Weekly News from LMM
LMM Releases Statement to Presidential Candidates
On September 29, the Commission on Presidential Debates will be hosting the first presidential debate of the 2020 general election in Cleveland. LMM is hopeful that this debate brings attention to the real issues facing residents in Northeast Ohio. Click here to read LMM’s full statement, including a list of questions for the candidates.
A Push Towards Justice: Marcella Brown 
This month in our Push Towards Justice blog series, LMM's VP of Development & Communications, Marcella Brown, shares a powerful piece centered around the idea of coming together to support communities of color and fighting injustices.

"If communities of color are burning, all of America is burning. Will you stand by and let the future of our nation go up in flames, or will you use the resources that you have, the people you know, the conversations you engage in to put out the fires of systemic racism, social injustice and lack of accountability?"

Click here to read the full piece.
Marcella Brown, LMM VP of Development & Communications
First Responder Appreciation Week
This week is First Responder Appreciation Week, specifically to honor employees who make a difference in the lives of people struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. At LMM, we have frontline workers who are often first responders in emergency situations with our clients. We join the ADAMHS Board in celebrating local frontline workers in our community.

Across LMM programming areas, substance abuse, past or present, can be an underlying factor in homelessness, job retention and overall self-sufficiency. Our caring staff are trained to guide and empower individuals who struggle.

Many staff members throughout the agency are trained by the Cuyahoga County Opiate Collaborative as part of Project DAWN. Employees become familiar with the signs of overdose and are trained to administer Naloxone (NARCAN) in the event of an overdose emergency. Naloxone kits can be found throughout LMM’s various sites.

LMM’s Health & Wellness Services promote health and well-being and support improved quality of life for adults, youth, and families in Northeast Ohio through the provision of mental health and substance abuse services, educational programs, and various community health outreach efforts. This includes case management, counseling services and support groups.

Thank you to our LMM staff who truly care about our participants and work each day to keep them safe!
LSA Honors LMM as #FrontlineHeroes
Lutheran Services in America honored LMM in their #FrontlineHeroes blog series earlier this week, highlighting the work LMM has done around voting and promoting civic engagement.

"The COVID-19 pandemic creates barriers to holding in-person voter registration events, but LMM is making the extra effort to get the word out virtually and ensure its community has the resources and opportunity to register. LMM is providing reminders like that it only takes six minutes to register to vote, and celebrated National Black Voter Day on September 18."
LMM Staff on the front lines serving meals at one of three hotel hubs for individuals experiencing homelessness
LMM is #VoteReady
Earlier this week, LMM celebrated National Voter Registration Day, encouraging folks to register to vote and highlighting why our staff members believe that it's important to vote. Check out these videos from LMM CEO Andrew Genszler and LMM Director of Advocacy Margie Glick on why they vote.

There is still time to register to vote before the October 5th deadline!
#RIPRBG
LMM honors the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away last Friday at the age of 87. Justice Ginsburg served as a beacon of hope for many Americans, including various marginalized groups such as women, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color.

Click here for more information on Justice Ginsburg's memorial, which will occur tomorrow. She will be the first ever woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. May her memory be a blessing.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Honoring Rev. Robert S. Graetz
Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, Rev. Robert S. Graetz, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (left to right)
Rev. Robert S. Graetz, the Lutheran minister commonly known for being the only white pastor to support Rosa Parks' Montgomery Bus Boycott in the 1950s, has passed away at the age of 92. LMM is grateful for distinguished leaders in the Lutheran church like Rev. Graetz, who has made a positive impact on countless lives.

Click here to read more on the life of Rev. Robert S. Graetz.