Pictured above from left to right: Becky Eberhardt, Information Management Specialist, and Larissa Lederman, Administrative Assistant 

Summer has arrived, signaling the start of our yearly staff celebration. All Journey programs were welcomed to Olin Park for an enjoyable afternoon filled with food, games, and music by our talented DJ, Cisco. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Wellness Committee for sponsoring this event and allowing us to show our appreciation for the incredible staff members at Journey.

At the event, there was a diverse selection of food available from food carts such as 'Toast' and 'Get Them While They're Hot Tamales.' The food was so delicious that I wish I could eat it every day! Additionally, 'Yumee,' a favorite among our organization, provided some scrumptious cookies for dessert.

This year, we had a plethora of games and activities available to our staff. Our yearly bingo game was a hit, where employees had the chance to win a Food Fight gift card. It was surprising to see how difficult it was to find someone who doesn't enjoy chocolate! We also brought back our 'Journey Rocks' painting activity, which allowed staff to showcase their creativity. The painted rocks can now be found scattered throughout our Kessel Court campus, making for a wonderful sight. One of the most enjoyable activities was the game of musical chairs. Who knew such a simple game could become so intense and competitive? Lastly, Cornhole returned for another round, with our previous champions leading the competition. The match was close, but in the end, Dave Bertrand, our Chief Operating Officer, and Sarah Tremling, our Staff Accountant, emerged as victorious!

Journey had the opportunity of honoring Juneteenth with a full-day workshop, facilitated discussion, and other activities. Our morning workshop was presented by Fiona Kanagasingam & Merle McGee, co-founders of the BIPOC Project. Journey’s staff and leaders focused on dismantling anti-black racism in our organization and communities. The facilitated workshop involved interactive exercises and an experiential dialogue using historical and contemporary information, self-reflection, institutional analysis, visioning, and collective action planning.  

By continuing to actively engage in these dialogues and action planning, we are taking significant steps towards fostering an environment that uplifts the full humanity of Black staff & consumers so that they can bring their authentic selves, fully participate, and thrive.   

“As a result of building power for Black people, we build power for all oppressed peoples (inside and outside our organizations); that is, when we center Black people, we uplift all people. … when those most marginalized build power to shift policy that benefits them, [we then have] the capacity to benefit other marginalized peoples.” 

-Liz Derias and Kad Smith (2022), What It Looks Like to Build a Pro-Black Organization  

Pictured above: Danielle Mitchell-Vance

Journey at the recent Disability Pride Festival. From left to right: Heidi Pankoke. Board Chair, and Danielle Mitchel-Vance, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Organizational Consultant 

Outreach Event Schedule

Please see our outreach schedule below. We hope to see you soon!

September 9th, 11am - 3pm, Journey Wellness Celebration at Elver Park in Madison, WI

September 10th, 12pm - 5pm, Madison Good Neighbor Gathering at Brittingham Park in Madison, WI

October 7th, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm, NAMIWalks at Olin-Turville Park in Madison, WI

October 14th, 7 am - 12 pm, Sun Prairie Farmers Market at One Cannery Place in Sun Prairie, WI

Journey Coloring Pages

Journey created coloring pages that focus on positive mental health messages and self-care.

Coloring has many health benefits.  According to a Mayo Clinic Health System article, coloring can help relieve stress and promote mindfulness. Get started by clicking HERE to download your own copy. 

Above: Olin Center - New home for Journey's community programs.

Journey Program Location Updates 

Journey is on the move, and exciting changes are happening within our organization! Our GROW CCS program has successfully relocated from its previous address at 25 Kessel Court to 49 Kessel Court.  

In addition, many of our community programs will soon be in one centralized building on E. Olin Ave. in Madison. The move aims to enhance our services and provide a more convenient and accessible location for consumers. To get all the details about which community programs are moving where, please visit our website by clicking here.  

Journey Mentioned in the News

Journey was mentioned in Spectrum News, specifically the CARES team, in the article, "Madison Police Department adapts to mental health crisis." To learn more, click the link here.

From left to right: Becky Eberhardt, Larissa Lederman, Tanya Lettman-Shue, Nelsie Stern, and Julia Stanley

Journey Adopted a Highway 

As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, Journey has taken on the responsibility of maintaining a section of Highway 69 through the Adopt a Highway program. Keep an eye out for us as we diligently work to ensure that this stretch of highway remains clean and tidy for all who use it!

Journey's New Website Goes Live

Journey has launched a brand-new website! The website features a more modern and user-friendly design and information about Journey's services, programs, and resources. 

You can find the new website at www.journeymhc.org 

Key features of the new website include: 

• Comprehensive information about Journey's services, programs, and resources  

• Improved accessibility. Journey Mental Health Center prioritized accessibility and inclusivity when developing the new website. It adheres to the latest web accessibility standards, ensuring that all individuals can access our website regardless of their abilities. 

• News and Updates. The new website informs visitors about the latest developments and events at Journey Mental Health Center, including upcoming trainings and events. 

​​​​​​​Looking Ahead 

The launch of Journey Mental Health Center's new website represents a commitment to harnessing the power of technology to reach and support those in need, especially when mental health care is more crucial than ever.

New Journey Brochure 

We now have our brochure translated into Hmong!

Community Corner

• Centro Hispano's El Mercadito has returned to Madison! It is every Thursday from  4:00pm - 7:00pm. We encourage you to check it out - learn more by clicking here. 
• Become a bilingual peer specialist. Info sessions are being hosted by Centro Hispano - learn more by clicking here.