APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 11

CM COMMUNITY
NEWSLETTER
The Newsletter of the Headway Emotional Health Case Management

What's new in this issue:

QUICK TIPS - PG. 5

Hennepin Happenings
BY ASHLEY HEGEHOLZ

“The World is Watching”

Monday May 25, 2020: Derek Chauvin, along with three other now ex-Minneapolis
Police Officers, murdered George Floyd outside Cup Foods on 38th and Chicago in
Minneapolis.
Tuesday, May 26: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announces that all four officers have
been fired from the force.
Friday, May 29: Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announces that that Derek
Chauvin will be charged. Previously, Freeman had stated he wasn’t sure there was
enough to charge the officers involved.
June 1-7: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison takes over the case-- Elevates
Chauvin charges and arrests other three officers. All four officers posted bail. The
world waits.
Fast forward 290-ish days. Chauvin
decided to have a trial by jury and
sentencing by judge.
Monday, March 8, 2021: The trial
process begins. Jury selection begins on
Tuesday, 3/9 and on Thursday 3/11 the
third degree murder charge is reinstated.
It takes three weeks for Judge Peter Cahill,
the prosecution, and defense to agree on
12 Jurors, two alternates, and one back-
up.
Monday, March 29: The trial begins with
opening remarks. Witnesses as young as
nine take the stand to testify about what
happened during those last moments of
George’s life. The prosecution spends
three weeks painting Derek Chauvin as a
“bad apple” and “rogue cop” who went
against his training to commit murder.
Monday, April 20: Closing arguments
start and then wrap up, leaving the jury to
deliberate-- which they did for about 10
hours. On Tuesday, Former Minneapolis
Police Officer Derek Chauvin was found
guilty on all three charges; he will be
sentenced this summer by Judge Cahill.
Then, in August, the three other former
police officers will take the stand in a joint
trial.
On April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin became
the second officer to be convicted in an on-
duty death case in Minnesota History; he is
the first white MN police officer to be
convicted of killing a Black man. This is not a
milestone to be celebrated, but mourned.
Between Then and Now:
Between May 25 and April 20, while news
stories were coming out about
happenings behind the scenes with the
trial, conversations around police brutality
and justice continued across the country.
Last summer in the streets and on social
media, pictures, stories, and chants about
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud
Abery circulated. Between then and now,
other names have been added to the long list
of Black lives lost to white supremacy and its
grip on this county, including Eden Prairie
resident Dolal Idd and Daunte Wright, a
Brooklyn Center resident--both under the
age of 22. In the twenty-four hours that
followed Chauvin’s verdict, it is estimated that
there were 6 more police killings in the US.
This includes Ma’Khia Bryant, a sixteen-year-
old Black child from Columbus, OH. News
broke about her murder within minutes of
“bad apple” Chauvin being convicted of
murder. Proving once again that it is not just
Chauvin and not just Minneapolis, but a
systemic issue.
George Floyd. Elijah McClain. Breonna Taylor.
Ahmaud Abery. Dolal Idd. Daniel Prude.
Adam Toledo. Daunte Wright. Anthony
Thomas Jr. Ma’Khia Bryant. Andrew Brown Jr.
Countless others. More than names in a
newsletter and more than the footage
floating around the internet. Justice would be
all of these human beings still being alive with
their friends and families. We must stop
confusing accountability with justice, and we
must recognize our “justice” system was
designed and upheld by white bodies.
Further, the Prison Industrial Complex wants
us to continue to imprison folks! Rather than
being active and giving community members
what they need, both policing and prison are
reactive to situations where folks are
resorting to other means to get their needs
met. We must reimagine what public safety
and community looks like.
No Justice, No Streets.
Sources/Further Reading: Every Police Involved Death in MN, Police
Killings During Trail, A History of Police Killings StTrib Timeline
OUR TEAM
BIRTHDAYS
Milena Cornejo, Elena Kapler, Katie
Murphy, Kayleigh Gronseth, Stephen
Velner
ANNIVERSARIES
Ashley Perry (3 years!!)
LIFE UPDATES
Samantha Winget, Maria Feil, and
Emma Bjorgaard joined our team on
April 12th. Be sure to introduce
yourself to all of them if you’re ever at
the office!
Kaylee Babineau’s last day with us was
April 16th
Hannah Jacky was accepted to a
Master’s program for her MSW in
TENNESSEE and plans to move in July!
Becky Gaiovnik is pregnant and due
late September J
Ashley Hegeholz was accepted to grad
school to pursue her MSW!!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
MARIAH LAVOLD
When did you start at Headway?
I started at Headway on April 16th,
2018 (my three year anniversary was
last month!)
What is your favorite thing about
being a case manager?
I think that my favorite thing about
being a case manager is seeing the
growth and progress that my clients
and their families have made since
beginning case management. I also
enjoy working with families in their
communities instead of at an office
space, and the freedom we have when
we have meetings.
I think that I’m better able to build rapport
with families when we are in their own
environment and they feel safe. I have
enjoyed the ongoing support I receive from
coworkers, coordinators, team leads and
supervisors. This is my first “big girl job” out
of college and I couldn’t ask for a more
supportive and inclusive team (:
What is your favorite tip or life hack
you’ve learned? (personal or work
related)
One organizational hack that I use to track
my client meetings is a spreadsheet that
Natalie introduced to me, and I have passed
it along to other case managers who request
it. I’m better able to track what my clients
discuss in their meetings and what tasks I
need to complete before the next meeting
(referrals, emails, follow-ups, etc.).
Life hack—when you are hanging something
on your wall, use painters tape to mark the
spot to put nails in the wall to ensure that
your picture is level. You’re welcome!
Previous Jobs:
This is my first “real” job out of my undergrad
program; however, I have worked at other
places! My first job was at the MN Zoo as a
concessions worker (I hated that job!). I have
also worked at Birnamwood Golf Course in
Burnsville, which is a small par 3 course. I still
work there very part time in the summer, so
stop by to say hi and work on your short
game (: I also worked as a hostess at
Milwaukee Burger in Eau Claire, WI while I
attended college, and I was also a
receptionist for Blugold Central which was
the financial aid office.
Hobbies:
I enjoy playing golf, spending time with
family and friends, attending happy hours
at Willy McCoys, going to sporting events,
putting together puzzles (insert nerd
emoji), spending time outdoors, playing
yard games in the summer, and more!
Favorite Dessert?
Hands down, no question, my favorite
desert is plain cheesecake!
Weird/fun fact about you:
I accidently locked myself in the garage at
the golf course where we store the golf
carts, and I didn’t have my phone with me.
I panicked and backed the cart into the
door multiple times in order to get out. It
was not a fun time.
Pickles or No Pickles
Depends on the pickle; I like sweet pickles,
not dill
SHOUTOUTS TO MARIAH
I want to nominate Mariah because she is
one of the most hard working people I
have met. Every time I go to the office I
can expect to see her at her desk or in the
school supply drive room getting things
done. Mariah's positive spirit, leadership,
and go-getter attitude add so much to the
Case Management team. I am thankful to
have her as a co-worker and a friend.
Thanks Mariah!!- Kayleigh G
Mariah is an incredibly caring and
compassionate person, case manager, co-
worker, and friend. She treats all of her
client families with the utmost of respect,
is attentive to their individualized needs,
and goes above and beyond to help her
clients to the best of her abilities.
Mariah is a knowledgeable and
resourceful case manager who offers
excellent insight during group supervision
and provides support, encouragement,
and a listening ear to coworkers. Mariah
is always quick to volunteer to help
coworkers and the case management
team through the Sunshine Committee,
offering shadows to new staff, and
volunteering on committees for our
backpack and school supply drive, and
our Toys for Tots holiday giving event.
Mariah, you are such a valuable asset to
our team and to Headway! Thank you for
being you! –Natalie Jones
Shoutout to Mariah – Mariah is a superb
case manager and an even better human
being. Since the first day I met Mariah
when she moved into my office she
carried a heightened sense of
professionalism and determination.
Mariah has always gone above and
beyond basic duties in case management
and has provided an exceptional service
to her clients and to our organization. I
think that Mariah may be one of the most
organized individuals I have ever met and
I can firmly say that I envy that quality in
her. All in all, Mariah does a fantastic job
and will continue to flourish in any
endeavor moving forward. Great job,
Mariah!! –Michael Casale
CHECK THIS OUT
Articles: Books:
Vaccine Connector by MN Department Marbles: Mania,
of Health Depression,
Vaccine Spotter Michelangelo, and
Resources: Mental Health Awareness Me: A Graphic
Month by NAMI Memoir
Infographic: Venn diagram of the Cartoonist Ellen Forney
overlap of COVID-19 with seasonal explores the relationship between
allergy by CDC “crazy” and “creative” in this graphic
How to Prepare Pets for Your Return memoir of her bipolar disorder,
to the Office by The Wall Street Journal woven with stories of famous bipolar
COVID – Finding Test Locations by artists and writers.
MN.gov
The Noonday Demon
examines depression in
Monthly Breakdown: personal, cultural, and
May - Mental Health Awareness scientific terms.
Month Drawing on his own
May 1 – May Day struggles with the
May 2 – Orthodox Easter illness and interviews with fellow
May 2 – St James TL/St Philip History sufferers, doctors and scientists,
May 5 – Cinco de May policy makers and politicians, drug
May 9 – Lailatul Qadr designers, and philosophers, Andrew
May 9 – Mother Day Solomon reveals the subtle
May 12 – Ramadan complexities and sheer agony of the
May 13 – Ascension disease as well as the reasons for
May 13 – Eid al Fitr Starts hope.
May 17 – Shavuot Starts
May 17 – Norwegian Independence
Day TRAININGS:
May 18 – Savuot Ends Be sure to check your emails for
May 23 – Pentecost Care Logic/Tablet support hours
May 26 – Vesak Day Grief, Loss, and Caring for
May 30 – Trinity Sunday Ourselves and Others, Laura
May 31 – Memorial Day Mortenson, MSW, LICSW, Brighter
Days Family Grief Center Friday,
May 28, 2021 9:00AM-12:00PM
STAY INFORMED
8 Dimensions of Wellness
Physical Wellness:
Healthy Snack Alternatives for Every
Craving by EatThis,NotThat!
Whether you're a victim of late-night salt
urges or post-workout sugar pangs, you
don't have to destroy your progress by
giving in—and you certainly don't have to
white knuckle it through the cravings. We
offer you healthier snack alternatives to
some of your favorite guilty snacks.
Emotional Wellness:
How to look after your mental health
using exercise by MentalHealth.org
There are many reasons why physical
activity is good for your body – having a
healthy heart and improving your joints
and bones are just two, but did you know
that physical activity is also beneficial for
your mental health and wellbeing
Environmental Wellness
Making a Healthier Home by NIH
Take a look around your home. Do you
know what’s in your household goods and
products? Some chemicals can harm your
health if too much gets into your body.
Becoming aware of potentially harmful
substances and clearing them out can
help keep you and your family healthy.
Financial Wellness
18 Free Things to Do In Minnesota by MN
Explore
Going on vacation doesn't have to mean
spending a lot of money. In Minnesota,
there are plenty of attractions and
activities that are completely free to
visitors. Here are 18 free things to do in
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Bemidji and
beyond, from gardens and trails to
museums and monuments.
Occupational Wellness
Free Webinars for Mental Health
Professionals by Socialwork.career
Listening and/or participating in various
webinars, webcasts or podcasts is one
way of doing so. Webinars (or webcasts)
are essentially presentations given live
online, via the web and teleconference.
Intellectual Wellness
Train Your Brain with Mentem
The non-profit organization Mentem –
brain training was developed with the
intention of spreading knowledge to the
general public about the possibilities for
improving the functions of the human
brain and its cognitive functions. We
started development in 2013 and in
cooperation with experienced experts in
the field of e-learning and cognitive
psychology the Mentem.cz project was
launched in November 2014.
Social Wellness
The Hidden World of the National Park
(Virtual Tours) by Google Arts and Culture
Spiritual Wellness
Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical
Tips for Understanding the Mind by Zen
Habits
MN BIPOC OWNED
BUSINESSES
Food & Drink
Afro Deli is an urban fast-casual restaurant that provides a delicious fusion of African,
Mediterranean, and American themed food in a fast, fun, and friendly environment.
Afro Deli takes pride in being a socially responsible restaurant that weaves together
business with community and culture. All of their dishes are made fresh and
prepared Halal!
Locations: 720 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 & 5 West 7th Place,
St. Paul, MN 55102 (Locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul skyways temporarily
closed)
Instragram: @afrodeli
Facebook: Afro Deli
Website: afrodeli.com

Trio Plant-Based became the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minneapolis,

Minnesota. Trio is all about love. We serve every dish with our soul and love. Here at
Trio, we serve only vegan soul food. From our For Your Soul Bowl to our Mac Attack
burger, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Location: 610 W Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55402
Instragram: @trioplantbasedmn
Facebook: Trio Plant-Based
Website: trioplant-based.com

Clothing & Accessories

D.NOLO opened in 2013 and has become “one of the fastest growing co-op
destinations in the Midwest.” From fashion-forward womenswear retailers to home
furnishings, the diverse selection of brands and product offerings truly make D.NOLO
a one-stop shopping destination.
Location: 211 3rd Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55401
Instragram: @d.nolo
Facebook: D.NOLO
Website: dnolo.com

Twenty First Avenue is an online shop owned by Gabrielle Iweriebor and carriers
stylish clothing, sunglasses, and other accessories.
Location: online
Instragram: @twentyfirstavenue
Facebook: Twenty First Avenue
Website: shoptwentyfirstave.com
MN BIPOC OWNED
BUSINESSES
Fitness & Wellness
The Fit Lab helps clients to transform their lives with their variety of health, fitness,
and wellness programs. Their private, semi-private, and group classes help each
client achieve their health and fitness goals.
Location: 1583 Hamline Avenue, Falcon Heights MN 55108
Instragram: @thefitlabco
Facebook: Thefitlab
Website: thefitlabinc.com

Ahavah BirthWorks is tackling the disturbing disparity in maternal healthcare Black

women receive. Clara Sharp, founder of Ahavah BirthWorks, is training Black doulas
to care for women from pregnancy to post-partum and educate them on the care
and services they should be receiving from a hospital. Since doulas often struggle
with low pay, Ahavah works to alleviate this barrier by providing scholarships for
prospective doulas, having different doctors and nurses that can be billed under for
insurance purposes, and a financial agent that lets Ahavah pay doulas earlier, rather
than after birth, which is typical.
Location: 1007 W. Broadway Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55412
Instragram: @ahavahbirthworks2021
Facebook: Ahavah BirthWorks
Website: none

Houston White Men’s Room is a barbershop and “gathering place for community
building, authentic expression of self, and inclusive celebration of Black culture. Over
the years, the shop has grown into a vibrant hub for people of any skin color and all
walks of life who crave a culture of their own making.” Houston White founded the
shop in 2007 after years of cutting hair for cash in the North Minneapolis
neighborhood when he was a kid. White has expanded his business into a clothing
and accessory line, as well as collaborating with Dogwood Coffee to open a new
coffee bar called The Get Down. The goal is to open the shop in late spring 2021. You
can buy their specialty roast on their website.
Location: HWMR and The Get Down are both located at 1500 North 44th Ave.
Minneapolis MN 55412
Instragram: @houstonwhite.com and @thegetdowncoffeeco
Facebook: HWMR and The Get Down Coffee Company
Website: houstonwhite.co and getdowncoffee.com
MN BIPOC OWNED
BUSINESSES
Miscellaneous
Black Garnet Books is a black, female-owned bookstore located in Uptown,
Minnesota. Dionne Sims opened the online shop in 2020 and at the time, was the
only independently black-owned bookstore in Minnesota. They typically carry young
adult contemporary literature by BIPOC authors. Due to COVID-19, their hopes of
opening a brick and mortar shop has been placed on hold. In the meantime, you can
check out their books online or visit their pop-up shop located in Merci Tattoo on
Sundays and Mondays from 12pm-4pm. You will need to schedule an appointment
to visit the shop as they do not take walk-ins. Your scheduled time is for you and two
others.
Pop-up Location: 2836 Lyndale Ave S. Suite 270, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Instragram: @blackgarnetbooks
Facebook: none
Website: blackgarnetbooks.com

The Good Pet Groomer offers full service grooming and de-shedding for dogs of all
shapes and sizes. Donita Jackson opened the shop in 2005 and is still actively
involved in the business as she regularly grooms dogs herself. Check out their
Facebook page for tons of cute pics of their happy customers!
Location: 15 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404
Instagram: none
Facebook: The Good Pet Groomer
Website: none
 QUICK TIPS/LIFE HACKS
The Newsletter team wanted to switch things up from 'Discovery Stories' to "Quick Tips or Life Hacks", each
member of the committee asked a random team member and this is what we came up with!
With having to work from home due to
COVID the past year, I have taken the
opportunity to divide my day. I would eat
in front of the computer or while on the
way to/from a meeting before. Taking 30
minutes to an hour between work has
given me the opportunity eat without
distractions, take a walk with my dog,
Power, which in turn has allowed me to
come back to the computer with a fresh
mind after sitting so long in front of the
screen. It gives me a boost of energy to
get things done!! - Abby G.
To get your pepper shaker to release
pepper faster, turn it upside down. Take a
salt shaker right side up and rub the
bottom of it on the bottom of the pepper
shaker. Life changing! *this only works if
the bottom of the shakers have ridges or
small bumps. - Ali Johnson
If you have any clients that are adopted or
experienced extensive trauma during
childhood, I would suggest checking out
Family Attachment Center! Melissa Nichols
works with a couple of my families and
she has really changed their lives with her
attachment work and re-framing. The
Center has a lot of services to offer and
Melissa has been really helpful in
providing suggestions based on client's
need and background. - Ashley H.
The past month, I have recently started
scheduling my day in my Outlook
Calendar. I put in my meetings,
lunches, time I want to spend on
paperwork, and yes of course little
breaks here and there! It makes it a lot
easier to look at my day and know
what is up ahead. - Tori K.
Refer a client to Hennepin County
Education Support Services! This is a
new, free service for students who
have involvement in the county
(including contracted case
management, which means us!). The
program assigns an Education Support
Specialist to work with the student on
academic mentoring, special education
advocacy, academic organization, and
other academic concerns, and can also
refer clients to a one-on-one academic
tutor paid for through the county!
Education Support Specialists can also
help students with pursuing their GED,
and they can work with students even
after they turn 18. I have a few clients
accessing this new service currently
and it’s been amazing. I’m so excited
that this support opportunity is
available to students now. Feel free to
email me if you want more information
about the referral process! - Abby
Fleeter
 Activists in History
In 2021, certain truths about our society have become more apparent- our
capitalistic culture has experienced many disruptions, ultimately forcing us to
contemplate who is most vulnerable in our society. While police brutality is certainly not
new in America, after the excruciating video of George Floyd’s murder was released to
the public, the public responded much more loudly than it had before. With nearly 10
million people still unemployed more than a year into the pandemic, folks are less
constrained by the standard 40 hour work week. People have taken to the streets, and
the Black Lives Matter movement has gained enormous cultural momentum through
protests, social media, and news outlets. Within this growing space for social justice,
activists have had a larger platform to make an impact. But what happens when those
activists don’t do it well?
Typically, when folks rise to a certain level of fame and power (read: financial
gain) in American society, they become, to some extent, untouchable. One might even
argue that a certain level of power can corrupt a person’s humanity. It’s easy to see this
illuminated in celebrities or billionaires, who are unquestionably detached from the
average American’s struggle, but when it comes to prominent social justice activists, it’s
more difficult think critically about these individuals’ effort and impact. It’s hard to
criticize the way someone does The Work, while so many of us shy away from the
responsibility that The Work necessitates. We tend to view activists as people of pure
intent, trusting that they are doing the right thing within their realm of assumed
expertise. For example, Shaun King has amassed 4 million Instagram followers and he
uses his platform to bring attention to racist injustices that may otherwise never see
the light of day. Or Tamika Mallory, one of the first activists I wrote about, who founded
Until Justice, an intersectional organization fighting systemic racial injustice, with a focus
on justice for Breonna Taylor. How could these be bad things? Like most things in life,
nuance and perspective tend to shift things greatly.
After the Grammy’s this year, during which Tamika Mallory took the stage to
deliver a powerful speech about racial justice, Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, along
with Lisa Simpson, mother of Richard Risher, released a public statement on Twitter
that delivered both nuance and perspective that we, as a nation, needed to hear.
(Important to note that this is yet another instance of Black women performing
emotional labor- placing them in a vulnerable situation and simultaneously allowing
others to grow.) They asked Tamika Mallory, Shaun King, Benjamin Crump, Lee Merritt,
Patrisse Cullors, Melina Abdullah and the Black Lives Matter Global Network to step
down and step back. Why? Because they are monopolizing and capitalizing on the
death of their loved ones. Let’s pause here- how could the very same people who are
bringing awareness to the injustice of systemic racism be causing harm? How could
their efforts be counterproductive when they are creating systems of action steps that
many of us feel too fatigued to discern and create ourselves, much less consistently
follow through on? Let’s take a moment to explore.
Activists in History
Imagine you are the mother, relative, friend, or lover of a Black person who
was murdered via police brutality. While impossible, try to imagine the pain of
injustice. Try to imagine what it might feel like to see their names or the same
photos over and over in unexpected places, memorialized by folks who have access
to every detail about their death, yet do not know a single detail about who they
were as a living person. Try to imagine what it might feel like to watch as your loved
one’s name becomes less relevant, passed over, and maybe even forgotten. Try to
imagine what it might feel like to have your world and livelihood shattered by the
same system that forces you to continue living in the same oppressive conditions,
unconcerned. I had not thought about a single one of these things until I read Rice
and Simpson’s statement. “We never hired them to be representatives in the fight
for our dead loved ones murdered by the police,” the statement reads. They go on
to point out that these activists have hosted events in their own cities without
compensating their families for using the names or photos of their loved ones. They
point out that these activists are receiving donations, platforms, and movie deals off
the death of their loved ones “while the families and communities are left clueless
and broken.”
Both Samaria Rice and Lisa Simpson have experienced homelessness since
the death of their children. Shortly following the death of Tamir Rice, his mom was
living in a homeless shelter, and at the time this statement was released, Lisa
Simpson was homeless and highly mobile, living in a motel with her surviving
children. Why and how could we allow families shattered by police brutality to suffer
unlivable conditions, while simultaneously suffering from the highly publicized
murders of their family members? We are all, by now, familiar with GoFundMe and
mutual aid- you might wonder why these families aren’t being taken care of. This
brings us back to the topic at hand- we tend to develop unscrutinized trust in
activists as they gain greater public access, power, and opportunity. Shaun King is
one of the most recognizable household names of the group, and yet so many of us
are unaware that he has a hefty history of suspicious ‘fundraisers’ and generally
mishandling money. King used his platform to raise $60,000 ‘for Tamir Rice’s family’
and yet…. his family knew nothing about the fundraiser that randomly appeared
online following his death. And they never gained full access to that money, in spite
of their attorney’s intervention- the money that countless folks gave trusting it
would have a direct impact on the Rice family.
Activists in History
Depending on your stance, some may think it is awesome and necessary for
a ceremony like The Grammy’s to give an activist like Tamika Mallory the stage. But
why does social justice get the stage here and now? The answer is about
commodification: Black death is currently relevant, and under capitalism, nothing is
more powerful than something that sells. This makes Mallory more recognizable
and powerful while making the lived realities of the families who have been
impacted less interesting- less consumable. It’s easier to listen to someone who
gives us hope than to hold space for someone who is suffering. Samaria Rice called
Mallory a “clout chaser.” And that may be true, even if it is also true that she is
doing valuable work. Mallory is gaining fame, money, and opportunity from the
same system that creates the oppression she is fighting against. Rice and
Simpson’s statement reveals that Mallory is not working with or even for the
families of those impacted. Mallory, in spite of her intentions, whatever they may be
or have become, is profiting off of Black death and doing minimal work to invest in
the lives and joy of the families who are still living. And maybe that is what all of us
need to be really thinking about.
How often do we place blind trust in public figures and organizations based
on feeling alone? How much are we motivated by Black death versus Black joy? Our
attention and collective resources have power. If you have the time, I encourage
you to google Samaria Rice and Lisa Simpson’s statement and read their list of
demands. The pandemic has given us a unique opportunity to see some collective
truths with greater clarity- no matter how uncomfortable they may be. Americans
thrive on convenience, and we are currently suspended in inconvenience. The
speed of capitalism has been slowed, giving all of us more time to be thoughtful
and to get real about our privilege, our issues, and what is happening around us.
Coming from a place of privilege, it may feel confusing and impossible to delve into
these subjects, but the good thing is that we aren’t expected to have the answers.
Folks have been organizing around these subjects for years- we just have to listen
to voices like Samaria Rice and Lisa Simpson to find our place.
 BUILDING A COMMUNITY
These teams are fluid and commitment can vary. Please reach out to Melanie or Jen if you would like to join!

Newsletter Team
This team meets a few times a month to build monthly issues like the one you are reading
right now! We want different perspectives and want to cover a variety of essential and
topical issues.

The Sunshine Committee

The sunshine committee works hard to recognize important life events in our colleagues
lives, whether it's a celebration, recognition, or sharing sympathy during difficult times,
we're here for you. If you'd like to join please email Mariah LaVold. They are responsible for
the Zoom Christmas party!

Anti-Racism Work Group:

In March we discussed Black Maternal Health and watched The Naked Truth: Death by
Delivery https://youtu.be/S5CMkloNZQY , in April we talked about police brutality, the
recent murder of Daunte Wright, and the Chauvin trail. And in May we will discuss Black
Joy.
Please reach out to Melanie or Michelle if you would like to join!*

Case Managment Resource Website:

Michelle is always looking for more volunteers to help with the new Resource Website, be
sure to let her know if you want to help out, as well as check on the website below!
*Thanks Michelle for all your hard work on this!*
https://cmhresources.weebly.com/

CareLogic Support Hours:

Katie and Michelle will continue to host Care Logic Support hours! Check your email for
invitations! and meeting links.

On behalf of the Case Managment Team, we would like to extend our thoughts and
prayers to Janice and her family.