EMPOWERING MINDS MESSENGER
June 2019
Happy June, Empowering Minds community! This month, Empowering Minds celebrates the men in our lives: both father figures on Father's Day and men's health throughout June's Men's Health Month and Week. In this newsletter, you'll also find an article for PTSD Awareness Month from the National Center for PTSD, Maryland summer events, summer camp information, International Day of Yoga related events, suggestions for celebrating LGBTQ+ Month, agency updates, and more.
How will you celebrate the father figures in your life this Father’s Day?

  • Write a letter showing your appreciation
  • Cook him his favorite meal
  • Gather family members, caregivers, and father figures together for a joint celebration
  • Donate to an organization that supports dads, like National Bailout. National Bailout works with groups all over the country on Father’s Day to bail out as many black fathers and caregivers as they can, provide supportive services and fellowship opportunities for those they bail out, and organize to end money bail and pretrial detention.

Men's Health Month and Men's Health Week (June 10-16)
Simple steps to improve men's health
  • Do monthly self-exams.
  • Check yourself for testicular, skin, oral, and breast cancers each month.
  • Limit alcohol to 2 drinks per day.
  • Protect yourself from the sun.
  • Exercise moderately for 30 minutes 5 times a week, or vigorously for 20 minutes 3 times a week.
  • Quit smoking.
  • Limit cholesterol intake and avoid saturated fats.
  • Drink 8 glasses of water per day.
  • Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat foods. (high-fiber/low fat)
  • Exercise and eat right to maintain a healthy weight.

COURTESY OF
National PTSD Awareness Month and National PTSD Awareness Day (June 27)
What is PTSD?

When you have PTSD, it’s hard to feel safe. The traumatic event – natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, accident - can take hold, and you find you can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe you have nightmares and trouble sleeping. Maybe you feel on edge and unsettled or don’t find pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Maybe you feel it’s just easier to be alone. Feelings like these are common after going through a trauma. For most people, they pass in a few weeks or months, but for others they are long lasting.

PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things or places that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal or being on guard. For someone to be diagnosed with PTSD, they need to have symptoms in all four categories.

PTSD symptoms can happen at any age, and they come and go. Only a mental health care provider can diagnose you with PTSD. And, knowing if you have PTSD is the first step to getting effective treatment. So, it is important to talk with a doctor if you think you have symptoms. There are effective treatments even if you have been living with symptoms for years.

Keep in mind that you’re not alone. And, there are treatments that will help you feel better and take back control of your life. Be the advocate – take that first step for yourself.

Learn more about PTSD symptoms at the National Center for PTSD. The PTSD Coach app and PTSD Coach Online can also help you learn about PTSD symptoms and practice skills to manage those symptoms. You can even track your PTSD symptoms in the app. The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is another online tool that can help you decide which treatment is best for you. Other useful resources are the Understanding PTSD and PTSD Treatment booklet, and the National Center for PTSD’s whiteboard videos .


COURTESY OF
Empowering Minds is proud to partner with ShareBaby

Our partnership includes monthly diaper distributions for EMRC clients with children between the ages of 0 - 5 years old.  In addition, EMRC is currently accepting "ShareBaby Coat Requests" for children ages 0 - 5 years old and requests for Boy or Girl newborn bundles.

Newborn bundles include:
1 pack of size 1 diapers
1 pack of size 2 diapers
1 0-3 month onesie
1 0-3 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 3-6 month onesie
1 3-6 month outfit (top & bottom)
1 6-12 month onesie,
1 6-12 month outfit (top & bottom)

 If you are in need of diapers, a coat or newborn bundle for a child between 0 - 5 years old, please contact your  Direct Service Coordinator  to submit your request and provide the sex of the baby and size needed between 0 - 24 months or 2t - 5t. If you have any questions, please contact the Baltimore City office.
International Day of Yoga (June 21)
Enjoy the benefits of yoga and celebrate International Yoga Day throughout the whole month of June with these free Baltimore events!

Global Wellness Day Celebration
June 8 at 7 AM
Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, 200 International Drive, Baltimore
RSVP on Eventbrite

Yoga in the Garden
June 15 at 8:30 AM
Baltimore Clayworks, 5705 Smith Avenue, Baltimore

Summer Solstice Yoga Celebration
June 23 at 8 AM
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, Baltimore

Don't forget to bring a mat and a water bottle!
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Wondering how to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month?
Here are some suggestions:
  • Watch an LGBT-friendly movie, like “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson”
  • Support organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, such as The Pride Center of Maryland
  • Assess the LGBTQ+ friendliness of your own workplace/school/communities
  • If you’re comfortable doing so, talk about your own experiences around gender and sexuality and support LGBTQ+ folks who talk about their experiences
  • Attend Pride parades and festivals:

Baltimore Pride Parade
June 15 at 1 PM
Starting at N. Charles St. and 33rd St.

Annapolis Pride Parade
June 29 at 12 PM
Starting at Amos Garrett

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
June 22
Concord Point, Havre de Grace
Check out local summer camps!

Harford County
Camp EPIC
At Camp EPIC, fun and growth are both wrapped into one high-quality, caring environment. Camp includes weekly field trips, math, reading, sports, technology, arts & crafts, gaming, dance & drama & Bible basics. We have certified teachers in Math and Reading and track our student’s progress in these areas. With a focus on team building skills, we even offer a Leaders-In-Training program for ages 14-16. There’s something for all ages at Camp EPIC to ensure that a safe environment and excellent care are provided to the students of our community. Learn more here .

Baltimore City
CAMP Baltimore
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks’ CAMP BALTIMORE offers a variety of affordable and enriching summer camp options. Campers can look forward to a summer experience including academic enrichment, field trips, nature outings, sports and swimming. Learn more here .

Baltimore County
Summer Music Camp
The Summer Music Camp is a day camp for Baltimore County Public Schools’ instrumental and vocal music students who are currently in Grades 5–12 and are enrolled in their school’s music programs. The camp takes place from June 19 – 28 (no camp on June 26) at Perry Hall High School. During camp, students will perform in a band, chorus, guitar, and orchestra at the appropriate grade level. In addition to large group rehearsals, students will participate in enrichment classes and receive instruction to enhance musical performance skills. All of the musical ensembles will perform in a public concert in the outdoor amphitheater at Oregon Ridge Park, the summer home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, on the evening of Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 7 p.m. Read more about the Summer Music Camp and other summer opportunities here .

Anne Arundel County
Community Enrichment Camps
Formerly Recreation Enrichment Camps, the new and improved, Maryland State-Licensed, Community Enrichment Camps provide opportunities for Annapolis area children to meet new people and experience all of what Annapolis has to offer! Camps are divided by age and provide safe, fun, and affordable settings for children ages 4-15. A morning and afternoon shuttle is provided for families with multiple children at multiple locations. Breakfast and lunch are provided Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, camp is held at the “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center campers will need to bring a lunch, drink and snack. Camps run daily from 7:30 am to 6 pm. Scholarships available and vouchers accepted! No Before and After Care fees! Camp runs July 1 - August 9 (no camp Thursday, July 4). 6 Weeks R $195 / NR $225. Check out these camps and other camps here .
Harford County Group
Baltimore City Groups
Mondays 6-7 PM 
Women's Group, Teen's Group, and Youth Group

Tuesdays 6-7 PM
Men's Group

Thursdays 12-1 PM
Families Impacted by Substance Abuse
Anne Arundel County Groups
Summer's Can't-Miss Events
by Laura Farmer

Maryland’s Summer of Music
Mountain melodies, jazz, funk, metal and more fill Maryland’s Summer of Music. From DelFest (May 23-26, 2019) and beyond the National Folk Festival’s second year in Salisbury (September 6-8, 2019), the summer of 2019 brings a wall of sound and a symphony of styles to the Free State.

Annapolis Arts Week
June 1-8
Celebrate Annapolis' diverse arts scene! Annapolis Arts Week will bundle three annual events – Paint Annapolis, First Sunday Arts Festival, and the Annapolis Arts & Wine Festival – while spotlighting gallery exhibits, live music, performing arts, and block parties.

Hon Fest
June 8-9
The "Bawlmer" term of endearment, "Hon", short for honey, embodies the warmth and affection bestowed upon our neighbors and visitors alike by historic working-gals of Baltimore. Grab your boas and tease that beehive - there will be great food and entertainment!

St. Mary's Crab Festival
June 8
Celebrate St. Mary's County's crustacean culture. Indulge in plenty of steamed crabs and other Chesapeake Bay seafood favorites. There will be a car and bike show, regional crafters, live music and fun for kiddies.

Ocean City Air Show
June 15 -16
See the U.S. Navy Blue Angels! "The OC Air Show keeps getting bigger and better thanks to the support of the Town of Ocean City and the hundreds of thousands of spectators who come out to make it a success, some from as far away as New York, Ohio and the Carolinas” said Bryan Lilley, President of the OC Air Show.

Read about more summer events here !
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Empowering Minds Resource Center is proud to announce there is currently  NO WAIT LIST at the agency. We work hard everyday to ensure referrals are quickly processed and clients are engaged by our staff and partnered therapists immediately. We are ready, willing and able to accept new clients TODAY.  
NOW ACCEPTING HARFORD COUNTY REFERRALS

Empowering Minds Resource Center has no waitlist for our CARE COORDINATION FOR MINORS and our PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAM in Harford County
WE'RE HIRING!

Empowering Minds is looking to add some new members to our wonderful team. Check out the link below for more information!