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Recovery Happens
Illuminating pathways toward opportunity, possibility, wellness and independence.
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Restoration Society, Inc., 66 Englewood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214
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September is Suicide Prevention Month
Including Suicide Prevention Week and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day
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Whole Health at VA WNY
Veterans' Corner - By Heidi O.
Have you ever been asked what you want your health for? That is the question behind a VA national program called Whole Health. You may be familiar with the eight dimensions of wellness. Whole health creates a personalized health plan based around your desires and needs for health. It combines what you see as traditional medical care with complimentary approaches to manage your mental and physical disabilities. Instead of a process where a doctor diagnoses and then treats a problem the whole health approach is to include you and make you the center of the process. Similar to the eight dimensions of wellness, there are areas of whole health that you can make goals and work on toward a healthier lifestyle. The whole health approach starts with a questionnaire that allows you to evaluate your wellness in different aspects, and progresses to an individualized plan. The VA of WNY will now have a whole health clinic available to Veterans.
On October 6, 2021 the WNY VA Healthcare System will be having a Whole Health fair for Veterans, and family members, and VA employees. The location will be outdoors in Veterans Park with a rain location in 301 Freedom Hall. There will be two times for participation. 10 am -12 pm for Veterans and family members, and 12 pm -2 pm for VA employees.
If you are not a Veteran ask yourself the question what purpose you want your health for, including your mental health.
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September Playlist by Carolyn B. |
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For September’s playlist, I chose to musically acknowledge a variety of holidays/observances that occur throughout the month. If you’re reading this online, don’t forget to click on the song titles to listen via YouTube.
“How Can I Be Sure?”- Dusty Springfield
September 1st is National No Rhyme or Reason Day. There is no other reason I could find for Dusty to be on this list, and I must include her every month. That means I chose it with reason. Fun paradox, isn’t it?
“Ode to Billy Joe”- Bobbie Gentry
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. The lyrics tell a fictional story of a family’s reaction to a local boy’s suicide. When reflecting on the lyrics, some listeners think the family members are indifferent towards the tragedy, but I believe they were just not comfortable talking about it. In 1967, suicide was not part of typical dinnertime conversation. Reaching #1 on the Billboard chart, the song consequently brought the topic of suicide to millions of listeners worldwide. Fun fact: Bobbie Gentry swears she will never reveal what “she and Billie Joe was throwing off the Tallahatchie Bridge.”
“Try to Remember”- The Fantasticks
When I think of songs about September, this one always comes to mind. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I hope you enjoy it, too.
“Break my Stride”- Matthew Wilder
If you are ever having a bad day, try to turn it around by listening to “Break My Stride.” Observe Positive Thinking Day by listening to it on September 13th.
“Respect”- Aretha Franklin
September 18th is National Respect Day, so take a minute (or 2 minutes and 27 seconds) to celebrate it with Aretha Franklin.
“Long Live Love”- Sandie Shaw
National First Love Day is September 18th, and this is one of my favorite songs about love. Its energy perfectly represents the excitement of new love with an upbeat sound and lyrics. I love everything about it.
“Thank You For the Music”- ABBA
September 21st is National Gratitude Day. This is one of my favorite songs about gratitude, and ABBA is my favorite band.
“Autumn in New York”- Sarah Vaughan
My favorite season is Autumn. The Autumnal Equinox is on September 22nd and many of us live in New York. That means we get to live this song for 91 days.
“Oh! Look at Me Now”- Frank Sinatra
September is Self Improvement Month, and this is a song about recognizing improvement.
“I’m Free”- The Who
September is National Recovery Month. This song is from The Who’s rock opera Tommy. In this song, Tommy uses his recovery story to inspire others to break free from their own struggles.
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YOUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT TO US!
While we continue to wear masks and observe social distancing at all of our RSI facilities, we encourage our staff and customers to take advantage of FREE vaccine opportunities for maximum protection against Covid-19.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.
Text your zip code to 438829
Call 1-800-232-0233
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WE ASSURE YOU, WE'RE OPEN AND WE NEED YOU! |
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SNACK BAR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED @Empowerment Academy!
ATTN: EA Customers!
Are you looking for opportunities to increase your work experience, earn professional references, and enjoy the benefits of helping others?
Contact Empowerment Academy at
(716) 884-5216 x 498 for more information!
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YES, the EA Snack Shop IS OPEN!
Restrictions come and go, but the EA Snack Shop continues offering the snacks and beverages you love at GREAT prices!
Visit us @ 327 Elm St. M-F 9am-9pm or Sat-Sun 9am-1pm
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FREE & Private TelementalHealth Booth! |
Empowerment Academy is home to a FREE and PRIVATE telementalhealth booth! Use our booth to:
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Get QUICK and EASY access to mental health diagnosis and treatment.
- Meet virtually with your own telehealth providers.
Don’t Fear Technology!
We are here to help you learn it!
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EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
Need Work? Struggling to get back into the job market?
We can help you to overcome barriers such as: lack of work history, coping with mental health disabilities at work, learning new tasks, and more!
Call one of our ACE Employment offices today:
Erie County: (716) 884-5216 x 410
Genesee County: (585) 343-9162
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I Am a Unique Part of the Universe
by Amina Barnes
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I, Aminah Barnes, is a person of strong faith in my God (Allah) and in all of his Prophets (peace upon them). I enjoy my family, children and advocating for others. I have a strong desire to give back to this world and that is something I do as much as possible. My talent do not belong only to me I must spread the seed and watch it grow. The wisdom, knowledge, understanding that has been given to is not for me to harness for myself. It is to help other people.
Motherhood and being a mother has been one of my greatest joys. While I have not been as good as some I know deep in my heart, that given what I have. I have been the best loving, caring mother I could be. Like many mothers there was no guide that told us how to love, care or feel for our children, so we keep pushing forward. I am learning to forgive myself for my past so I can better prepare for my new future in leave my past so I can better prepare for my new future in life. My past has all ready happened, now I am living for the present moment and look forward to the future.
Life is precious and so is freedom and understanding boundaries because it is the boundaries that he to creak the safe space and environment for me.
I will no longer measure myself or compare myself to others because I am an individual who is unique to this universe. So, I must start accepting myself as Allah (God) made me because I have purpose.
One thing I’ve learned about life is that failure leads to success. It allows us to learn from our mistakes and grow. I am capable of doing things in life that I need and right now I’m going to stop being my own critic and trust in myself and Allah more. I want freedom from the past because in this world I have endured much but right now its time to heal. I will find my own self-worth and harness the power within me.
I will learn to live within my own integrity and in doing so I will learn that its ok to say me because I need to comfortable with myself and my decision. I will take ownership of me.
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COVID-19 ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
Are you facing eviction because of income loss due to Covid-19? Financial Assitance may be available! CALL 211 to see if you qualify for our Covid-19 Assistance (CALM) program.
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Check Out Alicia's Artwork!
WOW! -->
Are you artistic, or just wish to be?
Join the Art Studio Team
on Thursday Afternoons!
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RSI's Art Studio
now @ Empowerment Academy!
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The Art Studio Team meets Thursday from 4-6pm at 327 Elm Street
Join our community of artists
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IF YOU SEE SOMETHING - SAY SOMETHING!
Did you know that our Peer Advisory Council is there to take action on the issues that are important to YOU? If you see ways that our programs can improve, come to one of our counclil meetings, or reach out to our Coordinator of Peer Services, Adam Selon, at 716-208-8126 aselon@rsiwny.org
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BECOME A CERTIFIED PEER!
Join our peer study group, 3-6pm Fridays at Empowerment Academy (327 Elm Street).
If you love to help people and you have lived experience with a mental health struggle or major life disruption (such as trauma, homelessness, or incarceration), you may have a rewarding career waiting for you! To find out more about becoming a Certified Peer Specialist, and to get assistance with the Academy of Peer Services online classes,
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OPEN SUBMISSIONS
SEE YOUR WORK HERE!
We want to share YOUR art, writing, events, pictures and recovery stories here! Please send anything you want to see published in our newsletter to newsletter@rsiwny.org
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Essay About James Taylor – Part 2
By: Tim Malley
There are many fascinating aspects to James Taylor's career for example while he was in London in 1968 he appeared on The BBC (he also made another appearance on The BBC which was in 1970 and that was to play two of his songs and those songs were: Carolina in my mind and Fire and Rain.)and one of the songs be sung was his version of The Beatles song 'With a little help from my friends and considering James Taylor's reverence for the Beatles the phrase 'holy host of others standing around me' was one of the lines from his song Carolina in my mind is actually a reference to The Beatles. James Vernon Taylor was born in Boston on March 12th, 1948. James Taylor came from a distinguished family in which his father, Isaac, was the Dean of Surgery at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While his mother Gertrude studied to be a lyrical soprano in Boston, his siblings on the other hand also became fine musicians and those siblings were Alex Taylor (Alex Taylor passed away in 1993 Alex Taylor had a son that he named James who now lives on Martha’s Vineyard anyway as the story goes James Taylor got the inspiration for his second studio album 'Sweet Baby James' from his nephew James.) Kate Taylor_ in fact in 1971 Kate Taylor released her first album which was simply self-titled as: 'Sister Kate’s’ which was released on Columbia records, and Livingston Taylor in fact James Taylor and his siblings used to participate in hootenannies in the Cape Cod area. James originally tried to play the Blues. This was during the time that he met a guitarist by the name of Danny Kortchmer and together they played in various local bands such as The King Bees which both James Taylor and his friend Danny Kortchmer both formed The King Bees in 1965 and they played The Blues (or they at least tried to play the blues according to James Taylor). They covered blues material from the likes of Howlin Wolf, T-bone Walker, Elmore James, and Jimmy Reed among others. Now, James Taylor is a balding 73 (he just turned 73 in March) musician who is still selling out wherever he plays and with 6 Grammy nominations he should be still playing till he's in his 80s why? Because he's a fantastic and gifted individual as well as an American icon.
But not only that but James Taylor has been churning out hit songs for five decades now, songs such as Copperline, Never Die Young and Golden Moments are some of his recent hits from the past few decades. But not only that but James Taylor also has an uncanny ability of finding old songs and making them his own (a good example of this is his excellent version of the Buddy Holly song and I'm referring of course to 'everyday’ James Taylor's guitarist Danny Kortchmer also has the rare ability of finding old songs) other examples of this include 'Mockingbird'. Mockingbird was a huge hit for Inez fox in the early 1960s but then James Taylor (and his then wife Carly Simon) transformed this into a big hit for him and his then wife Carly Simon. That’s why James Taylor has lasted in the music business for five decades because he know he knows he knows his craft and he knows it well and maybe that's why as a singer-songwriter he has very few competitors in the music business who has the awesome talent (James Taylor's talent doesn't just lie in the realm of the music business he's also a talented carpenter he learned to be a carpenter from his older brother Hugh who owns his own construction company, and by the way his older brother Hugh is not in the music business), to stay ahead of everyone else and maybe that's why he's still tops in the music business after five decades amazing just amazing and that describes James Taylor to a T. The End.
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THANK YOU
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
A heartfelt “Thank You” goes out to
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
for their amazing breakfast and lunch donations to Empowerment Academy!
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Molina and Fidelis Health Insurance Reps
will be on-site at Empowerment Academy throughout the month to help with any enrollment or insurance questions!
Call Us at 884-5216 ext. 498 for more information!
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Mental Health Advocates
of WNY
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will be on-site at Empowerment Academy to assist individuals with legal issues
CALL US at
884-5216 ext. 498 for more information
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Donations Welcome!
All donations can be sent via our website:
or can be made through
Friendship Foundation
66 Englewood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
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Restoration Society, Inc.
66 Englewood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 832-2141 Fax (716) 832-0021
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