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. 

Clubhouse Spotlight: Maya Diamant-Cohen

Clubhouse: How was your first year at the Clubhouse?

Maya Diamant-Cohen: It’s been a wonderful experience, I’ve learned a lot. I enjoy the experience of being at B’More Clubhouse.

CH: Do you love working here?

MDC: Yes! 10 out of 10!

CH: Why did you choose to work here?

MDC: I thought it would be very meaningful. I was impressed with the Clubhouse model and the people here.

CH: What is a professional goal you have for yourself at the Clubhouse?

MDC: To keep learning and growing and helping. To keep refining my work career.

CH: What do you bring to the Clubhouse?

MDC: A smile :)

CH: What is a great moment in your life?

MDC: Traveling on my own in Asia

CH: Where are you from?

MDC: I was born in Israel. I moved to Baltimore when I was 9, and I’ve been all over the place since I was 17.

CH: What do you like to do for fun? And when will you adopt a cat?

MDC: For fun, I like hiking and being outdoors. And I’ll adopt a cat once I get a home to welcome them to!

TE Development Updates

Transitional Employment (TE) is a unique Clubhouse way for members to return to the mainstream labor market. TEs are highly supported job placements with employers in the community. They are always part-time, time-limited (6-9 months), and offer hands-on training as well as absence coverage. TE Development is a Clubhouse-wide priority, which means that members and staff in every unit help to create these partnerships. Even though everyone helps with this work, it is still challenging. So when we cross a major milestone, it’s cause for serious celebration!

This month, we heard from a local employer that they would like to partner with us for a new TE placement! The job is at Copper Kitchen and the position is Junior Prep Cook. It took several months to reach this point, so we would like to share about our TE development process so the B’More community understands how we make this happen.

First, the development process starts with the Brainstorm Box. Located in the BizCom unit upstairs, colleagues are invited to add their ideas for good employment partners whenever “lightning strikes.” Each Thursday, the BizCom team goes through the ideas and organizes them. Then we have Business Breakfast on Friday mornings at 8:45 AM (sometimes we get donuts too!). Business Breakfast is the meeting where we decide by consensus which employers are worth pursuing for TE partnerships. Colleagues volunteer to follow-up with each new target. This can look like doing internet research about a company, offering to call or email them to invite them for a tour, or planning a visit to patronize their business. From there, TE development can go a number of different ways. Sometimes, employers are all in at the first meeting but then stop responding to our calls or emails. Sometimes, we spend months building relationships with the employer just to find out the job would make a better SE (Supported Employment) than a TE.

But with Copper Kitchen, we had a best case scenario! Copper Kitchen got to know B’More Clubhouse last Fall as we were preparing for our annual fundraising event. Copper Kitchen donated a high-value catered meal package for our silent auction and that’s where our relationship with them began. In December and January, we exchanged emails and shared ideas about mutually beneficial collaboration and they agreed to hear about TE opportunities. Two Copper Kitchen personnel came to B’More in February to take a tour and see the Clubhouse in action. Then in March, we met over at their commissary kitchen for another TE meeting (as well as a food tasting!). In April. we discussed some potential job descriptions for TE positions. Then in May, we received a final job description and started accepting members’ resumes!

TE Development can be a long and challenging process, but the pay-off is so satisfying! Ways to help include: adding ideas to the Brainstorm Box, coming to Business Breakfast, helping with employer tours, volunteering to go out to TE meetings around the city, and helping us find useful connections to employers in our network. Please lend your talents and skills, your creativity and imagination, to our TE development efforts!

Introducing: The Bizcom Unit

 

On May 1st B’More Clubhouse unveiled a new work team called the BizCom Unit. It’s a combination of the Communication and Career Development units. Located upstairs, the BizCom Unit still does the work of the two previous units and will allow us to do much more. We’ve reorganized some furniture to create new work stations, like for the newsletter, reachout and TE development. We just have one planning meeting now, Monday mornings at 10:30am (which is subject to change). Probably the most visually exciting new thing is: we have a new flat screen TV! (which we use for work, of course).

                                      

Here’s what some B’More Colleagues have to say about the unit after the first month:

Eric says, “it’s an excellent place to get ideas and thoughts. Teamwork has made the place better, having ideas and putting everything together.” 

Flame said the unit work is “easier,” and there’s, “more access than before. Well put together, and the TV is helpful,” for collaborative work. 

Jason said this is “an exciting new development,” and he thinks the unit, “is more organized because of the different stations.” 

Mariana shared, “There’s more opportunity to collaborate together. The setup allows us all to work together and learn from each other.” Mariana also added that, “the organization of the space could use some work.” 

Michelle said it’s “more fun” now and she sees that we “work together as a team.” 

Lastly, Revan said it’s “effective,” and “boosts productivity.”

All B’More colleagues are invited to come check out the new BizCom unit, try some of the work, and tell us what you think!

15th Anniversary Celebration

 On Friday, May 31st, B’More was buzzing from the moment the front doors opened. Colleagues put finishing touches on decorations, began cooking all the food, and filling up the dunk tank. At 11 o’clock, the party shifted into high gear. Members, staff, board members, and other community supporters were all sporting this year’s T-shirt as they were playing games and mingling throughout the Clubhouse.

The dunk tank was probably the most memorable part of the day. Cusa, Josh, Jason, Walker, and Richard all took turns in the hot seat. Mish and Mariana worked the SnoBall and popcorn machines most of the day, Walker and Paula did a ton of grilling, while Michelle and Cusa were making deep fried Oreos. Big shout out to Copper Kitchen who provided delicious appetizers for free and stayed to serve food until the end of the party. When asked, almost everyone said their favorite part of the day was catching up with old friends and getting to know all the new members who joined in the last year.

There was music, a slideshow, ring toss, basketball--but most importantly, we crushed the all-time attendance record with over 130 partygoers! Check out the June Newsletter for more pictures from this special event.

June Creative Corner

 This month, members and staff tried their hand at writing haikus. Here are the haikus that will be featured in our June newsletter. 

Summer Time: By Mariana
Summer my sweet friend
You excite me with much fun
Summer time is love

Good: By Flame
Good’s always the best
Summer can be hot
Good’s worth will last you

Fishing: By Raymond
I love fishing, yeah!
Crabbing is delightful fun
in the summertime

Money: By Crystal
I need more money
What can we do with money?
Budget, spend, and save

Black Clothing: By Atlas
Black clothes in my drawers
I put on in all seasons
I don’t care for the heat

Orange Tabbies: By Francesca
You’re bright like the sun
Came to me from up above
To heal my sadness

Boogie Nights: By Eric
Boogie Nights! Dance and sing!
Party! We rock! Let’s get down!
Dancing! Singing! Rap!

Clubhouse: By John W
Well, I like it here
Everybody is my friend
You’re all my helpers

Scooby Snacks: By Tony
Scooby Scooby Doo
Where are you? We’ve got snacks here
I am the Snacky