NAMI Union Colony Friendship Ambassadors Program to Bring Random Acts of Kindness to Community – Greeley Tribune

A Greeley nonprofit wants everyone in the community to have a friend in the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

NAMI Union Colony in Greeley is one of 14 Colorado affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization.

NAMI Colorado follows the same national format with programming, education and training, according to Cheri Bishop, NAMI Colorado program director.

Programming includes educational programs and support groups for family members, the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group Program for those struggling with mental health, support groups for veterans and their families, peer-to-peer classes for people with serious mental illness interested in establish and maintain. their recovery and other services. All NAMI offers are offered free of charge.

The Greeley chapter does not offer counseling or programs available at other affiliates in Colorado, but community members can participate virtually in classes, sessions and support groups held by other affiliates nationwide. NAMI Union Colony, on the other hand, focuses on support, encouragement and advocacy for families and individuals struggling with mental health challenges.

“We are quick to love and slow to judge,” according to their Facebook tagline.

The Greeley Chapter of NAMI engages with the local community by hosting special events and setting up booths at festivals, fairs and other businesses throughout the year. The chapter draws the most members of the community to its three annual events: Summer Bash, Veteran’s Breakfast and NAMI Walks.

Every August for the past few years, Summer Bash consistently brings in just under 100 attendees for a day of good company and food, according to Clark Bacco, special events coordinator for NAMI Union Colony. The event, which raises funds for the local affiliate, has seen an annual increase in community partners who set up tables at the party.

Last year, the Greeley chapter also hosted its first NAMI walksmodeled after the national NAMI event. Community members participate by volunteering, donating, sponsoring, or signing up to ride on a team. NAMI previously partnered with the Veterans Affairs Clinic of Northern Colorado to host the walking event.

NAMI prioritizes supporting and working closely with veterans in the community. This includes hosting a breakfast each Veterans Day.

The next breakfast will begin at 9:30 am on Monday, November 11th at the Frontier House in Greeley. Breakfast will include a buffet of waffles, sausages and more. The Natural Therapy Academy will also have massage chairs for veterans to use from 9:30-11:30am.

“Mental illness doesn’t target any one group of people, but there is a high level of mental illness or need for mental health care in the military community,” Bacco said.

In addition to special events, affiliate members regularly conduct suicide prevention and outreach, train people to become peer facilitators, give educational presentations and more.

what’s new

The NAMI Union Colony team created a new group called the NAMI Friendship Ambassadors to increase their presence in the community in a positive light.

“To have friends, you have to be a friend,” Thomas said.

Friendship Ambassadors, inspired by a program created at the NAMI Boulder chapter, focus on random acts of kindness and spread positive information about NAMI, according to Jay Thomas, Weld County coordinator for NAMI Union Colony.

To start, the group plans to bring goodies, music and friendship to nursing homes around Christmas.

“If people see NAMI and get a positive image, they’re more likely to be involved,” Thomas said.

Similar to veteran outreach, NAMI wants to connect with more young people, Bacco added. The ambassadors plan to begin a new community engagement tactic called “NAMI on Campus” to engage with the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College in Greeley.

Bishop said future steps for NAMI affiliate Union Colony will also include identifying family members to start a local family program.

For more information about NAMI Union Colony, check out its new Facebook page by going to bit.ly/48oehyi.