Letter from the PRA Chair

It is a glorious late summer day in the beautiful New York Catskills as I write this letter.  I am honored to be at the New York Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) 33^rd Annual Conference where I am amongst some of the most passionate leaders, organizers and people in our field.  The energy is high here, the laughter loud, opportunities plentiful, and the message is clear.  Our field is at a crossroads, and we have choices and changes ahead. 

New York’s chapter is led by Harvey Rosenthal – a man who has given his voice, his intellect and his soul to ensuring that people’s rights to a full life are not trampled upon, and that people with mental health conditions are included in every dimension of our communities and our systems of care.  His message and this chapter’s work provide an outstanding example of the power of our chapters in making a difference, in creating change and developing opportunities for transformation.  

PRA is committed to strengthening opportunities for collaboration with our chapters and growing new chapters so that this work can be championed all over the world.  The keynote this morning was by Khatera Aslami-Tamplen from Oakland, CA, who beautifully shared her experiences and work to promote recovery rights, system transformation and peer support.  She is a force and she is making a difference that we need to join in on.  She quoted a dear friend of PRA, Jay Mahler, who said, “ Don’t Agonize, Organize!”  These words resonated for me as I believe the most direct way to ensuring people’s rights are protected, is to work together in collaboration. 

I love and deeply value the diversity of people, opinions and perspectives we have in PRA.  It is our consummate strength, our power.  It’s time to move toward more fully organizing as a movement and as an association.  It’s time to stop agonizing and begin organizing, chapter by chapter, and chapter to association, and association to association.  This conference with its inspiration, stimulation and empowering messages has jumpstarted my excitement for our annual PRA conference in Boston, MA. Together, we can be the voices and actualizers of much needed change to ensure health, dignity and inclusion of all people. 

Enjoy your fall,

Dori