A place where members make friends and a difference!
The A.W.A.R.E. Center (formerly known as the Rainbow Center) is a peer run drop-in center where members of mental health services can find an accepting community, purpose and empowerment. Our services are rooted in the belief that people can and do recover, and that empowerment is a critical aspect of recovery.

Activities Calendar

Check out what we have planned for spooky October!
EVENTS @ THE A.W.A.R.E. CENTER
Friday Events
10/2 - Movie and Popcorn
10/9 - Pizza Friday (National Pizza Month)
10/16 - Mask Making Party
10/23 - Birthday Bash Bingo!
10/30 - Halloween Party (Disco theme)

Member Meetings
10/8 - Member Forum: come and share your thoughts and ideas for what groups, events, and meals you'd like to see at the AWARE Center.
10/13 - Community Advisory Panel: a great opportunity to share your questions and comments with Community Reach Center
Announcements

Food Bank will go back to original hours 1-4pm Monday-Friday
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
How has the AWARE Center helped you with your recovery?

"The AWARE Center has helped me to get out of my apartment a few days out of the week and socialize with other members and staff. The thing I enjoy most at the center is karaoke; I love to sing my favorite songs and no one makes fun of you for doing it. The staff are great - I've seen many staff leave the center over the 5 years I have been going to it. It's always sad to see them leave but you know they are going on to do better things in their lives just like members are coming and going."

What else has helped you with your recovery?

"I strive to be a lyricist and writing my songs helps put my emotions down on paper and expressing myself. I also love to draw and enjoy hanging out with my best friends Tracy, Roby and his wife Nady, Rich and, best of all, my good friend Doug. Every year we attend a Sci-Fi convention here in Denver called Starfest. I have met lots of TV stars there and got to meet William Shatner last year!

My favorite actor I met there was Richard Dean Anderson who played in MacGyver in the original series. True fans don't talk about the God awful new show that CBS forced on us!

Other things I enjoy are watching anime and reading Manga (those are Japanese comic books that get translated into English for those who don't know what they are). I also enjoy reading regular books, especially Harry Potter - those are the books that really got me to read. 
 
Come hangout with us at the AWAREwolf center! Okay: the AWARE Center! :)"

Member Favorite Movie:
Featuring Joshua Q!

The NeverEnding Story
A.W.A.R.E. Center artist
is Blu S.
TEAM OF THE YEAR!
This year has been one for the books. From COVID-19, to the protests and wildfires, we are grateful to be here to support our members through these tough times. A.W.A.R.E. stayed open through COVID-19, even going as far as calling members daily who were unable to leave their house. We've expanded our peer specialist team, adding two new peer specialists in the last year! Our case management has continued to grow by outreaching to more members and expanding our resources - including our new "Kate Spade Boutique" which will offer clothing and winter items to our members. We're excited to be team of the year and cannot wait to see how the A.W.A.R.E. Center evolves over the coming year.

A HUGE thank you to our members who make
coming to work every single day worth it!
Meet the Staff

Erika Kinsella - she/her/hers
Meet our newest addition to the AWARE peer specialist team! Erika has been working at the AWARE Center for four years, and is still loving it!

What’s one of the best adventures
you have had?
"That’s a tough question! I have had so many awesome adventures with my family and friends – I am very intentional about enjoying a girl’s trip once a year! I’ll tell you about one I have not done yet that I really want to and will do one day!

There’s a service called Pack Up and Go. You get to choose the amount of days you’d like to travel, set your budget, the preferred transportation method, pick your hobbies, and experiences you seek when traveling. They plan the whole thing! A week before you’re given a weather forecast and some recommendations on how to pack. A few days before you receive an envelope with directions to your destination. Key is to not open it until the day of and let it all be a big surprise! Ugh – can’t wait!"

What’s your favorite pastime activity?
"Anything outdoors! I love to hike, camp with my kids, jet ski at the lake, trail ride... anything outdoors I am in! Except snowboard… I am terrible! If I am at home, I am probably just listening to music and making something yummy to eat."
 
What’s the best thing about working at the AWARE Center?
"We’re a big family! We really get to know so many sides of our members."

What has helped you most in your recovery?
"Learning how to re-frame challenging situations, lots of boundary work, and doing things that bring me joy. Things are so much more manageable when I focus on the things I can control."
 
Peer Corner
Did you know that not all “coping skills” are good for you?

Sometimes we do things to “cope” that are actually bad for us. You might not realize that doing these things are ways that you have been coping with stress, symptoms, or triggers—but a lot of the time that is what we are actually doing when we engage in negative behaviors…and they ultimately do us harm. Below is a list of both negative and positive coping mechanisms. Can you check off any of the examples listed in the “Negative” column? If so, and you would like to work on changing those reactions or behaviors, we encourage you to talk to one of A.W.A.R.E.’s Peer Support Specialists about things you can do to decrease your use of the negative, and improve your ability to try out some that are more positive.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an annual designation observed in October.

For many, home is a place of love, warmth, and comfort. It’s somewhere that you know you will be surrounded by care and support, and a nice little break from the busyness of the real world. But for millions of others, home is anything but a sanctuary.

Domestic violence does not discriminate. Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim – or perpetrator – of domestic violence. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of physical violence by a partner every year.

You are not alone!
Are you experiencing domestic violence?

  • If you are in an emergency call 911
  • Call your local DV/IPV programs and shelters to see if they can assist you
  • For anyone affected by abuse and needing support, call 1-800-799-7233. If you are unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474.
Monthly Inspiration
“The advice I’d give to somebody that’s silently struggling is, you don’t have to live that way. You don’t have to struggle in silence. You can be un-silent. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to somebody about it, because it’s really important you share your experience with people so that you can get the help that you need.”

— Demi Lovato
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