MPIPP Newsletter
Vol. 2, Issue 3
MPIPP's 2010 Conference
is almost here!
This year's conference
promises to be
interesting and on-point
for LGBT advocacy
organizations, college
and university LGBT
student organizations,
and psychologists who
have LGBT clients or
want to learn more about
what MPIPP is doing.
If you are a procrastinator (and who isn't this time of year?), there is still time to register — the details are at the end of this newsletter.
Although this year's conference will introduce you to the "KNOW US PROJECT," that's not the only topic on our minds. Here's a quick update on what you will find and the speakers and panelists you will meet.
How
advocacy affects public
policy and the role of
the expert
SANDRA J. LEWIS — Sandi is a partner at Muchmore, Harrington, Smalley & Associates, Inc., a major lobbying firm in Lansing. Sandi has more than 15 year sof governmental and community relations experience and is considered one of Lansing's top ten lobbyists. Specializing in appropriations, judiciary, mental health, long term care, law enforcement, criminal justice, and education issues, Sandi thrives on influencing change in the legislative and regulatory process. Sandi will kick off the conference by drawing the vital connections between advocates and experts.
The Public Policy Connection
JUDITH KOVACH, Ph.D. — Judith is the Executive Director and Director of Professional Affairs for the Michigan Psychological Association. During her career as a professional psychologist, Judith also has served in a leadership capacity for a number of organizations concerned with mental health policy issues. She chairs Steering Committee of the Michigan Partners for Mental Health Parity, a coalition of over 80 organizations and businesses. 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, Judith will provide an update on the status of public policies issues affecting the LGBT community in Michigan.
KALAMAZOO — a case study in successful collaboration
The referendum in Kalamazoo last November shows how many organizations worked together to provide education in an often-heated debate surrounding the non-discrimination in housing and the workplace. To learn more about what worked, MPIPP is hosting a panel discussion.
JEFFREY ANDERT, PhD., ABPP — Jeff is the immediate past president of the Michigan Psychological Association. A native of Minnesota, Jeff has operated his own mental health and substance abuse outpatient clinic in the Battle Creek area for more than 30 years. Jeff provided leadership for professional organizations, such as the Michigan Psychological Association, during the Kalamazoo campaign. You can expect observations from an experienced mental health professional perspective.
AMY HUNTER — Amy is a Trans-Advocate/Activist. She sits on the Boards of Directors for Michigan Equality and the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center. An accomplished essayist, Amy is a full time contributor to the national LGBT blog; The Bilerico Project and is a Contributing-Associate Editor for an on-line magazine — The Scavenger, published monthly out of Sydney, Australia. Most recently, Amy was the Co-Director of Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality (KAFE) and held the position of Director of Operations for the successful ONE KALAMAZOO campaign. Amy will be discussing the Kalamazoo referendum from an advocate's perspective.
MELISSA GREY — As an early career psychologist, Melissa applies psychological research and theory to social justice issues. Melissa is a Clinical Psychologist and Post-doctoral Fellow in Clinical Health Psychology at Genesys Regional Medical Center and teaches as an adjunct psychology instructor at the University of Michigan-Flint. Melissa is also an active member of the Michigan Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. She will discuss how volunteering in Kalamazoo and with MPIPP has strengthened her knowledge of people and issues.
SARA VAN WORMER
—
Sara is
the MPIPP program
coordinator as well as 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. Sara will
discuss MPIPP's role of
providing psychological
research to coalition
members.
THE
COMMUNICATIONS
CONNECTION:
Who? What? When? Where?
How?
As the dialog about LGBT issues continues to make the news, MPIPP's communications panel will cover how to develop a multi-faceted public information campaign ranging from telling a personal story to developing coalitions. Our panelists bring a wide perspective to the challenge of bridging the gap between reality and ideology.
RANA ELMIR
—
Rana is a graduate of
Wayne State University's
Journalism School and
Journalism Institute for
Minorities. As the
Communications Director
for ACLU —
Michigan, she works in
conjunction with the
ACLU's legal,
legislative and
development departments
to increase
understanding and
appreciation of the Bill
of Rights and the ACLU's
mission. Fluent in
Arabic, she is the
winner of a number of
awards including the
Chips Quinn Scholars
Program, Wayne State
Media and Ethics
Scholarship and Helen
Thomas Spirit of
Diversity Inaugural
Scholarship and the Rosa
Parks Scholarship. Rana
previously served as
Director of Programs and
Outreach at the American
Arab
Anti-Discrimination
Committee.
PATRICK McALVEY
—
Patrick
holods a degree in
social work from
Michigan State
University and recently
ran the successful
re-election campaign of
Lansing Mayor Virg
Bernero. Last year,
McAlvey went public with
his story about
receiving "ex-gay
therapy" from an Exodus
International affiliate
in Lansing. In addition
to being featured in
LGBT papers and blogs
around the country, the
YouTube video of his
story has garnered over
15,000 views. Patrick
will be discussing how
to tell a sensitive
personal story in the
media.
DIANA POPP
—
Diana is
the communications
coordinator for MPIPP.
She is experienced as a
writer and editor of a
variety of
organizational
communications for
government, non-profits,
and the private sector.
She has also developed
multi-media educational
programs. Her expertise
in developing low-cost,
effective collaborative
programs has received
national recognition.
She will share the
secrets of WIIFM as a
strategy for success.
WALT SORG
—
A native
of suburban Chicago,
Walt started winning
broadcast journalism
awards shortly after
graduating from Michigan
State University. Has
has worked at several
television stations in
Detroit and Lansing and
is the current host of a
three-hour public
affairs radio broadcast
from Lansing. Over the
course of a career in
journalism, Walt has
produced independent
television shows, and
served as a media
consultant to Fortune
100 companies, state
associations, and
government agencies. He
will be talking about
communications from the
reporter's perspective
and offering tips about
how to get media
coverage. Stay tuned . .
.
REGIONAL TEAM BUILDING
If you were among those attending the conference last year, you may have had a sense of "now what?" This year's MPIPP conference will help you answer that question. There will be a time to build stronger regional alliances that include offering the "Know Us Project" at a local/regional level.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
To attend the MPIPP conference, BUILDING CONNECTIONS: Advocacy and Expertise, you should register by no later than Thursday, January 21.
Registration is quick and easy — just click here.
The conference form provides a map to the conference location, Country House Catering, just east of Lansing with easy access from I-96.
There is no cost to attend this engaging one-day conference.
For additional questions, please email Sara.mpipp@gmail.com.
NEARBY HOTELS
For those desiring overnight accommodations before or after the conference, the following hotels are within 3-4 miles of the conference site:
Fairfield Inn East
Lansing
2335 Woodlake Drive
Okemos MI
Phone: (517) 347-1000
Holiday Inn Express &
Suites
University Park Drive
Okemos MI
Phone: (517) 349-8700
Comfort Inn
University Park
Drive
Okemos MI
Phone: (517) 347-6690
Staybridge Suites
Okemos-Lansing
3553 Meridian
Crossings Drive
Okemos MI 48864
Phone: (517) 347-3044