Employment Dinners

by: the BizCom Team

Cover Photo: From the June 2024 Employment Dinner with special guest and local author, Charita Cole Brown. 

What is it?

A dinner we share while talking about employment-related topics, and one of our longest traditions.

Why do we do it?

We do it to provide opportunities for working members to reconnect with their social support and have fun together. It’s also an opportunity for working members to give encouragement, advice, and inspiration to job seeking members.

How do we do it?

We work all month choosing guest speakers or preparing talking points, planning the meal, designing and sending out invitations. Sometimes we choose guest speakers from inside the Clubhouse, sometimes they are from outside the Clubhouse like a local employer or speaker from NAMI.

Why does it matter?

Because looking for work can be really hard, this can provide vital support for that process. For those who have been out of work for a while, it’s a chance to learn about supported ways to re-enter the workforce. It’s an opportunity for working members to be reminded how meaningful their contributions are to this community, even if they aren’t able to come to the Clubhouse very often.

When is the next one?

Employment Dinner happens on the last Thursday of the month, from 4-6 PM. If you’re interested in attending, just come on in!

Photo: A group discussion from the March 2024 Employment Dinner. The theme? How a job search is like a pie!

Throwback photos: These were taken at Employment Dinners in our previous building on Franklin Street over 5 years ago.

Mariana's 1 Year Anniversary!

Mariana Torres celebrated her 1st anniversary of becoming a Staff at B'More Clubhouse last month, so we asked her some questions!

1. Why did you want to work at B’More Clubhouse?

My dad actually worked at a clubhouse, and I knew it was very community-based. I knew I was moving into Baltimore and looking for a job that was going to connect me with a community.

2. What’s your favorite thing about working here?

Getting to form relationships with people has just been so, so, so rewarding.

3. What’s your least favorite thing about working here?

Hardest thing is the times when you are giving community resource support but there just aren’t enough resources to support people. It can be very disheartening.

4. What would you tell an interested person about what it’s like to work here?

AS long as you like socializing and have that social battery to work with people, you’re probably really going to enjoy it. My capacity for social interaction has expanded; I love waking up to come here and be with my people.

5. What is your favorite movie?

The original ‘Scream.’

6. Please share three fun facts about your dog Parker!

She has an alternate personality named Porker and if you ever meet her you will get to hear her piggy snort.

I gave her her 4th home. 4th and final, she’s sticking around.

People report to me that her nose looks like a little heart.

YAC x NAMI: Young Adult Social Events

 

by: Young Adult Committee

YAC stands for Young Adult Committee, and at B’More Clubhouse, YAC serves as a way to keep young adults connected. The Clubhouse has had Young Adult goals for over a decade. Then in September of 2022, we heard a talk at the Clubhouse International World Seminar in Baltimore that inspired us to put our ideas into action. After seeing the great example set by Mosaic Clubhouse, we decided to form a committee to ensure we achieve our young adult-related goals. YAC is designed to appeal to 18-30 year olds, but meetings and events are not limited to that age (because people of all ages have valuable things to contribute to these efforts!).

As for NAMI (which stands for National Alliance of Mental Illness), this is how they describe themselves on their website: “At NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore we envision a world where all people affected by mental illness lead healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares. To support that mission, we provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness around mental health issues. Our programs are geared towards individuals, caregivers, and community members in a variety of settings. You are not alone!”

B’More Clubhouse and NAMI Metro Baltimore have been longtime partners, working together on a number of projects. Every February, B’More participates in NAMI Advocacy Day which is an opportunity for Clubhouse colleagues to advocate for mental health-related legislation to our elected officials. We have also participated in NAMIWalks Maryland which is their annual large fundraiser. NAMI has also been instrumental in helping B’More connect with communities around the state of Maryland to start conversations about opening more Maryland Clubhouses. 

Back in February, some folks from NAMI came to B’More for a tour of the program. They really liked what they saw, and immediately started brainstorming ideas for collaborations with B’More tour guides, Michelle and Mariana. This was followed by another meeting in March where we planned out some future social events and discussed goals for the partnership.

So what all are we collaborating on? On the evening of July 17th, B’More and NAMI will have our first collaboration social event, which is a Game Night at the NAMI offices. There will be pizza, and we’ll make dessert to bring and share. There will also be a prize raffle! Then, in October, B’More will host the next collab event, which will be an open mic night! We’ll share more about it the closer we get.

Young adults need mental health support now more than ever. From the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): “Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of SMI (11.4%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (7.1%) and aged 50 and older (2.5%).” So we want to support young adults by meeting them where they are. We hope that YAC continues to increase the number of young adult members at B’More Clubhouse, and that an ongoing partnership with NAMI will help us connect to even more young people. We also look forward to all of the resource sharing opportunities between YAC and NAMI.