[act-ma] 5/8 Suicide Prevention Training for Community Leaders

[Robbie Samuels]

Hi fellow activists and organizers,

Community leaders have the power to convene people. This is a wonderful
skill that comes with many responsibilities: logistics, marketing,
catering, volunteer coordination, etc.  I believe that our responsibilities
as community leaders goes beyond these basic steps and includes creating a
welcoming and safe space for our community.

When we help co-create those kinds of spaces, we help guard against
isolation, depression and burn out that many experience when they operate
for too long without a supportive community. Unfortunately, many community
leaders themselves feel this isolation because they lack a strong peer
network and are carrying on their shoulders all the pain and suffering
brought to their attention by their community members.

To support my fellow community leaders, I'm offering a training on how to
deal with one of the hardest topics faced by any community. For the purpose
of these trainings, I've defined "community leader" as anyone who regularly
convenes groups of people. If that's you, I hope you'll join me. If not,
please share this with a community leader in your life.

*Register at **www.suicidepreventionfortrainers.eventbrite.com*<http://www.suicidepreventionfortrainers.eventbrite.com/>
*. Fee $10
*

Thank you for helping make our collective communities healthier and
stronger. Please share the following event description.

Best,
Robbie

*Suicide Prevention Training for Community Leaders
Tuesday, May 8 - 6-8PM
*City Year by Back Bay Station*
*

Oftentimes, community leaders* are sought out for support in times of
crisis and are the first to become aware that someone is considering
killing themselves. Attend this training to gain the skills to handle the "
suicide question" and become knowledgeable about local resources for you
and your community.

*Register at **www.suicidepreventionforleaders.eventbrite.com*<http://www.suicidepreventionforleaders.eventbrite.com/>
*.** **Fee $10.*
*Due to limited seating, this 2-hour training is being offered on Monday,
March 19 and Tuesday, May 8 - select May 8 when registering.*

QPR - Question, Persuade, Refer is modeled after the success of the CPR
medical intervention and is based on the following concepts:
Those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least likely to ask
for it. Prior to making a suicide attempt, a person typically sends warning
signs.Asking "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" is a key step to
preventing suicide.

This training will address:

   - The anxiety we feel when we are talking to someone who is suicidal.
   - How to specifically ask "the question".
   - How to persuade someone to seek help.
   - How to make sure they get the referral they need.

*For the purpose of this training, a community leader is anyone who
regularly convenes groups of people.

*About the Trainer:*
*Robbie Samuels* has extensive experience as a community organizer,
fundraiser and trainer. In 2011, his birthday, September 16, was
declared "Robbie
Samuels Day"<http://www.robbiesamuels.com/2011/09/robbie-samuels-day-september-16-2011-in.html>by
the Boston City Council. He is the Senior Manager of Events and Donor
Engagement at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD<http://www.glad.org/>).
He is a Co-Founder & Co-Organizer of Socializing for Justice
(SoJust<http://www.sojust.org/>),
a grassroots, volunteer-run member-supported group, to build a
cross-cultural, cross-issue progressive community, network and movement in
Boston based on the philosophy of abundance. Robbie identifies as a white,
queer, feminist, trans man and lives in Jamaica Plain. He likes burritos.
Learn more about Robbie and his other trainings "Art of the Schmooze" and
"Fundraising: Getting Past the Fear of Asking" at www.robbiesamuels.com and
view his testimonials <http://www.robbiesamuels.com/p/testimonials.html>.

________________________________________________

* <http://www.sojust.org/>*

*Socializing for Justice (SoJust) *is a grassroots, cross-cultural,
cross-issue progressive community, network and movement that's been growing
steadily since August 2006. We have 2000 members, hosted 120+ events and
manage an online hub of progressive events and resources at www.sojust.org.
We also share resources via several projects: Progressive Events
Calendar<http://www.sojust.org/calendar>,
Progressive Message Board <http://www.sojust.org/boards>,
Campus2Community.net <http://www.campus2community.net/>,
ProgressiveVoterIndex.com <http://www.progressivevoterindex.com/>, Event
Promo Resources <http://www.bit.ly/BostonCalendars> and Venue Referral
Resources <http://www.bit.ly/BostonVenues>.

* SoJust is not a non-profit 501(c)3, has no paid staff and receives no
outside funding.* If you've benefited from SoJust please contribute the
suggested annual membership fee of $25. You may do this
online<http://www.sojust.org/dues/>or at any of our events. Thank you
for helping us continue to provide a
space for like-minded progressives of all stripes.

*STAY CONNECTED!*
Become a member of Socializing for Justice at www.sojust.org.
Join the SoJust Facebook group: http://on.fb.me/SoJust
On Twitter? Follow @SoJust <http://www.twitter.com/sojust> and SoJust's
Co-Founder @RobbieSamuels <http://www.twitter.com/robbiesamuels> #sojust
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