FELICIA AND ZACHARIAH KIRKHAM (children’s names withheld upon request)

By Ray Balogh
Staff Writer

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A hopeful idea Karena Wilkinson has “kicked around for a few years” is about to come to powerful fruition.

AMY DRAKE

Wilkinson, proprietor of the nonprofit Harvest Coffee in Milford and active community volunteer, is spearheading “Doing Life Together,” a one-day communitywide forum with guest speakers and panel discussions to address addiction and mental health issues, their challenges and resources available to combat them.

Several educational and treatment organizations will be present at resources tables to inform attendees of their availability to address the burgeoning scourge on the communities of Milford and beyond.

“We can’t do everything, but everyone can do something,” said Wilkinson.

Doors will open for the event at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at Wawasee Community Bible Church, 2035 E. 1300N, Milford.

The forum “is as much about challenging those in our community who aren’t struggling to be aware and reach out to those who are struggling as it is to educate people who are struggling what the resources are,” said Wilkinson.

“All of these issues have touched everyone’s family, and if not family, then friends,” she said. “We need to normalize the conversation about addiction and mental health and helping people in our community.

“The point is that every mug shot is a son or daughter, sister or brother, mom or dad, and we can do better because life is too hard to do alone.”

The conference is free and Wilkinson invited everyone in the community to participate. “Just come with an open mind but open to challenging your own prejudices and stereotypes,” she said.

Other organizations involved in the event include Bowen Center, Living in Transition Effectively, Rose Garden Recovery Community, Exodus Ministries, Kosciusko County Jail ministry, Wawasee

Compass, LiveWell Kosciusko and Wawasee School Corporation.

The schedule:

• 8:30 a.m., welcome and “thank you”s.

• 8:45 a.m., speaker Amy Drake, who will explain the factors of ACE — Adverse Childhood Experiences. She will address the questions, “How does our ‘baggage’ affect us?” and “Why does it matter to ‘get it right’ with our kids?”

• 9:15 a.m., panel discussion #1, “Understanding Today’s Youth.” Panelists include Myra Steele, Wawasee Bible Church youth pastor; Milford School Principal Michael Casey; Drake; Wawasee Schools student success advocate Sarah LeCount; and a representative of Bowen Center.

• 10 a.m., coffee and refreshments provided by Harvest Coffee and Bowen Center.

• 10:15 a.m., panel discussion #2, “Challenges Facing Our Community and Resources.” Panelists include Chris or Tammy Cotton, Ben Irvine of Exodus Ministries, a chaplain from the Kosciusko County Jail and a representative of Rose Garden Recovery Community.

• 11 a.m., speaker Felicia Kirkham, who will answer from a personal perspective the question, “What impact did having a parent with mental health issues and substance abuse issues have on your childhood?”

• 11:30 a.m., panel discussion #3, “Changing Families by Supporting Struggling Parents.” Panelists include Chris or Tammy Cotton and representatives from Rose Garden Recovery Community, Wawasee Compass, Bowen Center and Wawasee Schools.

• 12:15 p.m., wrap up, with Wilkinson inviting the attendees to “continue the conversation,” volunteer and donate.

For more information, email [email protected]; stop into Harvest Coffee, 207 N. Higbee St., Milford; or visit Milford Harvest Coffee’s Facebook or Instagram site.

Free tickets may be obtained at eventbrite.com. Search for “Doing Life Together.”