcate mental health into the community by helping on a one to one personal basis those among us who suffer with Depression, Anxiety and other such brain illnesses. No one should have to struggle alone.

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, we at Nuçi’s Space are grateful to all of you who have supported us so faithfully and we hope that your support will continue so that come 2030, we can meet again in that sweet Space to celebrate yet another 15 years. Alone our mission can be daunting but together we can chase the shadows away and bring a little light and with it help to improve and sometimes even to save lives.

Thank you and happy holidays!

Linda V. Phillips Founder PS: In our last newsletter some of you may have noted my disappointment in seeing only one or two Nuçi’s Space T shirts (worn by Nuçi’s dad and brother) here in New York City. Soon after, I received a picture from one of Nuçi’s former Paideia schoolmates in you guessed it, a Nuçi’s Space T with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. Now there are 3 Nuçi’s Space Ts here! It makes me think, wouldn’t it be great to have pictures of you in our T shirts all over the country or even better all over the world! Why not!

So . . . here’s my plan: Each of you take a selfie in a Nuçi’s Space T in a place that is distinctive of where you live and send it to me at shareourstory@nuci.org. You can order a Nuçi’s Space T at http://nucisspace.bigcartel.com/ if you don’t have one already.

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