It is with great pleasure that I announce a couple of extremely positive changes to the Coalition.  We invited Lisa Kolberg-Salopek to become our newest Board member and she has accepted.  Lisa, MSW, LISW has been practicing Social Work for 23 years.  She has a certification in Gerontology and owns Sage In-Home Counseling, a company providing in-home counseling to older adults.  Additionally, she contracts with the Aging and Long Term Services Department of the State of New Mexico to provide geriatric behavioral health trainings and consultations.  We look forward to a long association with Lisa and the opportunity to expand the Coalition's work with issues of suicide in the elderly.

Additionally, I am delighted to announce that our Board member, Laura K Rowland, has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Coalition.  Laura most recently was associated with many aspects of the Tamaya Resort in Bernalillo.  She brings a wealth of organizational and personal skills to the job, is a survivor, and understands the importance of bringing suicide prevention awareness to our state.  Please help me welcome both Laura and Lisa to the Coalition in their new capacities.

We have an exciting program for our next meeting on November 19th. Our confirmed speaker is Dominic Cappello, the new Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator with the NM Department of Health's Office of Injury Prevention. I believe you'll find his talk worthwhile, and hope to see you at the meeting. Learn more about Dominic below.

With warm regards, Joan

Amazing networking opportunities! Find out what's going on in your area and statewide for suicide prevention!  Get the latest suicide prevention information!  See how YOUR participation can help reduce suicide and assist suicide survivors!  Tell us what you think is needed and your ideas to advance the cause!

Guest speaker Dominic Cappello to bring wealth of information and experience to the meeting: 

Dominic Cappello is the new Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator with the NM Department of Health's Office of Injury Prevention. He is a specialist in learning management systems. He is the creator and co-author (with Susan Duron, PhD) of the National Education Association's "Can We Talk?" program, and the author and designer of "Plain Talk for Parents" workshop series, which was part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Plain Talk Initiative. He is also the author and illustrator of Ten Talks Parents Must Have About Violence, and co-author (with Pepper Schwartz, PhD) of Ten Talks Parents Must Have with their Children About Sex and Character, and (with Xenia Becher, MSW) Ten Talks Parents Must Have with their Children About Drugs and Choices. Dominic's award-winning creative direction and whimsical cartoon characters bring a distinctive style to his books, communication activities, web-based learning environments, and animated social satires. He has discussed health and safety issues on Oprah, The Today Show, and ABC News.

DIRECTIONS:  Value Options is in the tall building in a group of office buildings across from Coronado Mall where Cutler crosses Louisiana.  It's easy to find a map on one of the internet map sites.  Call the Coalition cell phone if you get lost:  505-401-9382. 

If you can not be in Albuquerque and would like to join by conference call, please call Laura at the same number for information on how to do that.

Light refreshments, coffee and tea will be served.