President’s Message by Diana Wickowicz

“Let knowledge grow from more to more.” - Unknown

It’s clearly autumn! We identify it throughout all of our senses. Football has begun. Our Indian summer is definitely gone. Crispness is in the air and the children are well settled back in school for another year of education. EDUCATION -is one of the cornerstones of our mission statement. It seems to be a timely focus for attention. Education is a major focus of NAMI. “A person should have enough education so he doesn’t have to look up to anyone. He should also have enough to be wise enough not to look down on anyone.” E.C. McKenzie. Education is the first step of healing both for our loved ones and ourselves. It allows us to begin to understand our experience with our loved ones. It also allows our family members to begin to make sense of their own experience. It allows us to begin to not take personally the dynamics that we experience around us. Understanding enhances compassion both on a personal level and a communal level. What is more important than showing compassion?

This is a journey that we have all embarked on. Let’s do it with passion and purpose. There is so much that NAMI can do as an organization. We have nuclear families and extended families to educate. We have teachers and school systems, children and their classmates all of whom need information. We need law enforcement agencies, communities, and neighborhoods to become more knowledgeable about brain disorders. It’s our responsibility. This is part of the journey that we all share. Education is the key to compassion and acceptance. What MORE could we do for our loved ones and all those we don’t know but love.

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.