Helping those in conflict and crisis
Events
Suicide Prevention Walk
Gryphon Place's 6th annual Suicide Prevention Walk will be held during Suicide Prevention Month on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo. This 5K cause walk will raise awareness for suicide prevention, allow people to connect with each other, and provide critical funds for Gryphon Place - 100% of the community-raised dollars stay here in the community, supporting the local programs and services we offer. We will be there, supporting suicide prevention one step at a time, and we would love for you to join us.
Day-of registration begins at 8 AM, remarks begin at 9 AM with the walk beginning afterwards. Kids and friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.
Register now for $25! The price of registration will increase to $30 on September 9th, and we will not be able to guarantee your t-shirt size, so click HERE to register today!
Don't forget to RSVP and invite your friends to the event on Facebook. Click HERE to say that you are going.
Interested in volunteering? View the volunteer opportunites HERE.
STAR Awards
The STAR Celebration and Community Volunteer Awards have long been a time to recognize volunteers for their contributions of time, talent and energy in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, respectively.
Gryphon Place and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region are happy to announce that the tradition of celebrating volunteerism will continue, with some exciting changes.
The two celebrations will merge into a regional STAR Awards event set for Aug. 20, 2019, 5pm - 6:30pm at Sherman Lake YMCA. Led by United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region in partnership with Gryphon Place, which has organized the STAR Celebration for the past several years, the combined event will honor volunteers from both communities.
Please register here for this free event so that we can plan accordingly!
Suicide Prevention Month Events
Latitude 42 Dine-to-Donate
When: Monday, September 9th from 5-9pm
Where: Latitude 42 in Oshtemo
What: Dine in or take out! 20% of food sales will be donated to Gryphon Place.
*Can't make it on the 9th? If you dine at Latitude 42 anytime during the month of September, order the "Pay It Forward Cheesecake" for dessert and $1 will be donated to Gryphon Place!
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
When: Monday, September 9th from 8:15am - 4:30pm
Where: Gryphon Place, South 8th St. Kalamazoo
What: Gryphon Place is sponsoring an Adult Mental Health First Aid class, taught by KCMHSAS. Participants will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.The Adult MHFA course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. This course is FREE and open to the community! Lunch is provided by Gryphon Place. Learn more about Mental Health First Aid HERE. REGISTER HERE.
safeTALK Training
When: Thursday, September 12th from 9am-12pm
Where: Family & Children Services, Lake St., Kalamazoo.
What: safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone age 15 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don't truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST.
Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:
- Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts might be present
- Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked
- Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide
- Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe
- Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further help
This training is typically offered for a fee of $30, but is being offered free of charge during Suicide Prevention Month. Don't miss out on your chance to attend this training for FREE! Register here.
BookBug and this is a bookstore book fair fundraiser
When: Saturday, September 14th
Where: BookBug and this is a bookstore, 3019 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo MI, 49008
What: This is a book fair supporting Gryphon Place! Purchase a book from BookBug on September 14th, and mention that you are there for Gryphon Place. 15% of the proceeds will be donated to Gryphon Place to support our programs and services.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
When: Tuesday, September 17th from 8:15am - 4:30pm
Where: Gryphon Place, South 8th St. Kalamazoo
What: Gryphon Place is sponsoring this Youth Mental Health First Aid class, taught my KCMHSAS. Participants learn how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD) and eating disorders. This course is FREE and open to the community! Lunch is provided by Gryphon Place. Learn more about Mental Health First Aid HERE. REGISTER HERE.
safeTALK Training
When: Tuesday, September 24th from 1-4pm
Where: Gryphon Place
What: safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone age 15 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don't truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST.
Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:
- Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts might be present
- Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked
- Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide
- Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe
- Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further help
This training is typically offered for a fee of $30, but is being offered free of charge during Suicide Prevention Month. Don't miss out on your chance to attend this training for FREE! Register here.
Blaze Pizza Dine-to-Donate
When: Thursday, September 26th from 5-8pm
Where: Blaze Pizza on West Main
What: Present this flyer to your cashier before paying for your Blaze Pizza on the 26th and 20% of proceeds will be donated back to Gryphon Place. Click here to view the flyer!
Other Events TBD
Sponsors
Diamond
Platinum
Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation
Tyler Little Family Foundation
Gold
Michigan Association of Suicide Prevention
Silver
Child & Family Psychological Services, P.C.
Bronze
Mike and Sharon Seely Family Foundation
Contributer
Dr. Michael Raphelson and Carla Langerveld Family
Jerry and Cindy Gaines
Langeland Family Funeral Homes
Media Sponsor
Messages of Hope
Gryphon Place and Speak It Forward/Kinetic Affect have partnered to bring you the 4th annual "Messages of Hope" community performance on Thursday, September 19th. Kirk and Gabriel (https://kineticaffect.com/bios/) work with youth to mold their very own spoken word poetry about stories of overcoming personal struggles, challenges, and difficulties to be a symbol of hope that others who face hardship can overcome, too.
Interested in participating in Messages of Hope Workshops?
Workshops will be hosted at the Kalamazoo Public Library in downtown Kalamazoo, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm each day.
August 27th, September 5th, September 10th, September 12th, and September 16th
Download the permission slip here
We would be delighted for you to join us for this FREE, amazing, and powerful event, but please reserve your seat! Register to attend by clicking here.
Interested in learning more about Messages of Hope? Check out this video of the workshops and performances from last year: http://www.publicmedianet.org/young-adults-share-messages-of-hope/
Doors open at 6:00 PM at Cityscape. There will be refreshments provided, with the performances to follow.
