Finalist for Citizens Service Before Self Award

In April 2011 Fellowship Place founder Phyllis McDowell was selected as one of 20 finalists for the Citizens Service Before Self Award, for her efforts to develop a social program for people with serious mental illness that eventually evolved into Fellowship Place, an agency that provides a broad range of support and rehabilitation services, including housing, vocational services, case management, and counseling to adults recovering from mental illness. Citizen Service Before Self Honors are given out by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, to individuals who have demonstrated courage and selfless service in their civilian lives, a nominee’s actions must epitomize the concept of “service before self and must be performed “above and beyond” one’s professional area of responsibility or conduct. Hundreds of nominations were received from all over the country. McDowell has devoted her life to the organization which today, in its 50th year of existence, serves more than 600 individuals per year. McDowell continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Connecticut and to her fellow Americans.

8th Annual Dr. Albert J. Solnit Memorial Lecture: a discussion with Author Randye Kaye

On Thursday, June 9, 2011 Fellowship Place hosted our 8th annual Annual Dr. Albert J. Solnit Memorial Lecture: a discussion with Author Randye Kaye. Ms. Kaye’s book “Ben behind his voices: one family’s journey from the chaos of schizophrenia to hope”, will be published by Rowman and Littlefield in September 2011.

Held at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale, over 50 people braved the stormy weather that evening to hear Randye share her experiences with her son who suffers from schizophrenia, how mental Illness affects the whole family and how they helped guide him on his recovery journey as he went from 7 hospitalizations to now 4 semesters on the Deans List at his school. Following the Author’s presentation, Fellowship hosted a panel discussion with the audience and a coffee reception. The Panel included:

  • Daniel M. Koenigsberg, MD, Former Chairman, Dept. of Psychiatry, Hospital of St. Raphael, Associate Clinical Professor, Yale Medical School
  • Selby Jacobs MD, MPH, Former Medical Director, CT Mental Health Center, Professor of Psychiatry, Yale Medical School
  • Allan Atherton: Treasurer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Elm City, Past President NAMI/CT, Co-Coordinator, NAMI CT Sharing Hope Initiative
  • Randye Kaye, Author: “Ben behind his voices: one family’s journey from the chaos of schizophrenia to hope”, NAMI Family-to-Family educator, Radio broadcaster: NPR

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Fellowship Celebrates 50th Anniversary

In 2010 Fellowship Place celebrated our 50th anniversary of providing support & rehabilitation services to adults struggling with chronic mental illness in our community. We are proud of our history, from our humble beginnings in 1960 as a pilot program for psychiatric patients discharged from state hospitals one night a week in the basement of the Jewish Community Center in New Haven, to an agency, open 365 days a year, offering a broad spectrum of programming to over 600 individuals in our community. Senator Richard Blumenthal served as Honorary Chair of the agency’s 50th Anniversary Gala on October 28, 2010 at Amarante’s in New Haven, CT. Also on hand to recognize the agency was Mayor John DeStefano.

Paul Mitchel Day of Haircuts & Makeovers

On Wednesday, March 16th, the North Haven Academy/Paul Mitchell Partner School (www.northhavenacademy.com) visited Fellowship Place’s campus in New Haven to donate their time and professional services for the day. Hairdressers from the school arrived early Wednesday morning to provide haircuts and makeovers to 25 people from Fellowship Place’s Homeless Engagement Program and Social Clubhouse. Fellowship Place’s Executive Director Mary Guerrera commended the agency and volunteers stating that “For years, the North Haven Academy/ Paul Mitchell Partner School has been coming to Fellowship Place to provide valuable services to those in the community who do not have the resources to obtain them on their own. We are grateful for their kind generosity and are proud to continue this very important relationship.”