National Speaker Mike Veny to Address Mental Health Issues in Iowa

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Sept. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- Professional drummer, Mike Veny will brings his personal story of hope, healing and inspiration for individuals and families living with a serious mental health condition. Veny will headline the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Candlelight Recovery Dinner on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:30-8:30pm. He will be delivering his Transforming Stigma into Strength presentation.


He will then facilitate an interactive drumming session at the Mind & Body Workshop on Thursday, October 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Rock Island. The workshop features presentations from local mental health and wellness experts with a focus on achieving good health and growing in recovery. The program is designed for individuals living with a mental illness and their families, as well as education, social work and health professionals. Continuing education credits are offered. For more information, visit the Nami Greater Mississippi Valley website.

Mike Veny is the founder of http://www.TransformingStigma.com. After suffering from a devastating mental health breakdown in August of 2011, Veny made the decision to use his speaking and drumming skills to serve others. “I believe that growth in any area of your life begins with a willingness to be uncomfortable. In order to transform the stigma surrounding mental health, you must choose to get uncomfortable,” he said. His workshop presentation will be interactive with the audience participating in drumming.

The event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, UnityPoint Health – Trinity and Robert Young Center. A limited number of individual and family member scholarships for the workshop are available through a grant from The Doris and Victor Day Foundation. Please contact the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, AKA Sorority, or NAACP Rock Island and Davenport Chapters.


“National statistics show that one out of four adults is affected by a serious mental illness at any given time. Mental illness does not discriminate. That is why it is important we come together as a community to learn more about how to help individuals find their path to treatment and recovery,” said Rev. Dwight Ford, executive director, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

“As our national organization has formed a new partnership with NAMI, we are scheduling a number of outreach events to provide true help for our community members. We look forward to hearing Mr. Veny’s perspective,” said Vickie F. Schwass, President, Xi Eta Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.