These items listed below are current or upcoming collaborative events, research opportunities, workshops, presentations and social gatherings for those in the MLWT community. By that, we mean available to anyone interested in participating upon registration through MLWT.
This list in a work in progress and updated weekly. If you have anything you would like to suggest, mention or have questions about, feel free to contact us at webmaster@mylifeworkstoday.com.
Special Events
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Community Presentations and Seminars
February 16th
Clackamas Community College Student Health Fair
MLWT will be hosting a table including partners and wellness colleagues at this year’s event. Maria will be leading a class, but if you have questions, please feel free to take materials and call directly or email her directly at maria@mylifeworkstoday.com
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May 16th, 2010
MLWT will be hosting an informational table and a breakout session on “Discovering Our Voice Through Images“ at this community health event:
“Free May 16 Community Resource Fair for People with Acute or Chronic Illness
PORTLAND, OR. People who are living with acute or chronic illness or disability, as well as their family and friends, can find a wealth of information about issues affecting them at the upcoming “A Day of Empowerment, Solutions, and Support for Individuals with Acute or Chronic Illness or Disability and their Friends and Family” on Sunday, May 16th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This free, community-wide resource fair, presented by Jewish Family and Child Service, will bring together local experts and exhibitors who will present workshops, and provide information and materials on a wide range of subjects. It is open to the entire community, and will be held at Venue Pearl, 323 N.W. 13th (between Everett & Flanders) in Portland. There is no charge for admission and pre-registration is not required.
“Because there can be so many challenges facing families with acute or chronic illnesses or disabilities, our goal was to put together a free, “one-stop” event that included as many of the locally-available tools and resources we could find,” explained JFCS Executive Director Marian Fenimore.
“Whether you are looking for practical, emotional, physical or spiritual support, there should be a presentation or exhibitor with insights & information for you.”
Event sponsors include: Dunn Carney Allen Higgins & Tongue LLP; Health Advocacy Solutions; Fitzwater Meyer LLP; Sinai Family Home Services; Quest Center for Integrative Health; AARP Oregon; Stay at Home America; CODA Inc.; My Life Works Today! Lupus Living Network; Oregon Psychological Association; and the Portland Chapter of Hadassah.
Among the topics covered by presenters will be navigating the health care system; hiring care providers; self-care for caregivers; effective strategies for managing stress; caring for a seriously ill child; special needs trust & estate planning; living well with chronic illness; making your home safe & functional for a family member with special needs; and developing an end-of-life support team. (see complete presentation schedule at the end of this release).
Thirty exhibitors have already accepted invitations to display at the event, including Fitzwater Meyer LLP, Quest Center for Integrative Health, Health Advocacy Solutions, Sinai Family Home Services, Store to Door, National Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association, AARP Oregon, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Talking Books & Braille Services, Oregon Psychological Association, Crohn’s & Collitis Foundation, Ride Connection, Bryan Basinger DC & the Clearwater Clinic, CODA Inc, Debra MacDougall, Friderike Heuer, the Oregon Jewish Museum, My Life Works Today! Lupus Living Network, Independent Living Resources, Judy Brodkey, JFCS’ TASK & Tikvah programs, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Portland Mindfulness Therapy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Improve Your Balance, Portland Hadassah, Stay at Home America, Dinner at Your Door, Legacy Health Systems, and Jewish Family & Child Service—with new exhibitors signing up every day!
Jewish Family & Child Service will also be hosting a Bone Marrow Donor Identification Drive to try to find the “miracle match” for a seriously ill client with leukemia who needs a bone marrow transplant. They hope that event attendees aged 18-60 in good health will take this opportunity to stop by the Drive table and join the Gift of Life Foundation’s national bone marrow donor registry. The process is simple: just completing some informational forms and taking a DNA swab test from the inside of a person’s cheek, which is then analyzed and the results entered into the national registry.
Complete information about the event is available online at www.jfcs-portland.org or email chana@jfcs-portland.org . “ (Exerpt from their April 20, 2010 Press Release)
We hope to see you at this day of amazing discussions, resources and connecting opportunities!
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2010 Warm Winter Houses Gingerbread Extravaganza! benefitting Oregon HEAT
View the photo gallery here
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Pilot and Research Studies
November – December 2009
We are in the process of conducting a pilot program study designed to offer a fun and creative tool in exploring our lives with lupus. It is a communication exercise that is based on storytelling.
You may have already noticed the number of books, blogs and online social networking sites where many individuals who live with illness share their stories. Storytelling is one way for those of us managing our illness, and feel strongly about defining our own experiences with lupus, to work through some of the rough patches.
This pilot study is to offer the current materials to participants in a facilitated telling session that generally lasts for one hour. We are looking for individuals living with lupus, family members, spouses and others who would be interested in trying out this process and offering feedback on the experience.
The only specific requirements include:
- a lupus diagnosis and/ or other rheumatic diseases
- a direct and personal involvement with someone living with lupus
- lives around the Portland Metro area north I-5 to Vancouver, WA and south on I-5 to Salem areas
If you, or someone you know, is living with illness or lupus-related conditions/diseases/syndromes and has about 1.5 hours to offer their insight, critique and suggestions in the developmental process, please contact us by visiting our website, direct message me through Twitter at @mlwt_lupus, or email me directly at maria@mylifeworkstoday.com.
We have heard great feedback about this process so far and are anxious to hear more, specifically in the Portland area right now. This is a fun exercise and taps into looking at lupus in surprising ways.
We look forward to hearing from you and getting this tool available to all by January 2010!
Update April 2010~
The results from the participant groups reviewing this storytelling project are compiled and ready to go! We are off a few months, but wanted to make sure we have something we can stand behind. We’re currently seeking venues for this three-part series of two -hour classes, so if you are interested in learning more about using storytelling as a way to strengthen your lupus management, register on our website or email maria@mylifeworkstoday.com.
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April 14th, 2010
(Image source: www.bigfoto.com)
Call for participants in reviewing collaborative chronic health tool
MLWT has signed on as a curriculum developer with a local communication facilitation team called VisualsSpeak . This team currently offers facilitation consulting using their communication tools within business environments. However, their product can be applied in many situations .
We are looking for participants to take part in a one-on-one discussion to review this developing curriculum and offer feedback. The process will take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours maximum and can be held in a public space like library, coffee shop/restaurant, park, etc.
The only participation requirements include:
- currently living with a chronic illness
- currently employed, seeking employment or are an employer with more than five employees
- lives around the Portland Metro area north I-5 to Vancouver, WA and south on I-5 to Salem areas
If interested, contact us by email (webmaster@mylifeworkstoday.com) or register on our website’s main page.
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