January 1, 2012, Cleveland, Ohio.

Magnolia Clubhouse, a non-profit organization serving the needs of people who live with mental illness, announces the addition of three new board members: Gabriella Celeste; Dr. Rebekah Dorman; and Robert F. Spada.

Gabriella Celeste is the Director of Child Policy at the Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies.  The Schubert Center bridges child-related research, policy,  practice, and education for the well-being of children and families.   Gabriella co-founded the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL), a nonprofit law practice dedicated to transforming the juvenile justice system and improving legal representation and treatment opportunities for young people. She also helped to create and spin-off new initiatives, including a family advocacy group and an aftercare youth reentry program in New Orleans. Upon returning to her hometown in Ohio, Gabriella has served as Director of the Alliance of Child Caring Service Providers and briefly as Director of Cuyahoga County’s Office of Early Childhood. She has a B.S. degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Gabriella is married with two young sons and lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Rebekah L. Dorman, Ph.D. is a developmental psychologist and the Director of the Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood and Invest in Children, the county’s public/private partnership that works on behalf of young children and families. She has authored numerous articles and co-authored two books: Preventing Burnout in Your Staff and Yourself: A Survival Manual for Human Services Supervisors and Planning, Funding and Implementing A Child Abuse Prevention Project. She is currently an appointed member of Ohio’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and serves on the Steering Committee of GroundWork, the statewide early childhood advocacy campaign. Dr. Dorman received her undergraduate degree Cum Laude from Brandeis University and her doctorate from Cornell University.

Robert F. Spada is the Vice Chair of the State Employment Relations Board. He was appointed for this position during his 10th year in the Ohio Senate representing the 24th Senate District from Cuyahoga County. He served two terms as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.  His Committee assignments included Health; Finance; Ways & Means; Energy & Natural Resources; Insurance, Commerce and Labor; State and Local Government; and others.  Senator Spada’s legislation included: Mental Health Parity; Protections for Persons with MR/DD; Gift Card Regulations; Credit Card Privacy; Do Not Call; Anti-Terrorism; to name a few.  Other public and private sector work includes employment with the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, and as a partner in an accounting firm.  Mr. Spada, a Cleveland native, received his BBA in Accounting from Cleveland State University, and an MBA in Systems Management from Baldwin Wallace College. He served in the U.S. Army as a Systems Analyst.  He and his wife Mary live in North Royalton and are strong advocates for mental health issues and awareness. 

Since 1961, when it was originally founded in Cleveland as Hill House, Magnolia Clubhouse has been a community-based center of psychosocial rehabilitation serving people who live with mental illness   Located in Cleveland’s University Circle, the Clubhouse is a vital community of growth, opportunity and hope.  Magnolia Clubhouse is run by it’s members in partnership with mental health professionals.  The Clubhouse’s mission is to ensure that people who live with mental illness are respected co-workers, neighbors and friends.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Ohio Congresswomen Marcia Fudge and Marcy Kaptur, along with numerous members of Congress, will recognize Cleveland’s University Hospitals Case Medical Center and other business leaders from across the nation for their leadership in helping people with mental illness re-enter the job market.  The Employment Celebration will be held in Washington, D.C. at the Capitol on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 11:30am – 1:45pm in the Rayburn Building Rm. B338 – B339.   The event is organized by the National Employment Expansion Project, an effort to engage employers in helping those with mental illness in overcoming the stigma that poses a barrier to self-sufficiency for many.  Those hired receive support from over 200 employment and recovery centers across the country, including Magnolia Clubhouse, located in University Circle.  Magnolia Clubhouse is a member of the International Center for Clubhouse Development, a service recently recognized as an Evidenced Based Practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Leaders from over 70 corporate and non-profit companies are participating in the National Project. Employers from across the United States who will be awarded on the 16^th include: CVS/Pharmacy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, the TJX Companies Inc., and Cleveland’s University Hospitals Case Medical Center, among others.

“I wish to congratulate University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Sue Peplowski, Human Resources Manager, for partnering in employment with Magnolia Clubhouse. This important recognition gives me an opportunity to thank University Hospitals Case Medical Center .  It has employed members of Magnolia Clubhouse since 2009 in both transitional and ongoing employment,” said Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge.

In recognizing University Hospitals, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur added:  “Your leadership in extending opportunities to those with disabilities sets an important example and educates others about people working to recover from the effects of mental illness.”

The celebration will also recognize the employment success of people who have mental illness and the achievements of the rehabilitation and recovery centers like Magnolia Clubhouse which ensure that people who live with mental illness are respected co-workers, neighbors and friends.

“Working at University Hospitals Case Medical Center has been a wonderful experience for me to work at a stable, salaried job with benefits,” said Blair Cochrain who is employed on the Environmental Services Team at the new Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.  “In addition to the benefits of receiving a pay check, I enjoy the satisfaction of learning new things and doing my job well.“  Employment is a vital component of community success,” stated Dr. Lori D’Angelo, Executive Director of Magnolia Clubhouse, a community serving over 300 members who live with mental illness. “Having a job increases one’s financial independence, self-confidence, physical and psychological well-being.”

Magnolia Clubhouse is a vital community of growth, opportunity and hope, run by it’s members in partnership with mental health professionals.  It’s mission is to ensure that people who live with mental illness are respected co-workers, neighbors and friends.  Since 1961, when it was originally founded in Cleveland as Hill House, Magnolia Clubhouse has been an effective  community-based center of psychosocial rehabilitation serving people who live with mental illness.

                                                                                                                                                   End

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Magnolia Clubhouse

11101 Magnolia Drive

Cleveland, OH 44106

CLEVELAND, OHIO -  Thursday, October 20, 2011, Magnolia Clubhouse in Cleveland’s University Circle celebrates our 50th Anniversary and the dedication of our new Carriage House Clinic.  Started in 1961 by Hank Tanaka as Hill House, Magnolia Clubhouse  is one of the first centers of psychosocial rehabilitation in the entire country.  Today, Magnolia Clubhouse continues to be on the cutting-edge of community mental healthcare with the integration offered by our new Carriage House Clinic. Dr. Lori D’Angelo, Director of Magnolia Clubhouse, states:  “The Carriage House Clinic will integrate psychiatric and primary care services in a rehabilitation alliance with the unique supports of the Magnolia Clubhouse community.” Cle veland’s Westlake, Reed, Leskosky designed the new Clinic from the renovated Carriage House at the former Chisholm estate on University Circle’s Magnolia Drive.  The ribbon cutting will take place at 5:30 pm.  A ceremony honoring long-time mental health advocate and founding trustee Dr. Jane Kessler and former Ohio State Senator Robert Spada will take place following the dedication.

____________________________________________

Magnolia Clubhouse is a community-based center of psychosocial rehabilitation serving over 300 members who live with mental illness.  The Clubhouse supports employment, education and advocacy.   The Clubhouse is a vital community of growth, opportunity and hope, run by it’s members in partnership with mental health professionals.  Our mission is to ensure that people who live with mental illness are respected co-workers, neighbors and friends.

For more information, please contact Robert Clancy at 330.715.7219 or bob@magnoliaclubhouse.org