I loved the documentary about the disability movement, Crip Camp, on Netflix. It is one of the flicks nominated for an Academy Award. I hope you join me watching & cheering during this free Zoom webinar, info from the organizers:

CRIPPING THE RED CARPET on Sunday, April 25th at 3 pm PT, 6 pm ET.

Celebrate Crip Camp’s Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature! A historic moment for the disability community, Crip Camp at the Oscars will truly be a night to remember.

The Paul K. Longmore Institute and the Crip Camp Impact campaign are teaming up to kick off Oscar night with a celebration of disability community and culture. We’ll learn what the stars of the the film Crip Camp are thinking about the film’s Oscar nomination, have a red carpet dance party featuring all of you in your crip couture* (whether that’s rocking your best sweatpants and hoodie or busting out your Hollywood glam – we LOVE it all!), and enjoy a lot of laughs with our two event emcees, comedians Maysoon Zayid and Nina G.

Register: https://tinyurl.com/crippingtheredcarpet 

Sunday, 18 April 2021, 5 pm PT

At that time click: tinyurl.com/ivorypeer

This is a free webinar in honor of the late Ivory McCuen (1990-2021).

Ivory died homeless of exposure at the age of 30 on 24 Jan. 2021 at 17th & Chambers in Eugene, Oregon. Ivory was a mother of two boys, and a frequent user of the mental health system. Ivory was known for her love of nature, art, and singing.

Live music by folksinger David Rogers

Speakers include:

• Breezy Smith, Ivory’s sister
• Reverend Lois Van Leer, UU Church in Eugene
• Eric Jackson, homeless rights activist
• Merri “Kitty” Carlisle & David Oaks, co-chairs of UUCE ATF
• Chuck Areford, retired mental health worker
• Christina Peirsol, NAMI Lane County
• Jacek “Jack” Haciak, Oregonians with Lived Experience
• Rachel Levy, Rethinking Psychiatry
• Rev. Phillip Schulman

ASL Interpreting by Patrick Galasso, Closed Captioning ㏄ Available

Co-sponsored by:

• Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene Community (UUCE)
• UUCE Accessibility Task Force
• CareWorks of Lane County
• MindFreedom International
• MindFreedom Oregon
• Oregonians with Lived Experience of the Mental Health System
• Extinction Rebellion Justice Eugene
• Planet versus Pentagon
• Rethinking Psychiatry
• Aciu! Institute

Ivory’s obituary in Eugene Weekly: tinyurl.com/ivory-eugene

Donations in honor of Ivory can be made to White Bird’s crisis team, CAHOOTS.

For more information, to co-sponsor, or to reach organizers: ivorypeer@gmail.com or 541-914-1469

For the Facebook event page for this Virtual Vigil, click here.

Tomorrow, 17 February 2021, is a special day for me. Along with many people all over the world, I remember the life and times of Giordano Bruno. He was the last individual burnt at the stake by the Inquisition on 17 February 1600.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of hosting my Mom from Chicago here in Eugene, Oregon for a decade. She shared many stories. One of the most startling was the revelation that my grandfather, an immigrant from Lithuania who spent many years digging coal, admired the author and philosopher, Giordano Bruno, whose statue is in Rome, turned to face the Vatican.

This year, I have asked a wonderful friend who was raised in Italy, psychiatrist Benedetto Saraceno, MD, to translate a short remembrance of Bruno. May we all be freethinkers during these challenging times when we need to change almost everything to address the climate crisis and the way our humanity responds.

You may find both the Italian and English translations here, please forward especially to folks who speak Italian:

Updated: Now watch this webinar live, either on Zoom or Facebook, tomorrow, Sunday 31 Jan 2021:

Free Public Disability Webinar  

Unitarian Universalist Online Access Forum

Mental Disability, Mental Health & UU Values

TOMORROW Sunday, January 31, 2021

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST

Watch live on Zoom: tinyurl.com/uu-mental-disability

Or watch live on Facebook: facebook.com/UUEugene

All are welcome: Mental disability, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), brings special challenges. How do mental disability and mental health relate to the UU value of dignity & respect for all? A dialogue between Leslie Relle (TBI survivor) and David Oaks (psychiatric survivor), both UUCE members.

Special Guest: Rev. Phillip Schulman (TBI survivor) has served four UU congregations as Minister. He is a community organizer, peer leader & restorative justice activist.

Live music by Susanne Giordano, tune in 5 minutes early.

ASL interpreting by Patrick Galasso. Moderated by Merri Carlisle, Co-Chair.

Sponsor: Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene Accessibility Task Force (ATF)

If you have any questions, would like to get on our email list, or would like to volunteer, contact us at access@uueugene.org or 541-914-1469. If you miss, ask about online recording. (Version 3)

Updated: 20 July, 2:26 pm PST

I will be one of the five keynoters in the main international conference this year, PEERPOCALYPSE, for mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. Spoiler alert: I will call for REVOLUTION. Below is how anyone can listen to my keynote live and free on Zoom tomorrow, Tuesday, 7/21. (If you miss it, it will be recorded and streamed free.)

The conference is entirely on Zoom, and it is now all free (unless you want continuing education credits.) There are so many dozens of wonderful workshops and keynotes, along with a virtual display. There are participants from all over the world.

Because of my communication challenges, my keynote will be a little longer than others, 30 minutes. Here’s how to listen live directly:

We are the 100%: Mad Pride, Disability & Revolution

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 21 July 2020
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm CST (11:45 am – 12:15 pm PST)
We will have live ASL by Patrick Galasso
Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85606595030

Here is the description of the whole event, which ends this Thursday 7/23, from organizers:

PEERPOCALYPSE is a conference of leaders, emerging leaders, innovators, and peers who want to become more involved in the peer community. Adopting the philosophy that peers bring with them a great deal of knowledge and expertise, the event is about bringing the community together to share information, skills, and experience.

PEERPOCALYPSE Link: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/peerpocalypse

By the way, earlier today, Monday, 7/20, I gave a workshop with the wonderful Christina Peirsol about combining peer support and activism, entitled Winning Human Rights in Mental Health: Campaign Action Team Support!

If you missed any of the workshop or keynotes, most of this should be recorded and available. Check it out!

Thanks to all the folks who worked so hard to support the empowerment of our people’s voice for all these years with this important annual event, organized out of an office in Portland, Oregon. Aciu!