Talking Wellness Minutes

August 4, 2004

5:30-7:00

Present: Sharon McDaniel, co-chair Eric Mercier

Barbara Boulet, co-chair Regina Higgins

V. Kali Dr. “Coach” Sumner

Barry Collins Nora Berry

Earl Berry Israel J. Gethsemane

Linda Hightower Rochelle Monteire

Herman Brown Rodney Cobbs

Ted Booker Tammy Moore

Robin Madison Linda Morse

Albert Mathews Bowen Chung

Lillian Gardner Adolphe Prince

Hilda Franklin Valena Hall

Martha Tucker Ms. Ife Onawughalu

Kavita Patel Keisha Paxton

Fonda Whitfield C. Edward Corbett

Merilene M. Murphy Andrea Jones, minutes

• Welcome/Introductions: This meeting carried over from the 4:00 meeting of the Talking Wellness Sub-Committee. However, some people were not here for the first meeting, so everyone introduced himself or herself. We were also happy to have several poets from the World Stage at this meeting. We would like to thank everyone for coming to share this evening with us. Welcome aboard!

• Research: Dr. Ken Wells explained to everyone about the research aspect of this project. Everyone must sign a consent form and everyone (himself included!) is being researched. UCLA has note-takers or scribes, present at all the meetings whose sole function is to record (in writing) everything that is said and done at the Witness for Wellness meetings. Our note-taker for the day is Gary.

• Follow-up from WFW Meeting (7-15-04): Sharon McDaniel and Barbara Boulet, co-chairs for the Talking Wellness Working Group, spoke about how and why they came to choose poetry as a forum for getting people to talk about depression. Sharon McDaniel asked how many people were at the July 15^th conference. By a show of hands, about ½ of the people at this meeting also attended the conference, which was considered good.

• Follow-up from Poetry Reading: Everyone agreed that the World Stage Poetry Reading was a success. We would like to extend a special Thank You to all the poets who participated. There was a general discussion on poetry vs. rap, and whether or not young people could appreciate rap.

• Other Venues for Poetry Readings: For those whose would like to attend more poetry readings, the following is a list of some places where they can go. On Wednesday’s, the Spoken Word and Starbucks Coffee Shop have poetry readings. Another place is Doughboys, although their schedule is uncertain.

• Focus: At this time the focus of the Talking Wellness Working Group is African- American Women in the Baldwin Village. The point was made that men get depressed, too. In fact, there is a video called “Men Do Cry in the Dark” for those who are interested.

• Spoken Word Video: Several excerpts of the video from The Spoken Word event were shown. They included the reading of poetry and also some of the reaction to the poetry that was read. The reaction to the poetry both during the feedback portion of the video and in the room as the video was being watched was profoundly moving. Every one agreed that they felt some emotion. In response to the portion of the video where Eric Mercier (Sequioa Mercier’s son) stated how he felt after listening to the poetry, someone said, “That is an example of how poetry can help you express yourself.” Some other comments were, “The poetry was realistic, life-based.” “I thought I was the only one.” “We hold stuff in anyway, so poetry is a way of general discussion.” Overall, everyone agreed that poetry is a good way to get people to express themselves.

• Discussion on Poetry: There was more discussion on poetry and its effect on people. “People walk around unconscious, thinking, ‘I need a need a new dress.’ ‘I need a new pair of shoes.’ ‘Let’s go eat.’ This project is to wake somebody up: ‘Why do I spend?’” “We act out. We’re depressed all week, so on the weekend we go to the club, for that ‘right-now’ fix.” A comment was made that poetry would depress people, but most of the people at this meeting disagreed with that. V. Kali, one of the poets from the Spoken Word Event, was asked if she felt exposed by the speaking or reading of her poetry. Did she need support? She said no, it was “cathartic; a healing expression of the need to come through a place that you’ve been. Everything that comes through me comes through me for someone else.” Someone else said that Black men have facades. Speaking helps take the facades down. It gives the person a way to take their facade down. It helps him but if it helps others, good. Merilyn Murphy said, “Poetry is an art form to healing or mental health…poetry and wellness are made for each other—perfect for people who are not used to expressing themselves to be exposed to people who are.” She suggested a workshop or dialogue where poets could show people how to put “their twist on your twist.” Miss Ife Onawughalu spoke on how she used poetry when she worked with pregnant women in San Bernardino at the Patton Hospital. She said it was a beautiful experience.

• V. Kali’s Poetry: V. Kali read one of her poems. Afterwards, there was more discussion on ways of expressing oneself. This included body language and oral language. We are an oral traditional people.

• End-of-Meeting Ideas and Comments: These are some of the ideas that came up: Poets leading workshops for others; combining pictures with poetry, with the community co-producing; combining poetry with music and open mike; theatrical skits, and making a video using some of these ideas and giving the community access to it between movies at the theater. Some other ideas for community access were churches, Metro, and word of mouth. Everyone agreed that if we made a video, it would be made with the community, feature the community, and be provided to the community free of charge. Depression material developed locally would make a difference from the way it is usually done. If we do it ourselves, there can be no complaints: i.e. why are they portraying us like that? Ed Corbett says it has been done before, with the HIV epidemic and drug-addicted infants.

• Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 1^st from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the HAAF office, located at 3856 W. Martin Luther King Blvd, Suite 209. At that time the members of the Talking Wellness Sub-committee will be joining us.