On Thursday, October 8th, I had the good fortune to visit NorthStar, a clubhouse located in Portland, Oregon. TandC Associates, LLC had dual activities in Portland: Ciri was in Portland to attend the annual meeting of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). Because of the AHTA meeting’s being held in Portland this year, because I had known Bill Waters, the director of the clubhouse, when he participated in the 41st Colleague Training program at Fountain House (FH), it was only natural to schedule a site visit.
What a gift it was to arrive at noon to walk into a brightly lit, very clean street-level gathering place. About 30 members and staff welcomed me. After Nancy greeted me, she told me that Bill was in a meeting with the Advisory Board Chair. When I asked Nancy how she became involved with NorthStar, she replied that after working at a couple of jobs in the community, she was seeking a new opportunity, and was totally taken with the atmosphere of NorthStar when she visited. She was hired some six months ago. Several members and staff came over and introduced themselves, including a member with a guitar who said that later he would be performing the clubhouse song. The Employment Consultant, Dennis, introduced himself as having also been a colleague trained at FH.
The main room of the program was filled with members and staff sitting and waiting to hear from me. Bill and the Advisory Board member came out of their meeting and after a big hug, Bill called for the conversation to begin. Lunch was also served (a paper bag lunch of sandwich, crackers, and chips). Bill asked me to provide an introductory statement about how the clubhouse movement began, which I am always glad to provide.
Members then asked questions and in doing so also described how NorthStar had changed their lives.
Alice described how she had been helped, and asked how new activities were developed. I described how the Research Unit at FH had been developed as a new way for interested members could get involved in the program.
Another member told about how the opportunity to participate in a Transitional Employment (TE) placement has provided him a sense of dignity. Dennis asked how Supported Employment (SE) opportunities came about at Fountain House. I described how SE easily became available as a next step for those having successfully completed a TE.
Questions were asked about the role members play in hiring staff and intake new members.
Cheryl asked about FH’s view of the GLBT issue for intakes. I replied that anyone who had a major mental illness could become a member regardless of sexual orientation.
Bill asked for me to describe some of the unusual staff at FH over the years (Esther, Bob Harvey). After about an hour and a half, the meeting ended with Steve leading the singing of “Together We Thrive”, the clubhouse motto.
Following that Cheryl gave me a tour of the program, including the soon to be completed expansion which includes a large Culinary area, a conference room and more. She also described how the program has saved her life, as she has become a peer advocate, and will soon be working full time at the program where she had a participant before NorthStar.
Susan, the Advisory Board Chair, asked my opinion as to what were the most significant core values that distinguished the clubhouse. In response, I identified the notion that individuals with mental illness are people first and are members of a unique clubhouse, to which people become eligible by virtue of their mental health recovery. The clubhouse is based on the importance of self-help through mutual help, something which is best summed up by their motto of “Together We Thrive”. In addition, the belief that hope is essential; that the clubhouse will help everyone attain their highest ambition or goal; and that no goal is beyond attainment.
In conclusion, I will say that that Portland is a must-see community. In addition to the city itself, the scenic area of the surround, and the people, for us in the clubhouse movement, I heartily recommend a visit to the genuine Clubhouse Community of NorthStar.
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