Walking the crooked mile
It’s been a long time since northern Nevadans affiliated with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill have held a rally. This Saturday, though, they’ll be taking a “short walk down Idlewild Park’s crooked mile,” says poet and NAMI publicist Donna Shibovich of Reno, “to make people aware of mental-health issues.” They’ll be carrying signs with such slogans as “Stomp out stigma!” “Mental illnesses are brain disorders,” and “Treat us with respect.”
The group meets at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at Idlewild Park’s California building. There’ll be a raffle, a meal and several speakers, including Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, Nevada Division of Mental Health Director Carlos Brandenburg and Reno TV host Joe Tyler—whose show Erasing the Stigma runs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on cable channel 16. Shibovich will read some of her poetry. It’s free. For more details, call NAMI at 322-1346.
“We hope this event will enlighten and awaken the public when it comes to dealing with mental disorders,” Shibovich says. “Bring your family, bring your friends. Bring anyone who cares about the mentally ill.”