at the
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ABOUT TONIGHT’S SPEAKER,
MIA BIRDSONG MIA BIRDSONG is a pathfinder, community curator, and storyteller who steadily engages the leadership and wisdom of people experiencing injustice to chart new visions of American life. She has a gift for making visible and leveraging the brilliance of everyday people so that our collective gifts reach larger spheres of influence, cultural and political change, and create wellbeing for everyone. In her book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community, Mia charts swaths of community life and points us toward the promise of our collective vitality. In “More Than Enough,” her podcast miniseries from THE NATION, she expands the current guaranteed income movement by tapping into the voices and visions of low-income people. Previously, as founding Co-Director of Family Story, Mia lifted up a new national story about what makes a good family. As Vice President of the Family Independence Initiative, she leveraged the power of data and stories to illuminate and accelerate the initiative low-income families take to improve their lives.
Believing that, taken collectively, we are the guides we most need, Mia has made an art out of inviting people into rich explorations of how we map paths forward. Her public conversations, like the New America series centering Black women as agents of change and her 2015 TED talk “The Story We Tell About Poverty Isn’t True,” draw targeted attention to the stories of people who are finding their way into leadership roles despite myriad barriers, while also highlighting the vibrant terrain of all marginalized people who are leading on the ground and solving for tomorrow. Mia is a Senior Fellow of the Economic Security Project. She was an inaugural Ascend Fellow and faculty member with The Aspen Institute, a New America California Fellow, and Advocatein-Residence with University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Mia lives and dreams big on the occupied land of the Chochenyo Ohlone people (AKA Oakland, CA).
WELCOME Dana Lazowski Chair, Women at the Center
READY AND ABLE IN 2021 Ian Lang Chief Executive Officer
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
CLIENT STORY Nicole Hollis
emcee KARIN MILLER
I’M WITH EDNA Georgia Johnson Board President
HOW WE SHOW UP: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, And Community Mia Birdsong Tiziana Dearing, Moderator
DEAR FRIENDS,
In the last eleven months, we have seen the ways that meaningful connection is more important than ever. In these times of social distance and uncertainty, we have all had to learn new ways to show up for each other and those close to our hearts. And here we are again, together in a new format but with the same passion and commitment as we show up for women and girls in our community. It is fitting that this year we welcome Mia Birdsong as our Women at the Center 2021 Kickoff speaker. In her new book, How We Show Up, Mia reminds us that we can find strength in community and explores the liberation in embracing vulnerability and connectedness. We are honored to have her join us and look forward to sharing time together this evening. The mental health and economic impacts of the COVID pandemic will be deep and enduring, but with your continued support, The Brookline Center will redouble our efforts, expanding services and innovating new approaches to community mental health that meet this moment. By showing up tonight, you are ensuring that women and girls in our community will be able to access timely, affordable care, so that they may heal, hope, and thrive in the months and years ahead. Your caring and enthusiasm make so much possible, and we are profoundly grateful for your presence here with us. Thank you for being a part of Women at the Center, and enjoy the program.
DANA LAZOWSKI Chair, Women at the Center
T H A N K YO U
to our
GENEROUS SPONSORS
CHAMPION Allison Allyn Sandy Bakalar Ellen Blumenthal* June Duchesne Dana Lazowski* Jaime Smoller
PARTNER Mady Donoff* Michele Fishel*
Mark Jensen & Marjorie Thomsen
Nanette Jacobson
Georgia Johnson*
Amy Luster
Kate Kelley* Nancy Lincoln & Reddi Ford Pamela Lodish Karin Miller Jodi Sokoloff Margaret Talmers Robin Warsh*
Jane Kaplan Peck Mary McConnell Suzanne Modigliani Kim Nelson Sari Rotter* Suzanne Salamon Harriet Samuelson Sharon Shapiro Carol Steinman*
Jacque Francona*
FRIEND
Brenda Freishtat
Robin Atlas & Talia Herman
Mary Weitzel
Jennifer Gangadharan
Donna Wnuck
Soumen Ganguly & Sutanuka Lahiri Wendy Gordon
Kathy Gardner
Manon Hatvany
Ilene Greenberg
Chobee Hoy
Kathryn Hintz
*Women at the Center Leadership Committee Sponsors as of January 28, 2021
Nancy Vineberg Susan Winshall Kristina Yee Vitullo*
WOMEN
at the
C E N T E R & YO U
THROUGH dynamic social, philanthropic, and volunteer initiatives, Women at the Center unites women to build support for women and girls’ mental health, transforming lives and deepening community. This year, we're excited that we can bring together women from across the country to celebrate connection and show up for each other. Together, as donors and volunteers, we are expanding care access and safeguarding the wellbeing of women and girls in our community. Your support tonight will provide integrated mental health and social services, in a safe and welcoming environment, to all who need support. All charitable contributions made this evening will support services for women and girls at The Brookline Center.
ABOUT
the
BROOKLINE CENTER
THE BROOKLINE CENTER for Community Mental Health provides access to outstanding, affordable mental health care and community-based social services that help individuals and families lead healthier, safer lives while building the strongest community possible. An independent community mental health center, The Brookline Center’s doors are open to everyone, serving individuals and families facing adverse life circumstances or struggling with mental health issues, regardless of their ability to pay. We fill unmet needs, coordinate diverse services, and create a safety net of support for children, adults, and families as they regain health and stability. From our home on Garrison Road and through community-based programs and services that reach into Greater Boston, throughout Massachusetts, and beyond, The Brookline Center creates hope, healing, and new possibilities for all.
PRESIDENT
Michele Fishel
Sergio Modigliani
Georgia Johnson
Jacque Francona
Michael Powell
VICE PRESIDENT
Thomas Gallitano
Harriet Samuelson
Sidhu Gangadharan
Jaime Smoller
Soumen Ganguly
Leah Stearns
Nanette Jacobson
Susan Winshall
Mark Jensen
EMERITUS
Kristina Yee Vitullo
SECRETARY Carol Steinman
TREASURER Peter Norstrand Phyllis Adelson Robin A. Atlas, MD Sandra Bakalar Ellen Blumenthal June Duchesne
Jane Kaplan Peck Dana Lazowski Nancy Lincoln Pamela Lodish Nathaniel Mason Mike Mayo Karin Miller
Chobee Hoy Shirley Partoll Jeff Resnick Gloria Rudisch, MD Barbara Senecal Peg Senturia Linda Zindler
HOW
to
ACCESS HELP
The Brookline Center offers a full range of outpatient mental health services, including: • Individual, group, and family counseling
• Psychopharmacology
• School-based counseling, consultation, and prevention
• In-home therapy for families in crisis
• Intensive wraparound support for teens
• Care coordination for adults and children with serious mental illness
• Homelessness prevention and emergency assistance
• Medical and mental health care integration services
We accept most forms of insurance; some programs are offered on a sliding scale or at no cost to participants. Please call us at 617-277-8107 if you or a loved one needs care.
BUILD
on
E D N A’ S V I S I O N
A GIFTED INNOVATOR and advocate for people living with mental illness, Edna Stein founded The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health in 1958. Today, we build on her vision, ensuring that everyone in our community has access to critical mental health services. Join the Edna Stein Leadership Giving Society tonight with a gift or pledge of $1,000 or more or sign up for a monthly gift of $100.*
• Become part of a dedicated group of Center supporters with a shared commitment to community wellbeing.
• Receive recognition in Center communications, invitations to special EDNA events, and updates on the impact of your support. • Expand access to care so that every adult and child in our community can access support in times of need. *Total contribution of $1,200 over 12 months
EDNA STEIN LEADERSHIP GIVING SOCIETY LISTING We are honored to recognize the generosity and commitment of our Edna Stein Society members. David and Cheryl Cotney AndrĂŠ and Marilyn Danesh Mady and Bruce Donoff June and Laurent Duchesne Eran and Yukiko Egozy Chad Ellis and Patricia Blais Michele Fishel and Barry Weisman Jacque Francona Brenda and Harvey Freishtat Tom Gallitano and Margaret Talmers Sidhu and Jennifer Gangadharan Soumen Ganguly and Sutanuka Lahiri Kathy Gardner and Richard Whitehead Cindy and Roger Goldstein Amanda and Campe Goodman Wendy and Peter Gordon Ilene Greenberg and Michael Maynard Karen Greenberg and Richard Rudman Peter and Karlyn Grimes Eli and Sheri Gurock Masu Haque and Badar Khan Manon Hatvany and Marc Roudebush Kathryn Hintz Marie and George Hoguet Chobee Hoy Nanette and Daniel Jacobson Mark Jensen and Marjorie Thomsen Georgia and Bruce Johnson Jane Kaplan Peck and Nathan Peck Cathy and Ken Kaplan Judy Katz and Phillip Mayfield Kate and Stephen Kelley Dana and David Lazowski Deborah Levey and Crispin Weinberg Norman Levey Persis Levy Elizabeth Liebow Nancy Lincoln and Reddi Ford Pamela and Harvey Lodish Amy and Thomas Luster Josh and Jessica Lutzker
Robin MacIlroy and William Spears Alexis Maharam Flip and Toddy Mason Mike Mayo and Tina Feingold Mary and Michael McConnell Karin and Leonard Miller Sergio and Suzanne Modigliani Kim Nelson and Seth Evans William F. Ganong, III and Marilyn Newman Emily Newmann Peter Norstrand and Katherine Tallman Eileen and Kevin O'Boy David Oswald Kate Poverman and Raphael Bueno Devon and Michael Powell Susan and Paul Ridker Mike Ross Sari Rotter and William Gardner Suzanne Salamon and Alan Einhorn Harriet Samuelson Roberta Schnoor William Sellers and Marianne Lee Peg and Stephen Senturia Sharon and Rony Shapiro Rachel and Philip Sher Jaime and Kenneth Smoller Susan and James Snider Jodi Sokoloff Laura Staich and Philip Ruedi Gail Stein Carol and Ted Steinman Toni and Robert Strassler Liz Sullivan and William Robertson Ellie Svenson Barbara Tyrrell John and Barbara VanScoyoc Nancy Vineberg Robin Warsh Mary Weitzel and David Halfpenny Austin Wertheimer and Caryl Goodman Henry and Barbara White Susan Winshall Donna and Wayne Wnuck Kristina Yee Vitullo and Josh Vitullo Audrey and Harris Yett Sarah and Marc Zimman Ellen Ziskind
FY21 Edna Stein Leadership Giving Society as of January 28, 2021
41 Garrison Road Brookline, MA 02445 617-277-8107 | www.brooklinecenter.org