Building Wellness Minutes

August 27, 2004

1:00-3:00 p.m.

 

Present:       Pluscedia Williams, Chair                                                                  Michael Rodriguez

                     Armond Anderson Bell                                                                          Stella Tilghman

                     Tammy Moore                                                                                     Fonda Whitfield

                     Maxine Pace                                                                                              Sylvia Jones

                     Drew Jones                                                                                Andrea Jones, minutes

 

  • Welcome/Introductions:  We had three new people on the bus:  Maxine Pace, who was invited by Pluscedia Williams, Tammy Moore, of AADAP; and Armond Anderson-Bell, from Minority Aids Project.  We would like to welcome everyone aboard!  Michael Rodriguez announced that he’s getting off the bus for a while.  His wife is having a baby. He will be sending someone to take his place while he is gone. 

 

  • Background and History: Michael Rodriguez went over the background of the Witness for Wellness Project for the new people.  “Depression is a major problem. Many people in the community suffer from depression.  We’ve found ways to treat depression, but it hasn’t been sent to the community.  So this project is to help community to apply what they’ve learned, using the best of knowledge from both sides.  Talking Wellness would try to get people to talk about depression and try to reduce the stigma of depression.  Supporting Wellness would try to advocate for changes in policy in mental health.  Building (that’s us) decided to focus on helping the providers:  We want to enable them to have the ability to diagnose depression and the tools to treat it.  One complication is referrals:  Are the referrals there, will they continue to be there (funding is an issue), etc.

 

  • Discussion:  Armond Anderson-Bell, who is new to the Building Wellness team, stated some of his concerns, goals, and issues.  He was referred to the Talking Wellness Working Group for some of them.  There was a general invitation issued to all the groups.  If Building Wellness does not suit your needs, you are welcome to try one (or both) of the other Working Groups.  There was also discussion on the Website(s).  Kavita Patel is working on a proposal specifically for Building Wellness, and the W4W Depression website should be up within the next month.

 

  • How do you get on board?:  New members are always welcome.  When you become a member of one of our groups, you represent us to them and them to us.  If your agency is interested in becoming a sponsor, please talk to Loretta Jones.  She is executive director of HAAF.

 

  • Next Meeting:  The next meeting of the Building Wellness Working Group will be on Friday, September 24, 2004 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the HAAF office, located at 3856 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite 209, Los Angeles, CA.  Please call Andrea at 323-292-2002 if you have any questions.