This afternoon, I was invited to present my first feature-length film, For My Sister, at Miami Dade College - Homestead Campus and lead a discussion following the screening.
Sponsored by the campus's NAMI chapter (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Student Life, the event was well-attended and the audience of mainly students was engaged by the film and the derring-do of its lead character, Evie Sorella (deftly played by Stephanie Maltez in a performance that still hasn't worn on me).
The post-screening discussion was tilted toward the Hispanic community owing to it being Hispanic Heritage Month but the talked-about issues of barriers to mental health care and the present-day stigma attached to mental illness is relevant to any group in any society.
At the close of the event, I was extremely honored and humbled to be presented with a beautiful plaque commemorating the day's event.
A most special thank you to Professor Jessyca Perez, Professor Jairo Ledesma and everyone else involved in organizing this wonderful event to help along the cause of mental health among young people!