Events & Meetings

Join us for the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, February 13 from 3 – 5 PM. The February meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1st Street. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in person for community and networking.

Meeting Agenda

Read the February 13, 2024 Meeting Agenda here (PDF).

Watch the February 13, 2024 meeting recording via Youtube.

Our agenda will include a celebration of Black History Month and includes following presenters:

1. Ko-Thi Dance Company, Drumming Call
2. Welcome and Introductions, Dr. Christine Apple
3. Sumaiyah Clark, Chief Equity Officer, Milwaukee County
4. Ko-Thi Dance Company Live, Artistic Director, Sonya Thompson. (3:10 – 3:25)
   Founded in Milwaukee, Ko-Thi Dance Company has been a beacon of African and Caribbean dance traditions since 1969, bringing continuity, faith and love to audiences worldwide.
5. Acknowledgements
6. Brenda Wesley and Terri Ellzey
   Presenting from The ASK (Access, Support, Knowledge) Series, a sample of “Why is the Village Burning?, addressing generational trauma and mental health in the black community.
7. Ko-Thi Dance Company, Panel Presentation
8. Jessica Perez, Certified Peer Specialist – Learning Community (CPS-LC) Trainer and Engagement Coordinator from Chrysalis in Madison.
   Discussing a statewide grant from the Department of Health Services. Learn about becoming part of the cohort if you offer services to underserved populations.
   • Register for the 2024 Certified Peer Specialist Learning Community here.
   • Materials
     • CPS-LC Presentation (PDF)
     • CPS-LC Information (PDF)
9. Montreal Cain, Founder of MERA WI
   Presenting on Black Inventors in the realm of Mental Health and Substance Use. MERA directly works with underserved populations providing SUD and OUD services.
10. Membership Campaign
11. Closing
12. Reception

Meeting Registration

Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form on our website. Indicate if you plan to participate in person at Independence First or by Zoom.  You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

Please Note: To save on printing costs and materials, we will no longer be providing printed material unless requested prior to the in-person meeting. Please email sallys@drwi.org to request a packet of the any presenter materials.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

Reasonable Accommodations

ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability related accommodations, please email sallys@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.

Join us for the January Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, January 9 from 3 – 5 PM.

1/8/24 Update: The January meeting will be fully virtual due to the storm advisory. The Zoom link is provided upon registering using the form below.

Meeting Agenda

Read the January 9, 2024 Meeting Agenda (PDF).

Watch the January 9 meeting recording via Youtube.

1. Welcome and Introductions, Mary Neubauer and Christine Apple, Co-chairs and Steering Committee members (3:00 – 3:20)
2. Staying on Track Program, Brenda Wesley and Terri Ellzey (3:20 – 3:55)
   • Brenda Wesley is a trained mental health educator and facilitator. Terri Ellzey is a licensed clinical counselor and substance abuse counselor. Brenda and Terri will give an overview of Staying On Track Inc. (SOT), a program dedicated to improving our community by empowering teens and adults to realize their full potential, and to uplift themselves out of the darkness of poverty. Staying On Track aims to educate and create public awareness regarding mental illness/wellness and health.
   • Materials
     • Read speaker bios here (PDF)
     • Read the Staying on Track presentation (PDF)
     • Staying on Track Inc. website
3. Escucha Tus Emociones Campaign, Cecilia Tenorio, Community Advocates (3:55 – 4:30)
   • Cecilia Tenorio is a mental health and wellness coordinator and the organizer of Escucha tus Emociones. Escucha tus Emociones is a campaign that aims to reduce the stigma around mental and emotional health and provide tools, information and education that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for the Spanish-speaking community. It is a free community-based initiative and in addition to creating bilingual and culturally appropriate digital materials, it is intended to support health promoters, community leaders and health professionals so that they have the capacity and resources to share mental and emotional health information in the community.
   • Learn more about Escucha tus Emociones.
4. Highlights for February MHTF Black History Month, Mary Neubauer (4:30 – 4:40)
5. Mental Health Board Updates, Mary Neubauer (4:30 – 4:55)

Save the Date

Our February 13 meeting will feature the Ko-Thi Dance Company to celebrate Black History Month. More details forthcoming.

Meeting Registration

Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form on our website. Indicate if you plan to participate in person at Independence First or by Zoom. You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

Please Note: To save on printing costs and materials, we will no longer be providing printed material unless requested prior to the in-person meeting. Please email sallys@drwi.org to request a packet of the any presenter materials.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

Reasonable Accommodations

ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability-related accommodations, please email sallys@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.

Join us for the December Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, December 12, from 3 – 5 PM. The December meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1^st Street. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but especially encourage you to attend in-person for planning and networking.

Meeting Agenda

View the December 12, 2023 meeting recording via Youtube.

Our agenda will include the following:

1. Chief Judge Carl Ashley (3:10 – 3:40)
   • Chief Judge Carl Ashley was appointed as Chief Judge of the First Judicial District effective April 15, 2023, by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. He is the Chair of the Milwaukee Community Justice Council (MCJC). He will provide an update on Milwaukee Community Justice Council and treatment courts.
   • View Chief Judge Carl Ashley’s bio here.
2. Dr. Lia Knox (3:40 – 4:10)
   • Dr. Lia Knox is a Mental Wellness Expert, Founder & CEO of Knox Behavioral Health Solutions (KBHS) and Co-Founder of the non-profit Black Space Inc. Dr. Knox will provide supportive tools and considerations for individuals and families during the holidays.
   • Materials
     • Dr. Lia Knox’s short bio (PDF)
     • View the Maintaining Mental Health Wellness During the Holidays presentation (PDF)
3. Small Group Planning Discussion for 2024 (4:10 – 4:55)
   • Steering Committee Member-led small group discussion of priorities and goals for the upcoming year.

Meeting materials will be posted on our website as we receive them.

Save the Dates!

Our January 9th meeting is an important one and will include a strategic planning session based on feedback received in December from members and community participants. In addition to the planning discussion, we plan to have one speaker, the Director of Pets Helping People with a discussion of service animal policies, availability, concerns, and resources.

Meeting Registration

Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form on our website. Indicate if you plan to participate in-person at Independence First or by Zoom. You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

Please Note: To save on printing costs and materials, we will no longer be providing printed material unless requested prior to the in-person meeting. Please email sallys@drwi.org to request a packet of the any presenter materials.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

Reasonable Accommodations

ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability-related accommodations, please email sallys@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.

Join us for the November Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, November 14, from 3 – 5 PM. Our speakers will provide mental health resources and information for veterans. The November meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1^st Street. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in person.

Meeting Agenda

View the November 14, 2023 meeting recording via Youtube.

Our agenda will include the following:

1. Dryhootch, Veterans Peer Support (3:20 – 3:50)
   Dryhootch founder, Bob Curry, and director, Levi Marker
   • Bob Curry and Levi Marker will present Dryhootch’s Peer model, Battle Peer. Battle Peer is a community model delivered through an app that matches individuals with a peer mentor who understands their struggles. Peer supports a wide range of issues including alcoholism, addiction, PTSD, First Responder stress, cancer diagnosis and more.
   • Dryhootch Battle Peer presentation (PDF).
2. Mental Health America’s R&R Peer Respite House (3:50 – 4:20)
   Peter Boricki, Veteran Peer Service Coordinator for MHA of WI
   • The R&R Peer Respite House is an ADA-accessible home is a safe place for veterans who are feeling stressed stay and to connect with other veterans. Any Wisconsin veteran can stay in this nonclinical setting for free.
   • VHE 9100 Mental Mental Health and Wellness BK presentation (PDF).
3. Veteran’s Affairs – Mental Health Services for Women Veterans (4:20 – 4:50)
   Dona Drew, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, Zablocki VA Medical Center
   • Mental health resources available through the VA for women veterans will be discussed including those related to substance use, MST, homelessness, and health care.
   • VA Women Veterans presentation (PDF).

Meeting materials will be posted on our website as we receive them. 

Save the Dates!

Our December 12th meeting will include small group planning discussions around 2024 task force priorities. Presenters will include:

• Chief Judge Carl Ashley – Update on Milwaukee Community Justice Council and treatment courts.
• Dr. Lia A. Knox, Mental Wellness Expert, Founder and CEO of Knox Behavioral Health Solutions (KBHS) and Co-Founder of the non-profit, Black Space Inc.

Meeting Registration

Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form on our website. Indicate if you plan to participate in person at Independence First or by Zoom. You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

Reasonable Accommodations

ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability related accommodations, please email sallys@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.