"My dad has always said to me that there are givers and there are takers in this world. Valeria Zambas Rowe is a giver through and through, and the impact she makes on this community, though oftentimes thankless, is immeasurable." - Amy NelsonWhen five people nominated a single individual within a matter of hours, we had no doubt as to who the August Resiliency Rockstar should be.Valerie Zambas RoweValerie Zambas Rowe, owner of Valerie's Hair Salon and Artist at Cedar & Sage, has been awarded the 2021 Resiliency Rockstar Award for her heart of gold and years of service helping shape responsible, independent and resilient youth in Pacific County. "I can't think of anyone more deserving of the Resiliency Rockstar Award. I know it would really touch her heart to receive it," said Amy Nelson, Director of the South Bend Early Learning Center. "The impact Val has made on my children, and countless others, is immeasurable. The skills they have learned while preparing for Fair, giving presentations and public speaking, learning to care for horses and people outside themselves, have taught responsibility and work ethic in ways that I am not able to provide as a parent." Amy continued to describe how Val dedicates her whole heart to the development of our youth. "The kids we pick up after Fair are different than the ones we drop off the week prior. They learn so many lessons that prepare them for life--waking up early, making sure the horses are fed and cared for before the humans are, ensuring the barn is kept clean and presentable, taking pride in personal appearance and how they present themselves and their horses, meeting new people, talking with the community, relying on their own independence and decision making skills, working as a team, taking healthy risks, sticking with a task when exhausted, working through fears and celebrating accomplishments. And, the friendships, the lifelong friendships." Amongst Amy Nelson were several other Pacific County Fair volunteers who nominated Val. "Val's dedication and help with activities at the fairgrounds, including sharing her knowledge with young people about horses is beyond," said Laure Bowman of the Northwest Carriage Museum. "I have known Val for years and truly appreciate her willingness to help and assist when possible. I know she cares deeply about kids and building their confidences when working with horses. And teaching them the importance of hard work and giving back...While working with Val, her care and concern for the kids is apparent and appreciated." "Val has been a positive influence on myself, parents and the kids she mentors for fair. No child left behind with Val. She's a driving force for the kids horse program and a cheerleader for their success. Val has gone above and beyond to make the horse program work for the kids and community." - Lynda Allan "I have been blown away by her commitment to the events for kids (and adults) at the fair. My children have been able to enjoy and learn so much from these experiences because of Val. She is always ready to help and get the ball rolling. Go Val! We have really appreciated her." - Amelia "Val volunteers countless hours on the friends of the fair board and runs the horse barn to allow kids to continue in 4h and to work with their horses. She raises funds to keep the program going all out of her own time." - Jenny Warnstadt "Val helps people find their value and build upon their strengths. She invests her time, outworks anyone she meets, she makes the hard stuff fun, and changes the lives of those around her for the better. She is tough as nails, with a heart of gold, and a laugh that fills the room." - Amy Nelson Val - thank you for helping shape healthy, resilient and empowered youth. We are honored to award you with this month's Resiliency Rockstar Award.Do you know someone who is doing ROCKSTAR work to build resilient youth and families? For questions, contact Allison Graves at [email protected]
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Formally recognized in June 2008 (and currently designated as), Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities. To continue the visionary work of Bebe Moore Campbell, each year Mental Health America (MHA) develops a public education campaign dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This year’s theme is Strength in Communities, where we will be highlighting alternative mental health supports created by queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC), for BIPOC and QTBIPOC. We will examine community-developed systems of support created to fill in gaps within traditional systems that may overlook cultural and historical factors that impede BIPOC and QTBIPOC mental health. We will explore three topic areas: community care, self-directed care, and cultural care and why these types of care are valid and valuable choices people can make for their mental health.
When we talk about the Western medical model, we are referring to the model of understanding and treating health conditions, both mental and physical, that most of the Western health care industry has adopted, especially within the U.S., in which clear and accurate diagnoses, evidence based-treatments, measurable data and outcomes, and a reliance on systematic research and analysis are emphasized. In the past, this model focused on diagnosis and the management of symptoms presented in the disease, while more holistic methods take into account an individual’s lifestyle in their treatment. This model has been helpful for a number of reasons, including..
As a community, we want to make sure we are supporting our QTBIPOC and BIPOC individuals. We can do this by educating ourselves, educating and providing resiliency to our youth, examining our current structures and asking questions, holding organizations accountable, and pushing for accessibility in traditional health care. Eliminating racism and systematic racism is a big task, but together we can help increase equity, break down systematic racism, and strengthen our communities. For more information and resources, please visit mhanational.org/BIPOC-mental-health-month.
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October 2021
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