Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont next Wednesday, May 16th, as we welcome two special keynote speakers to our conference. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Ron Powers will address the current struggles of those affected by mental illness using a blend of current affairs and his own experiences. Ronald Braunstein, the Co-Founder and Music Director of the Me2/Orchestras, talks about his dedication to erasing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Additionally, we are excited to learn from City Manager Kevin Dorn and Chief Trevor Whipple about the Chittenden County Community Outreach Initiative. This workshop addresses the growing mental health related issues and how our municipal officials are working together with police and ambulance services to improve the way we respond to residents and visitors experiencing mental health crises. It also features a more in-depth review of the newly deployed Community Outreach program that embeds trained mental health counselors with first-responders to better address individual's needs at the point of contact. For more information and to register, visit www.namivt.org/conference!