Brave, Bold and Beautiful Celebrates MESA’s Enduring Legacy, Launches “Moving Beyond Trauma”

For Immediate Release April 19, 2018 Media Contact Kristina Shaw, MHP Marketing Director (303) 545-0840 | kshaw@mhpcolorado.org

Brave, Bold and Beautiful Celebrates MESA’s Enduring Legacy, Launches “Moving Beyond Trauma”

Mental Health Partner’s (MHP) Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) program held its 11th Annual Brave, Bold and Beautiful event on April 5th in Boulder, CO at their Iris Avenue location. The evening featured multi-media experiences that honored the evolution of advocacy against sexual assault in our community and information on MHP’s innovative counseling program, Moving Beyond Trauma: Healing Mind, Body and Spirit. About 120 people attended the event, which was made possible through a generous title sponsorship by Elevations Credit Union and over two dozen in-kind silent auction donations, including gift baskets and certificates from Left Hand Brewing Company, Only Natural Pet, CorePower Yoga, Spruce Farm & Fish, and more. Contributions to support MESA’s program from the silent auction and other donation opportunities totaled approximately $6,000. In addition to the silent auction, participants had a chance to hear and read inspiring stories from MESA and Moving Beyond Trauma clients and volunteers, meet the men behind MESA’s “Men Standing Up” Prevention Program; pet a support dog trained to help those impacted by trauma; and learn about trauma and different counseling models.

“We are grateful to the members of our community who showed their support by attending our 11th annual Brave, Bold, and Beautiful event,” said Janine D'Anniballe, Director of Trauma Services at MHP. “We continue to be inspired by the clients we serve and look forward to more support from the community, particularly as we continue to develop the Moving Beyond Trauma program.”

One of the highlights of the evening was a 30-minute program led by D'Anniballe, which included the presentation of two MESA awards. The first was a Distinguished Service Award presented to former Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett in recognition of his leadership addressing sexual assault issues. During his tenure at the DA office, Garnett set a new standard for holding sexual assault perpetrators accountable, allocated resources to create a special sex crimes unit and ensured investigations were victim-centered. The second award was presented to Genavieve Lundblad, a current client, who utilized MESA and Moving Beyond Trauma services for herself and her family. Her moving speech during the program reflected her strength and perseverance in the face of personal challenges and how these vital programs can positively impact lives. Pictures from the event are posted on MESA and MHP’s Facebook pages (@MESABoulder and @MentalHealthPartnersCO) in the Brave, Bold and Beautiful photo album. If you attended the event and would like to join the online conversation, please upload your photos or leave a comment by tagging MESA or MHP and using the hashtag #BeBBB. Also, stay tuned for a video recapping the event, which will be posted on our social media platforms. About Moving To End Sexual Assault: Since 1972, Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) has served thousands of survivors of sexual violence, their friends, and families. It is the only rape crisis center in Boulder and Broomfield counties. MESA believes that every person has the right to live free of sexual assault, and is moving to end sexual assault by challenging all forms of oppression and violence. MESA supports victims with a 24- hour crisis and information hotline, legal advocacy, immediate medical support, therapy referrals, and provides prevention education in the community. For more information, visit: www.movingtoendsexualassault.org.

About Moving Beyond Trauma: Healing Mind, Body and Spirit: To better serve survivors of sexual violence and all types of trauma, Moving Beyond Trauma: Healing Mind, Body and Spirit (MBT) was founded in 2017 by Mental Health Partners as a new center for holistic trauma treatment. MBT is led by national experts in trauma and resilience, with connections to a network of experts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and the University of Colorado. MBT’s clinicians use various treatment modalities to serve children, families and adults. For more information, visit: http://www.mhpcolorado.org/Services/Trauma-Center.aspx

About Mental Health Partners: In alignment with our mission – Healing is our purpose. Help is our promise. Health is our passion. – Mental Health Partners (MHP) provides immediate access to expert mental health and substance use care so people can enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives. For more information or to access services, call (303) 443-8500 or visit mhpcolorado.org. For emergency assistance with a mental health crisis, please call 1 (844) 493-TALK (8255), text TALK to 38255 or go directly to our 24/7 Walk-In Center at 3180 Airport Rd., Boulder, CO.

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