Upcoming Projects / News

UPCOMING BOOK RELEASE:  Project Return: The Stephan Rivera Story, written by Wendy Almasy and Brian Canning is a true story that takes the reader on a journey that is unbelievable but true.  Stephan Rivera has schizophrenia – but it doesn’t have him.  His is a journey, albeit tough, from the barrios of the California desert in the sixties and seventies, to incarceration, lock downs, train rides to Canada, and 22 years living on Los Angeles Sid Row.

“Some people would look at Stephan’s story as a sad tale of woe, but he does not,” said Canning.   “It would be easy to tell a tale of broken systems and living on the outskirts of reality, non med compliance, and so on…but we chronicle the story up until this year, and his on-going recovery.  We think it is an American Success story…and now it is he, and his beautiful wife who are giving back to the communities from whence they’ve come.”
Both Canning and Almasy have been Mental Health advocates and feel that stories like this help to break stigma.  “This is not the Soloist”, said Almasy. “This doesn’t have an angle like that to be trumpeted.   Thousands of people have passed Stephan during his life on the streets.  Many, like most on skid row don’t see faces, or sons, daughters or husbands.  Our book seeks to give character to what some people see as discarded shells of life.”

The book is due for release for the Holiday Season.

BEBE MOORE CAMPBELL NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSITY MONTH
Last year, spearheaded by Nancy Carter and the staff at NAMI Urban Los Angeles, events took place all over LA that celebrated the life and the tireless efforts of BeBe Moore Campbell, acclaimed best – selling author and advocate.  
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Campbell moved to Los Angeles and became one of the most prolific writers in America. Her “72 Hour Hold” is a must read for family members, as is “My Mommy is Angry”. Her contributions did not go un noticed. “BeBe was a sister, a savior and a saint.” Said Nancy Carter of NAMI Urban Los Angeles. “I can think of nobody else who is more deserving of an honor to have a month dedicated to her passion and perserverance”.

BeBe Moore Campbell passed away from complications due to brain cancer in December of 2007.  Congress passed the proclamation honoring her in spring of 2008.

“This year, local events were planned.”   Said Carter.  “Next year, we are already planning for a comprehensive national celebration that includes education, music and art.”

"NAMI Inglewood, at that time it was not Urban Los Angeles, probably helped to save both Wendy and myself at a difficult time dealing with family members in severe crisis.”, said Brian Canning, co-founder of the Free Your Mind Projects with Wendy Almasy.  “We could see first hand that, primarily in communities of color, the understanding and treatment, and management of many Mental Health issues is completely underserved.  In areas like Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New York City and others – the underserved populations are LARGER than the majority.  We can’t wait for propositions and bills to fill the need, outreach has to begin to educate at a young age.”
Canning and Almasy have built their careers on outreach to underserved communities and the mental health issue is one very close to their hearts.  “We’re planning for a local concert and already have media support and a venue with great partners” said Canning.  “It’s the last cause to come out of the closet, but let’s face it – we’re also talking about saving lives.”

Free Your Mind Projects is also currently developing similar events and media outreach around the country similar to our Los Angeles project (see Success Stories).  Our next events are planned to occur again in Los Angeles and in New York and Washington DC as well as other major metropolitan areas.  Please contact us at info@fymps.com to inquire about events for your organization or area.

 
Co-founder Brian Canning congratulates Dr. Southard and Darrell Steinberg on their hard work for helping the mentally ill.