"KNOW US PROJECT™" Launched in Kalamazoo

Research shows that contact with an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person increases favorable attitudes toward them. Talking to people you know about how discrimination has personally affected you or someone you love helps to increase understanding and empathy about the experiences of LGBT individuals. Such conversations are likely to leave others feeing more sympathetic to public policies that protect LGBT people from discrimination.

MPIPP has developed the KNOW US PROJECT™ (KUP) as a training program to enable both mental health professionals and LGBT people and their allies to affect public policy. MPIPP launched KUP in Kalamazoo at One!Celebration prior to the successful campaign for an equality ordinance.

KUP is about telling our stories in order to encourage others in our social networks (heterosexual friends, co-workers, extended family members) to support equal protection of LGBT people. A second goal is to provide social support and empowerment to all who are affected by antigay discrimination. As antigay ballot referenda are looming, we want to dispel the negative propaganda that is being spread by antigay forces. It's the very best time to engender empathy and support from those who know us as acquaintances, friends, co-workers or family members.

We will be providing more information about the KNOW US PROJECT™ (KUP) in an upcoming issue of MPIPP NEWS as well as at the annual conference on January 23. Please contact Sara Van Wormer (see "Staff" section of our website (www.mpipp.org) for more information.

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

At MPIPP our goal is to provide psychological and social science information on LGBT issues and the effects of discrimination. Improving our networking with people who are interested in these issues is one way to accomplish this goal. Enhancing communications and getting to know each other are parts of that process.

Speaking of building connections, this is also the title of our upcoming annual conference, to be held on January 23. You can read more about it in the next issue of MPIPP NEWS.

Over the next year, in MPIPP NEWS you will meet others who are working on these issues. However, as a starter, let us introduce the staff at MPIPP:

Dr. Judith Kovach is the program director for MPIPP and a licensed psychologist. She is also the Executive Director and Director of Professional Affairs for the Michigan Psychological Association, received her doctorate in psychology from Wayne State University in 1984. In independent practice since then, she was a founding member and, in 1989, the second President of Michigan Women Psychologists. In 1984, after having served as chair of the Women's Advocacy and Legislative Committees of the Michigan Psychological Association, she was elected President.

With many years of research, advocacy, writing and clinical practice in both the public and private secotrs, she was appointed by the Board of Psychology to the Michigan Health Professional Recovery Committee and subsequently served as Chair. Nationally, she served as a member of APA's Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance for five years. She served on the Criminal Justice and Human Service Workgroup of the Michigan Mental Health Commission and was President of the Michigan Mental Health Policy Institute. She chairs the Steering Committee of the Michigan Partners for Mental Health Parity, a coalition of over 80 organizations and businesses. She currently serves as Project Director of the Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy, an organization whose purpose is to develop collaboration between social science professionals and LGBT advocacy groups to disseminate science-based mental health information to inform public policy affecting the LGBT community in Michigan.

Dr. Kovach's professional recognition includes having received Michigan's Distinguishsed Psychologist Award, APA's Heiser Award for Advocacy, and the Outstanding Psychologist Award from the APA Division of State Psychological Associations.

Sara Van Wormer, MA, is the MPIPP program coordinator. Sara is a psychotherapist and certified advanced addictions counselor. She has 10 years of experience working with LGBT adolescents and young adults. She is an adjunct faculty member of Oakland University and Macomb Community College and is an active member of the Michigan Psychological Association.

Diana Popp is the communications coordinator for MPIPP. Diana is experienced in a variety of organizational communications. She is retired from Michigan state government where she was the administrator of the Michigan Health Professional Recovery Program. She has served as developer and editor of numerous print communications as well as multi-media training programs. Diana has also served on several non-profit boards.

PROJECT CONSULTANTS:

Dr. Robert-Jay Green and Rick Moore of the Rockway Institute at Alliant University and Dr. Clinton Anderson of the American Psychological Association will continue their work as consultants to the project.

COMING SOON —