The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central VA provides free courses to help parents, families, caregivers, and people with mental health issues learn about resources, strategies, and other essential information for managing mental health and illness. These courses are available at different times throughout the year. If you're interested in taking one, please fill out the interest form to be notified when one is available. Felix-Kingsley Obialo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Idi-Ishin (Nigeria), is the manager of Wellness in a Box.
Susan started a tutoring program for preadolescent girls, Learning Circles, in two boys and girls clubs in Central Virginia, in partnership with the Charlottesville Youth League. Ernie is a member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association; of the Virginia State Bar Association, where he served on the Board of Governors of the Military Law Section; of Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served as an officer in Post 1827; of the Virginia Gators swimming club, of which he was president for six years; and ParaDerest, a veterans services organization of which he is currently president of the board of directors. Butch Hands has been a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains Rotary Club since 1995, including as president. The involvement of Rotary clubs will gradually reduce stigma and more people will start to feel comfortable discussing mental health.
Felix-Kingsley Obialo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Idi-Ishin (Nigeria), leads the local branch of a project called Wellness in a Box, which his club has worked on in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Wellesley (Massachusetts). With the support of a global grant from The Rotary Foundation and clubs around the world, this mostly voluntary organization donates thousands of hours of health care to refugees and migrants annually. Butch Hands, president of the Rotary Club of Plympton, believes that something can be done to help those facing mental health issues in Central Virginia. He encourages people to reach out to their local Rotary Club to see what programs they may have available.
