The Coalition, a group of 40 statewide organizations advocating together to meet the needs of North Carolinians living with the disease of addiction, developmental disabilities and mental illness, is calling for local community action in addressing the MHDDSA crisis affecting thousands of North Carolinians. The Coalition is encouraging local people to develop community organizing initiatives to spotlight the most pressing needs in their region and promote a dialogue with their Legislators to address these concerns.

Community organizing is an opportunity for local people to come together with other like-minded individuals and work toward common goals. Tad Clodfelter, Chair of The Coalition says, “It is always important and interesting to come to Raleigh and speak with one’s Legislators, however, the real opportunities to educate the public and legislators on the issues affecting people with developmental disabilities, addictive diseases and mental illness is best done locally, in one’s hometown.” Large regional and state-wide events are often too broad in scope to really address the immediate concerns of the small communities where we live. Community organizing initiatives allow for local focus on issues that impact the region most directly.

The story of Harriet Shetler and Beverly Young is one example of community organizing. Young and Shetler, both of whom had sons with mental illness, simply met one day for lunch to discuss their sons and soon found they were meeting regularly and inviting other people with similar interests. Years later, this community organizing initiative developed into the national organization known today as NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. A similar story can be told of The Arc, which was founded by a small group of parents and others interested in educating the public as well as parents about developmental disabilities and the potential children with disabilities possessed. All it took was a few people to come together, decide what was important to them, and develop a plan of action to make it happen.

The Coalition supports the development of community organizing initiatives as a means to most directly and efficiently address the needs of people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and the disease of addiction. There are no requirements to be an organizer other than the ability to facilitate communication among a group of people. The process is easy to follow:

1. Consistency: whatever happens there must be a sense of consistency. People need to know that their valuable time is being used wisely. So, decide before the first meeting a consistent day and time and stick to it. Like the 3rd Tuesday at 3:30pm at the public library conference room.

2. Access free spaces: looking to organizations like the public library or organizations that have available facilities. Keeping cost as low as possible is critical to keeping then momentum going.

3. Start with who you know: gather the choir initially. Find all your friends and ask them to bring another friend. Soon your coalition will grow.

4. Communicate in writing, electronically, and by phone if needed. Using technology like Meet Up, Meeting Wizard, and other such programs are helpful to keep folks engaged.

5. Design an agenda that is easy to follow and can be repeated. Don’t have more than 3 major topics per meeting. It is ok for folks to be detailed and “in the weeds” for issues.

6. Make sure there are minutes that accurately reflect what happens. This is the official record of the group.

7. Once established, after say 3 meetings, begin inviting guests. These could be county commissioners, mayor, state legislators, advocates….

8. The purpose of the group is information and connection. Building bridges is essential.

Those interested in more information on The Coalition and/or advocacy issues may visit the Coalition’s website at www.thecoalitionnc.org.