Counselor Michael Mele and entertainer Swil Kanim moderated the community forum on Sunday, May 17.
The Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP) coalition’s annual meeting on May 17 — The Mindfulness Forum — was a banquet of food, awards, entertainment and discussion.
The Mindfulness Forum is a community-wide “environmental strategy” adopted by the OIPP coalition in its mission to provide solutions for “a safe and healthy community in which youth and adults live creative, respectful and productive lives free from substance abuse.”
Marta Nielson, Director of the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP) coalition, thanked all those who attended and participated in the successful event, saying, “I feel like Huck Finn painting the fence, and everybody joining in because it seems like such fun.”
A slide show of the many community personalities who support the prevention partnership entertained some 75 guests who circulated before sitting down to a multi-course dinner.
Owen Cheevers coordinated the dinner, with food supplied by Orcas farmers and businesses including Morning Star Farm, Male Rock Farm, Sweet Home Farm, Black Dog Farm, La Campesina Project, Good Earth Works, The Kitchen, Island Market, HomeGrown, ‘Erb’s Restaurant and the Orcas Farm.
As the dinner commenced, OIPP Vice President Pat Ayers announced organization, individual and youth awards for advancing a healthy safe community.
Kati Dawn Pinardi, Orcas High School senior, won OIPP’s Youth Award, a college scholarship of $500, for her leadership of Point Blank, the high school’s OIPP coalition counterpart.
Moriah Armstrong, former director of OIPP, and now Orcas Island Elementary School counselor, was recognized for her pioneering work in establishing and building OIPP for the past nine years — “a driving force from day one.” In accepting her award, Armstrong thanked the community for “all you have taught me, walking the path day by day.”
The OIPP organization award was given to the Orcas Island School District for its “instrumental support of OIPP” in providing organizational essentials such as office space, telephone and computer access, meeting rooms and fiscal accountability.
Pat Ayers and Marta Nielson flank Janet Brownell, who accepts a Michael Mele photograph on behalf of the Orcas Island School District.
Roann Meisner accepted the award to a humorous comment from the audience — “We all know secretaries run the school.” Janet Brownell also accepted the award, a photograph by Michael Mele, on behalf of the school district board of directors.
Swil Kanim’s unique blend of humor, music and wisdom had him whimsically and soulfully playing the violin and making memorable quotes such as, “What is sustainable is generosity,” and “I’m not against survivalism, but I’m more for thrivalism.”
He spontaneously described someone’s fall from their chair as a “gravity search” and solicited jokes from the audience. He was rewarded with a “knock-knock” joke from second-grader Phaedra Osborn.
Kanim described his past, as a Native American foster child who was “rescued” by his third-grade teacher’s staunch belief in him. He acknowledged he’d been the victim and the perpetrator of abuse
He said that true generosity is being fully expressive of who you really are – “Be more of who you are… The freedom to be all of who we are is the other side of prevention.”
Kanim described the lives of many community members – both the “haves” and “have-nots,” as living in isolated castles with the bridge drawn up and the moat separating castle inhabitants from the rest of the world.
Community Forum
As the forum portion of the evening began, Marta Nielson said, “We all have to take care of each other, and just keep going at it.”
Moriah Armstrong asked how we can overcome the “moat” surrounding many “castles” and let down the bridge. While some praised meetings such as the OIPP dinner, and others cautioned against the damage caused by community gossip, Sukima Hampton’s expression of the anxiety and isolation, caused by the loss of her employment as a massage therapist at Rosario for 15 years, galvanized the discussion.
Kanim praised Hampton’s honesty, saying “Forums like this are a safe place to speak, to awaken others, and to receive help.”
Counselor Michael Mele, who moderated the discussion with Kanim, explained that many live in isolation in order to protect themselves. A measure of trust and safety must be established before people can reach out to others, he said.
At the close of the forum, participants filled out exit interviews, asking for feedback and assistance in future forums.
Following the meeting, Nielson said, “From the feedback we got, everyone is pretty excited to continue the community forums.
“Swil Kanim got it right when he said that substance abuse comes at the end, when things aren’t addressed, when people fall through the cracks of isolation, non-support and abuse, without any resources. Meetings such as this are definitely a preventive method to come together, network, and share support and resources.
“True prevention gets down to what causes substance abuse – it’s not just saying ‘don’t drink’ or ‘check identification.'”
The group plans to meet regularly, beginning in September. To assist or participate in future community forums, contact Nielson at 376-1547.
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