Welcome to the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community
The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) supports healing and empowerment for our broader communities and people who have been impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, extreme states, homelessness, problems with substances, and other life-interrupting challenges through:
- Peer-to-peer support & genuine human relationships
- Alternative Healing Practices
- Learning Opportunities
- Advocacy
Essential to our work is recognizing and undoing systemic injustices such as racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, transmisogyny, and psychiatric oppression.
The RLC is made up of PEOPLE (not places) and is wherever and however YOU and others from the community may choose to connect. Together, we offer a variety of events, workshops, trainings, advocacy and leadership councils, as well as a peer support line, three resource centers (Springfield, Greenfield, and Holyoke) and a Peer Respite in Northampton. Above all else, we create space for anyone who has a genuine interest in taking part in our community and holding its values to share and find connection, information, ideas and opportunities to make change in their own lives and/or the community around them. Our shared experiences and ‘humanness’ are what unite us. Our stories, collective wisdom and strength are what guide us and our community forward.
The Recovery Learning Community (RLC) is a peer-run project providing supports to individuals with lived experience. One of the founding concepts behind the RLC is that human relationships with people are healing, particularly when those people have similar experiences. And so, above all else, the RLC strives to create forums through which human relationships, community and a regional network of supports can develop. On a day-to-day basis, that effort may take the form of a community meeting, a support group, a computer workshop and/or simply offering a safe space where people can communicate with others or simply be. The RLC also acts a clearing house for information about other resources in the community.
The Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community is funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the United Way of Franklin County, and a variety of private foundations and donations.
DMH & The Drug Sniffing Dogs
On Thursday, September 12, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health held a public hearing on changes in regulations that would allow them to make use of drug sniffing dogs in state psychiatric facilities. Over two dozen people made their way to Staniford Street in Boston, some driving in all the way from Western Massachusetts for the opportunity to be heard.
According to Andy Beresky, Director of Recovery Supports at the Center for Human Development, “The hearing opened with testimony from some of the employees at Worcester State Hospital, and painted a dismal and fearful portrait of an unsafe, prison-like environment where the introduction of more and more people who are held there for criminal involvement were bringing in weapons, substances, and all sorts of contraband, and that other people staying in the hospital were afraid to come out of their rooms. It all seemed very heavy handed and fear-based, like something out of a dystopian novel.”
Perhaps most interesting in Beresky’s report back was the fact that people were simultaneously arguing in favor of bringing in the dogs while also recognizing they likely won’t work. In his own words: “There was also a near consensus that this policy change to allow drug sniffing dogs was largely symbolic, no matter if people were for or against the measure, which begs the question of why the Department Of Mental Health is going through with it in the first place.”
Zoe Savage, Coordinator of the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community’s peer supports at Vibra Hospital in Springfield was also present. She reported that she and others spoke to the potential trauma that the presence of drug dogs could add to, but she didn’t just offer critique. She also offered an alternative focus. What must actually be emphasized, she said, is “looking at factors occurring at the hospital which contribute to feelings of despair and wanting to use, such as constant sleep disruption, enforced medication, disconnection from friends and family, as well as understaffing and insufficiently trained staff.”
Yet another voice standing in opposition of drug sniffing dogs was that of Ruthie Poole, a member of M-POWER. She spoke from a personal perspective: “The proposal to bring drug sniffing dogs into any psychiatric hospital is a bad idea. For me, being locked in a psychiatric hospital was one of the most traumatic experiences I have ever had. Like many people, I have had some bad interactions that have left me fearful of the police. I cannot imagine the terror I would experience if police officers came in with dogs while I was locked on a psychiatric unit. Instead, DMH should increase the number of peer specialists and recovery coaches available to patients as well as increasing harm reduction efforts such as making sure Narcan is readily available for all patients and staff.”
Points were also shared directly from the Western Mass RLC’s ‘Talking Points’ sheet which emphasized the lack of reliability of drug sniffing dogs, and how dog handlers consistently pass along their own biases to the dogs. The talking points can be viewed here: tiny.cc/DrugDogs
Not all testimony was voiced in person. Some was also submitted directly to DMH in writing. Western Mass RLC Director, Sera Davidow, was among those who were out of state at the time of the hearing. Not known for brevity, Davidow re-capped several points from the aforementioned ‘Talking Points’ sheet, and concluded her statement with the following:
“I would also like to point out that there has been a serious breach of trust with the peer support community, and all those of us who've been hospitalized on a psychiatric unit at any point in our lives. DMH was not transparent about what was happening at Worcester State Hospital at any point, even at in-person meetings where we were told that restrictions were being lifted when that was not fully accurate. I have understood from at least some officials at DMH that there is some hope and intent to rebuild that trust. But I want to be really clear about this:
If you allow drug sniffing dogs to enter these facilities and turn them into even more prison-like, hostile, adversarial environments than they already sometimes can be, there may be no coming back from that decision. And so, the question I wish to leave you with is: Would it be worth it to breach trust knowing that:
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- The dogs are highly ineffective
- They've been demonstrated to increase hostile and adversarial energies in environments
- They've been demonstrated to decrease potential for therapeutic impact
The facts are clear, so if your answer to this question is 'yes,' I hope you will also be able to state why you care more about images and illusions than you do about the voice, choice, experience, and wisdom of the community of people it is your mission to support.”
And now begins the waiting game. What will DMH decide?
Group Cancellation 9/11/19
Unfortunately,the Westfield Alternatives to Suicide Group that meets at 36 Court Street from 6:30-8pm will be cancelled on 9/18/19. The facilitators will be away for training. It should return the following week.
Talking Points Against Drug Sniffing Dogs
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) will hold a public hearing for people to offer their opinions on whether or not it is acceptable for them to use drug sniffing dogs in their efforts to keep Worcester State Hospital (and possibly other hospitals) free of drugs. Laws have already been amended to allow for the use of drug sniffing dogs in these facilities (see section in red HERE). In September, DMH will also be holding a public hearing to help them decide whether or not they will actually take advantage of these new changes. The hearing will take place on September 12 from 2pm to 4pm in Boston. You can learn more on the details of the hearing HERE. Comments can be offered there verbally or in writing (or both) or by e-mail (no later than September 12) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We offer the following talking points for your consideration below:
* Drug sniffing dogs are wrong a majority of the time. According to research, false positives (a dog alerting to the presence of drugs when drugs are not ultimately found) ranges from about 63 to 82% of the time. (RMIT ABC Fact Check)
* Drug sniffing dogs are heavily influenced by the bias of their handlers. For example, one study found that drug sniffing dogs had an accuracy rate of 44% during stopped vehicle checks, but that that accuracy rate dropped to 27% when the driver was latinx. (Chicago Tribune)
Strength in Together
A Statement from Western Mass RLC Director, Sera Davidow
I write this on behalf of the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC). I also write it as someone who was quite directly impacted by a school shooting that took place back in 1992 at Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. That shooting happened 20 years to the day before Newtown. I knew both the person who perpetrated the violence, and one of the people he murdered, Galen Gibson, who was in my entering class of 27 kids in the winter of ‘91.
My message is simple: This violence cannot be blamed on what society calls “mental illness.”
On August 5th, CBS News published an article detailing the number of mass shootings to date in 2019: 255 shootings in 217 days. (At least) three of them took place in just the last week, resulting in a total of 34 fatalities and another 66 injured. Investigations into each incident are underway, but we’ve already learned that the young man in California had a target list that included various religious institutions, the young man in Ohio had a "rape" list that included women who’d turned him down for dates, and the young man in Texas cited the “Hispanic invasion” as part of his motivation (while also praising the young man in New Zealand who intentionally targeted Muslims). Technically, only two of the three met the threshold of “mass shooting,” because the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has declared there must be four fatalities in a single incident in order to qualify. Meanwhile, Donald Trump gave a nod to racism and white supremacy (without acknowledging his own contributions to the same), then moving on to suggest that people with psychiatric diagnoses should be “involuntarily confined” to “prevent mass shootings." His remarks cited the “mentally ill monsters” that must be stopped.
But, this violence cannot be blamed on what society calls “mental illness.”
And Our New Name is...
After several go rounds and surveys and input from lots of different places, we have settled on:
Wildflower Alliance
What is the significance of wild flowers?: Since there beginning of RLC existence, our logo has been a boot with flowers. The boot is worn and torn, and meant to represent the bumps and bruises we experience on our path through life, while the flowers are meant to represent the beauty and growth that are born of that journey. It was created by Janice Sorensen who was a member of the original Guiding Council of Western Mass (formed a couple of years before the RLC was funded), and also worked as the RLC's County Coordinator in Franklin County (among other contributions). Recently, Janice reminded us that the daisies pictured in the boot are actually one of the most popular and well known wild flowers around. So, in some ways, this name represents coming into alignment with our visual representation (logo).
The significance goes beyond just that, though. Wild flowers are also often mistaken for something to be gotten rid of, as weeds. They are misunderstood, and sometimes their beauty is ignored or devalued. Yet, wild flowers are strong, and able to grow and flourish in a variety of places. Some wild flowers (like dandelions, for example), form tremendously strong underground networking systems with their roots, and represent survival even in the most challenging conditions.
Ultimately, for all these reasons, we see wild flowers as being much like ourselves: Sometimes our power, beauty, and wisdom gets overlooked or dismissed. Yet, we remain strong and resilient (able to bounce back from the bad things that happen to us), and through connection with others, we are able to build networks that can help us survive the most difficult storms. Our potential for growth is great, if given a chance.
Creating Kaleidoscope
None of us is just one thing - we hold many identities. We don't belong inboxes, so we're breaking free! Do you have a story to tell/sing/act? Do you want to help produce? Join us for the creation of Kaleidoscope, Our Stories, a play about intersectionality, as it relates to queer lives. All sessions will be facilitated by Rev. Louis Mitchell.
We will be meeting with facilitator, Louis Mitchell, over the course of three sessions to create and brainstorm together. The fourth session will be an opportunity to perform and share what we've created.
These sessions are open both to people who want to perform, and those who want to support performers from behind the scenes.
Sessions will take place as follows:
Creation Session: Thursday, September 5th, 6pm to 7:30p
Creation Session: Friday, September 6th, 6pm to 7:30pm
Creation Session: Thursday, September 19th, 6pm to 7:30pm
Performance: Friday, September 20th (exact length and times to be determined by the group)
All sessions will meet at the Western Mass RLC's Holyoke Center, 199 High Street. (On street parking is available free 6pm and on every day, as well as all day on side streets)
Although people are welcome to drop-in to sessions, we hope to find a core group of people interested in participating in all four! Although registration is requested to help us prepare, people are also welcome to attend even if they forgot or missed the opportunity to sign up.
About Rev. Louis Mitchell: Rev. Louis Mitchell is a pioneering "intentional man". Known around the country and abroad as an elder, advocate, teacher and preacher.
He is a confirmed believer in the restorative power of truth telling in the voices of those whose stories are often told about them rather than with them.
SIGN UP HERE!!
Let's see what we can create together!
