April 22, 2026 • 20 mins
This episode of “Hope Starts With Us” features NAMI’s Director of Field Resource Development Mary Sorensen. Through this conversation, listeners will learn about NAMIWalks, NAMI’s community-driven fundraising event happening nationwide. This discussion will highlight the importance of community mental health events, the power of coming together with our neighbors, how to get involved, and more.
Sign up for a NAMIWalks near you today!
As students head back to classrooms this month, discover all that NAMI's Back to School resources can offer. Visit NAMI's Back to School resource hub for more ways to connect with young people heading back to school and support them through their new routines. Check out nami.org/BackToSchool to learn more.
You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.
"Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.
Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.
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(00:00):
You are bigger and prouder together,and what we can build, moving
forward, is unstoppable when a communitycomes together behind a common cause.
Welcome to Hope StartsWith Us, a podcast by NAMI,
the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
I'm your host, Dan Gillis and NAMI's CEO.
NAMI started this podcast becausewe believe that hope starts with us.
(00:22):
Hope starts with ustalking about mental health.
Hope starts with us making informationaccessible.
Hope starts with usproviding resources and practical advice.
Hope starts with us sharing our stories.
And hope starts with usbreaking the stigma.
If you or loved one is strugglingwith the mental health condition
and have been looking for hope,we made this podcast for you.
(00:45):
Hope starts with all of us.
Hope is a collective.
We hope that each episode,with each conversation brings you
into that collectiveso you know you are not alone.
Our guest today is Mary Sorensen.
Mary is the Director of Field ResourceDevelopment for NAMI, NAMI'S
national leader of NAMIWalks.
(01:05):
Peer-to-peer fundraising eventstretching across the nation.
A movement and celebrationof individuals, families, and communities
coming together for mental health for all.
For anyone that's listeningor watching this and you've
participated in a NAMIWalk, you know whatwe mean in terms of a movement
and celebration of individualsand families and communities
(01:25):
coming together for mental health for all.
For those that haven't, pleasefind a NAMIWalk.
You will love it.
So, Mary, would you as an expert,tell our listeners more about NAMIWalks
and there was no way I stole your thunderbecause these walks are just incredible.
(01:45):
Absolutely. I'd be happy to.
So NAMIWalks is our signaturefundraising program here at NAMI,
and it is actually the largest mentalhealth event series in the entire country.
So it's really become this nationalmovement, which is so exciting to see.
We are now in more than 200 communitiesacross the country,
so the growth has just been exceptional.
(02:08):
And like you said, it's about people.
It's the individuals,the families, it's workplaces,
and they're all coming togetherbecause mental health touches all of us.
And this is a really tangible wayto get involved.
And it's more than an event.
It's people telling their storiesand connecting with each other
and building a real sense of community.
(02:30):
And I think this year's theme,it's "Together
We Are NAMIWalks," really capturesthe essence of what we're trying to build.
It's simple, but it reflects what happenswhen people show up for each other.
At the same time, these eventsare making such a huge impact.
Last year alone,we raised over $16.4 million
(02:52):
and reached 82,000 participantsfrom coast-to-coast.
And because of that growth,our program has become a top 30 event
for peer-to-peerfundraising for the seventh year in a row,
which was just really exciting,and it just shares the and reflects
the passion behind the movement.
And Dan, I knowthat you've been to several NAMIWalks
(03:14):
throughout your years with NAMIand there's just nothing like Walk Day.
Like you said, there's the energyand the sense of community
and it's just such a powerful thingto be a part of.
Yeah, the association, assimilation,and the care.
You know,we've always said people don't care
how much you knowuntil they know how much you care.
Every walkI've participated in, it is so caring.
(03:37):
And you don't meet a stranger.
Everybody is connected in some way.
And the energy at the walksis just so incredible.
It is profound.
It's engaging.
It's really very cool.
Mary,what led you to working with NAMIWalks?
Yeah.
So I've actually spent my entire careerin nonprofit development,
(03:59):
primarily in walk programs.
So in a lot of ways, this is the spacewhere I really grew up professionally.
It honestly goes backeven further than that.
I got my start as the philanthropy chairin my college sorority, and I won't say
how long ago that was, but it's a paththat found me pretty early on.
And as I was preparing formy NAMI interview, you know, you start
(04:24):
reflecting on your path and you know whyyou're looking to join an organization.
And I realized in that reflectionthat NAMI was actually
the first nonprofitthat I was ever exposed to as a child.
My aunt, my mom's identical twinsister, lives with bipolar,
and she's been involved with her NAMIin Maryland for as long as I can remember.
(04:47):
She led support groupsand was a huge advocate in her community.
And because ofthat, conversations around mental health
were just really open in my family.
I was so lucky to grow upin that environment and that felt so safe,
and my parents supported what we would nowcall mental health days way
before people were talking about thator experiencing things like that.
(05:09):
And so when the pandemic hit,I think we all got to reflecting
about our lives and our purpose,and it really shifted things for me.
It made it really clearhow critical mental health
support is and how importantit was going to be moving forward.
And I'll be really honest,I had my eye on NAMI.
I knewthis is exactly where I wanted to be next
and it was a very targeted approach.
(05:33):
So when the opportunity came, it felt likethe perfect combination of professional
growth as well as a passionfor something really personal to me.
So I just, I jumped at the opportunity,and I've loved every minute
of being a part of this programand how it continues to evolve.
Well, what you've grown it to, you andyour team, is absolutely fantastic,
(05:56):
and we're so glad that you broughtyour talent to this work, your experience
to this work, and congratulations to youand thank you as well.
And would you share some storiesyou've heard from NAMIWalks
leaders across the country?
What's that experience been like?
And and what are their stories?
Yeah, one of the most powerful thingsI think about NAMIWalks
(06:19):
is that every event inevery community is just full of stories,
and I have the privilege of workingwith our field leaders across the country
every single day.
So I get to hear so many of those storiesfirsthand.
So you meet people and they're walkingnot only for themselves,
but for a loved oneor someone that they've lost.
And for many,these events are sometimes the first time
(06:41):
that they felt really comfortabletalking about it openly.
And so what I hear from our field leadersis that it's not just an event,
it's this moment where people are feelingseen and supported,
but it's alsowhat makes their work possible.
So NAMIWalks is how so many affiliatesfund their programs locally.
I had a leader share that afterjoining the NAMIWalks program,
(07:05):
the funds that they raised were enoughto hire a development staff person
for the first time,which means they're now going to be able
to grow and reach more peoplein their community for the years to come.
And then, you know, there are momentsthat you actually get to see firsthand.
I was at NAMIWalks Indiana last yearwhere I got to meet a walker,
(07:26):
and she was the last person to crossthe finish line, and she came alone.
But on the route, connected with thisbig group of very vibrant people,
and they were cheering her on at thefinish line and waited for her to cross.
And she showed up alone.
(07:46):
But she left a part of this community,and it was honestly
one of the most beautiful thingsI've seen in almost 20 years
of doing walks was just thisrecognition of you are not alone.
You can come as an individual, but youleave a part of something so much bigger.
Yes, yes, so well put, so well put.
You know, we, we have another phrasethat we often refer to.
(08:10):
It's an African proverb. "Ifyou want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together."And that's what this represents,
going together.
Speaking about that, Mary,why is it so important to get out into
the community and hold a visibleand active event like NAMIWalks?
Yeah.
That visibility, it'sjust incredibly important, especially,
(08:31):
I think, when it comes to mental health,because I think for so many years
people have just felt like they've hadto struggle in silence and internalize it.
And so when something like a NAMIWalkshows up in a community
and it's vibrating, colorfuland so welcoming,
and when you see hundreds oreven thousands of people coming together,
(08:52):
I think it sends a really powerful messagethat you're not alone and this matters.
And it'sokay to be a part of something bigger.
And I think it just helps normalizethose conversations in a very public way.
And it just kind of gives peoplethat permission to not only talk about
what they're going through,but that permission
(09:13):
to support someone elsemore openly as well.
So beyond the awareness, which iswonderful for what we're trying to build,
it also really creates that connectionand it brings people into community.
And that's such a critical partof mental health.
So it's visible, but it's lasting.
It breaks the stigma in that moment,being there on walk day.
(09:35):
But I think it also opens the doorfor just more understanding
and support and for peoplegetting the help that they need.
Yeah, I think you--Thank you very much, Mary.
You pretty much answeredthe second part of my question,
but I want to go to it anyway.
And that is, what do you believeis the impact of that visibility
in our communities, of the visibilityof NAMIWalks in our communities?
(09:58):
Yeah, I think it really isthat sense of not being alone.
It's that mental health for all mentalitythat you are bigger and prouder together.
And what we can buildmoving forward is unstoppable
when a community comes togetherbehind a common cause.
Yeah.
And you know, you mentioned megoing to several of the walks
and I'm going to a walk in inMay and will try to participate in several
(10:21):
throughout the balance of the year.
And I will tell you thatwhat's also interesting
at the number of walks I went to lastyear is as you're walking around
and you're hearing conversations, peoplethat came out for the walk
but don't necessarily know each other,and all of a sudden they're talking about
the experience in their family and say,"oh, really?" And they're connecting.
(10:43):
And it's like it's almost the visual of,I'm experiencing the same thing you are.
So that element that we have, "you'renot alone" is really realized at our walks
where people are talking and their livedexperiences or their family members'
lived experiences become so real fromthe standpoint living with,
(11:05):
succeeding with, navigating with.
And this person is talkingto another person saying, "Wow, really?
I'm not alone."So it's really cool to see.
It's really cool to seeand it's very energizing
and it gives people so much hope.
Yes, you can read the statistics.
You know, how much mental health impactspeople in your communities,
(11:26):
but to physically be in a space together,to see
the visual representation is so moving.
And I always tell eachand every one of our walk managers
across the country that you have to pausefor a moment on walk day
because they're moving around,getting everything coordinated
and they're busy,but you have to pause for a second
and just look at the crowdand realize what you've built
(11:48):
and brought togetherfor people in that moment.
You know, and as you spoke about the walksteam, you're absolutely right.
You do have to pause and you have toyou know, you've done so much work,
your team has done so much workin the coordination and the development
and the supportof creating that local event.
And then they'rethere doing a lot of work on the ground
so they don't take that moment.
(12:10):
So, you know, kudos to your leadershipfor really suggesting, pause for a minute.
Breathe and look at whatyou've developed in partnership
with the local community.
So that's good council.
So as we move on, I wanted to ask youabout a very special day that's coming up.
It's called the United Day of Hopeand it's coming up soon.
(12:31):
Would you tell us more about that event,Mary?
I'd be happy to.
It's coming up very soon.
The season just seems to be flying by.
But yes, UnitedDay of Hope is a very special day for the
NAMIWalks program,and we actually have two of them.
So we have one coming up in May,like you mentioned on May 16th.
And then our fall season also hostsone this year it'll be on October 10th.
(12:53):
So they were originally createdback in the pandemic to bring the entire
NAMIWalks community togetherwhen we couldn't gather in person.
And so while now that we're back in liveand in person, while not every NAMIWalks
event happenson those exact dates anymore,
they've really kind of becomea movement of their own.
(13:15):
And they're staying with usas a connection across the country.
Because what I love, whatthe United Day of Hope symbolizes, is it
reminds us that we're bigger than any onewalk or any single community.
We're part of this national movement,and it's just kind of a chance to, again,
pause and reflect and recognize the impactthat we're making together and not just
(13:37):
in our individual communities.
So it's a very, very special daythat the majority of our walks
do host their events.
United Day of Hope.
United Day of Hope. May 16th. Yep.
Thank you very much. So.
May I ask you, how can listeners,Mary get involved with NAMIWalks?
(13:59):
Yeah.
So I think the easiest way to get startedis just to see
and find a walk in their community.
So you can go to namiwalks.org.
We have more than 200 across the countrywith both that spring and fall season,
so there's just lots of opportunitiesto participate.
So whether you registered a walkor join a team or support
(14:20):
somebody that you know is participating.
For companies,there's lots of ways to get involved,
whether that's sponsoringor forming a team or even just engaging
their employees in a really meaningful wayaround mental health.
So donate.
Volunteer, simply helping spread the word.
It all makes such a huge difference.
And I always say thatjust showing up matters.
(14:43):
Your presence helps create that sense ofcommunity that just supports someone else.
So however you choose to get involved,there's so many different ways
namiwalks.org and you can helpmove this movement forward.
NAMIwalks.org.
to all of our listeners.
Go to NAMIWalks.org.
And if you have been involved in a walkand you brought others
(15:05):
with you, continue to do that.
If you've come to a walkand you haven't brought someone,
bring someone to the next one.
It is a lot of energy.
It's engaging, it is caring.
And you will enjoy it so very muchand it just fills you.
It fills your spiritwith so much hope and energy
(15:29):
and it's really very special.
So Mary,thank you so very much for this overview.
And we wrap up our podcast by askingour guests a question at the end.
And here'sthe question we'd like to pose to you.
The world can be and is a difficult place,and sometimes it can be hard to
hold on to hope.
(15:51):
So we wrap up the episodeand dedicate the last couple of minutes
of our podcast to a special segment calledHold On to Hope.
Mary, what helps you hold on to Hope?
Such a good question.
For me, I'd have to say it's my kids.
I'm a very proud mom of two boys.
(16:11):
They're almost 16 and 12 now,which is hard to say,
but they give me hope every single day.
And it's not just them, it's theirgenerations and how they're showing up.
Gen Z and Alpha.
They don't just care about causes.
They see them as part of who they are,as part of their identity
(16:32):
and mental health, we're so fortunate,is such a big part of that.
They talk about it more openly.
They support each other in waysthat I know we didn't see growing up,
and they're just not afraid to saythat they're struggling.
And it's so empowering to see the nextgeneration openly discussing this.
(16:53):
And, you know, professionally,we see it reflected
in the work that we're doing with NAMINext Gen as well.
And this next generation they're steppingin, they're using their voices,
and they're really leadingthe conversation in a different way.
And I see it in a way that they expectthe world around them to do better
(17:13):
and to be better, and they're not waitingfor somebody else to fix it.
They're stepping in and stepping up,and they are pushing for change.
And so watching my kids grow up with thatmindset that gives me so much hope,
because this isn't a generationthat's going to accept the status quo.
They are--they're ready to reshape it.
(17:33):
They are absolutely ready to reshape it.
And as a parent to a parent, you know,thank you for sharing a little bit
about your boysand our young people in terms
of how they're challenging the status quo.
And to your 16and I think it's 12-year-old?
Sixteen and 12.
Yeah.
High school and middle school going on.
(17:55):
So you're navigating quite a bit.
And thank you for sharing that.
And our young people are very vested andthey want to see the status quo change.
And they want to see the evolution of whatwe're what we see
in terms of mental illnessand mental health.
And so it's really coolto see their energy and their passion.
(18:17):
So thank you for sharing thatand what gives you hope, Mary.
So Mary is our Director of Field ResourceDevelopment,
leads our NAMIWalks organizationand has done a great job.
And as she shared with you,with over 200 walks and over 16 million
raised, we're looking to actually increasethe number of walks
and the revenue generated because it helpsevery one of the organizations
(18:41):
that host to walk.
So as we wrap up,this has been Hope Starts With Us,
a podcast by NAMI,the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
If you're looking for mental healthresources, you are not alone.
To connect with the NAMI HelpLine and findlocal resources, visit NAMI.org/help.
Text NAMIto 62640 or dial 800 950 NAMI.
(19:06):
Or if you're experiencingan immediate suicide, substance
use or mental health crisis,please call or text 988
to speak with a trained supportspecialist or visit 988lifeline.
I'm Dan Gilison, your host.
Thanks for listening and be well.
You are bigger and prouder together,and what we can build, moving
forward, is unstoppable when a communitycomes together behind a common cause.
Welcome to Hope StartsWith Us, a podcast by NAMI,
the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
I'm your host, Dan Gillis and NAMI's CEO.
NAMI started this podcast becausewe believe that hope starts with us.
(00:22):
Hope starts with ustalking about mental health.
Hope starts with us making informationaccessible.
Hope starts with usproviding resources and practical advice.
Hope starts with us sharing our stories.
And hope starts with usbreaking the stigma.
If you or loved one is strugglingwith the mental health condition
and have been looking for hope,we made this podcast for you.
(00:45):
Hope starts with all of us.
Hope is a collective.
We hope that each episode,with each conversation brings you
into that collectiveso you know you are not alone.
Our guest today is Mary Sorensen.
Mary is the Director of Field ResourceDevelopment for NAMI, NAMI'S
national leader of NAMIWalks.
(01:05):
Peer-to-peer fundraising eventstretching across the nation.
A movement and celebrationof individuals, families, and communities
coming together for mental health for all.
For anyone that's listeningor watching this and you've
participated in a NAMIWalk, you know whatwe mean in terms of a movement
and celebration of individualsand families and communities
(01:25):
coming together for mental health for all.
For those that haven't, pleasefind a NAMIWalk.
You will love it.
So, Mary, would you as an expert,tell our listeners more about NAMIWalks
and there was no way I stole your thunderbecause these walks are just incredible.
(01:45):
Absolutely. I'd be happy to.
So NAMIWalks is our signaturefundraising program here at NAMI,
and it is actually the largest mentalhealth event series in the entire country.
So it's really become this nationalmovement, which is so exciting to see.
We are now in more than 200 communitiesacross the country,
so the growth has just been exceptional.
(02:08):
And like you said, it's about people.
It's the individuals,the families, it's workplaces,
and they're all coming togetherbecause mental health touches all of us.
And this is a really tangible wayto get involved.
And it's more than an event.
It's people telling their storiesand connecting with each other
and building a real sense of community.
(02:30):
And I think this year's theme,it's "Together
We Are NAMIWalks," really capturesthe essence of what we're trying to build.
It's simple, but it reflects what happenswhen people show up for each other.
At the same time, these eventsare making such a huge impact.
Last year alone,we raised over $16.4 million
(02:52):
and reached 82,000 participantsfrom coast-to-coast.
And because of that growth,our program has become a top 30 event
for peer-to-peerfundraising for the seventh year in a row,
which was just really exciting,and it just shares the and reflects
the passion behind the movement.
And Dan, I knowthat you've been to several NAMIWalks
(03:14):
throughout your years with NAMIand there's just nothing like Walk Day.
Like you said, there's the energyand the sense of community
and it's just such a powerful thingto be a part of.
Yeah, the association, assimilation,and the care.
You know,we've always said people don't care
how much you knowuntil they know how much you care.
Every walkI've participated in, it is so caring.
(03:37):
And you don't meet a stranger.
Everybody is connected in some way.
And the energy at the walksis just so incredible.
It is profound.
It's engaging.
It's really very cool.
Mary,what led you to working with NAMIWalks?
Yeah.
So I've actually spent my entire careerin nonprofit development,
(03:59):
primarily in walk programs.
So in a lot of ways, this is the spacewhere I really grew up professionally.
It honestly goes backeven further than that.
I got my start as the philanthropy chairin my college sorority, and I won't say
how long ago that was, but it's a paththat found me pretty early on.
And as I was preparing formy NAMI interview, you know, you start
(04:24):
reflecting on your path and you know whyyou're looking to join an organization.
And I realized in that reflectionthat NAMI was actually
the first nonprofitthat I was ever exposed to as a child.
My aunt, my mom's identical twinsister, lives with bipolar,
and she's been involved with her NAMIin Maryland for as long as I can remember.
(04:47):
She led support groupsand was a huge advocate in her community.
And because ofthat, conversations around mental health
were just really open in my family.
I was so lucky to grow upin that environment and that felt so safe,
and my parents supported what we would nowcall mental health days way
before people were talking about thator experiencing things like that.
(05:09):
And so when the pandemic hit,I think we all got to reflecting
about our lives and our purpose,and it really shifted things for me.
It made it really clearhow critical mental health
support is and how importantit was going to be moving forward.
And I'll be really honest,I had my eye on NAMI.
I knewthis is exactly where I wanted to be next
and it was a very targeted approach.
(05:33):
So when the opportunity came, it felt likethe perfect combination of professional
growth as well as a passionfor something really personal to me.
So I just, I jumped at the opportunity,and I've loved every minute
of being a part of this programand how it continues to evolve.
Well, what you've grown it to, you andyour team, is absolutely fantastic,
(05:56):
and we're so glad that you broughtyour talent to this work, your experience
to this work, and congratulations to youand thank you as well.
And would you share some storiesyou've heard from NAMIWalks
leaders across the country?
What's that experience been like?
And and what are their stories?
Yeah, one of the most powerful thingsI think about NAMIWalks
(06:19):
is that every event inevery community is just full of stories,
and I have the privilege of workingwith our field leaders across the country
every single day.
So I get to hear so many of those storiesfirsthand.
So you meet people and they're walkingnot only for themselves,
but for a loved oneor someone that they've lost.
And for many,these events are sometimes the first time
(06:41):
that they felt really comfortabletalking about it openly.
And so what I hear from our field leadersis that it's not just an event,
it's this moment where people are feelingseen and supported,
but it's alsowhat makes their work possible.
So NAMIWalks is how so many affiliatesfund their programs locally.
I had a leader share that afterjoining the NAMIWalks program,
(07:05):
the funds that they raised were enoughto hire a development staff person
for the first time,which means they're now going to be able
to grow and reach more peoplein their community for the years to come.
And then, you know, there are momentsthat you actually get to see firsthand.
I was at NAMIWalks Indiana last yearwhere I got to meet a walker,
(07:26):
and she was the last person to crossthe finish line, and she came alone.
But on the route, connected with thisbig group of very vibrant people,
and they were cheering her on at thefinish line and waited for her to cross.
And she showed up alone.
(07:46):
But she left a part of this community,and it was honestly
one of the most beautiful thingsI've seen in almost 20 years
of doing walks was just thisrecognition of you are not alone.
You can come as an individual, but youleave a part of something so much bigger.
Yes, yes, so well put, so well put.
You know, we, we have another phrasethat we often refer to.
(08:10):
It's an African proverb. "Ifyou want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together."And that's what this represents,
going together.
Speaking about that, Mary,why is it so important to get out into
the community and hold a visibleand active event like NAMIWalks?
Yeah.
That visibility, it'sjust incredibly important, especially,
(08:31):
I think, when it comes to mental health,because I think for so many years
people have just felt like they've hadto struggle in silence and internalize it.
And so when something like a NAMIWalkshows up in a community
and it's vibrating, colorfuland so welcoming,
and when you see hundreds oreven thousands of people coming together,
(08:52):
I think it sends a really powerful messagethat you're not alone and this matters.
And it'sokay to be a part of something bigger.
And I think it just helps normalizethose conversations in a very public way.
And it just kind of gives peoplethat permission to not only talk about
what they're going through,but that permission
(09:13):
to support someone elsemore openly as well.
So beyond the awareness, which iswonderful for what we're trying to build,
it also really creates that connectionand it brings people into community.
And that's such a critical partof mental health.
So it's visible, but it's lasting.
It breaks the stigma in that moment,being there on walk day.
(09:35):
But I think it also opens the doorfor just more understanding
and support and for peoplegetting the help that they need.
Yeah, I think you--Thank you very much, Mary.
You pretty much answeredthe second part of my question,
but I want to go to it anyway.
And that is, what do you believeis the impact of that visibility
in our communities, of the visibilityof NAMIWalks in our communities?
(09:58):
Yeah, I think it really isthat sense of not being alone.
It's that mental health for all mentalitythat you are bigger and prouder together.
And what we can buildmoving forward is unstoppable
when a community comes togetherbehind a common cause.
Yeah.
And you know, you mentioned megoing to several of the walks
and I'm going to a walk in inMay and will try to participate in several
(10:21):
throughout the balance of the year.
And I will tell you thatwhat's also interesting
at the number of walks I went to lastyear is as you're walking around
and you're hearing conversations, peoplethat came out for the walk
but don't necessarily know each other,and all of a sudden they're talking about
the experience in their family and say,"oh, really?" And they're connecting.
(10:43):
And it's like it's almost the visual of,I'm experiencing the same thing you are.
So that element that we have, "you'renot alone" is really realized at our walks
where people are talking and their livedexperiences or their family members'
lived experiences become so real fromthe standpoint living with,
(11:05):
succeeding with, navigating with.
And this person is talkingto another person saying, "Wow, really?
I'm not alone."So it's really cool to see.
It's really cool to seeand it's very energizing
and it gives people so much hope.
Yes, you can read the statistics.
You know, how much mental health impactspeople in your communities,
(11:26):
but to physically be in a space together,to see
the visual representation is so moving.
And I always tell eachand every one of our walk managers
across the country that you have to pausefor a moment on walk day
because they're moving around,getting everything coordinated
and they're busy,but you have to pause for a second
and just look at the crowdand realize what you've built
(11:48):
and brought togetherfor people in that moment.
You know, and as you spoke about the walksteam, you're absolutely right.
You do have to pause and you have toyou know, you've done so much work,
your team has done so much workin the coordination and the development
and the supportof creating that local event.
And then they'rethere doing a lot of work on the ground
so they don't take that moment.
(12:10):
So, you know, kudos to your leadershipfor really suggesting, pause for a minute.
Breathe and look at whatyou've developed in partnership
with the local community.
So that's good council.
So as we move on, I wanted to ask youabout a very special day that's coming up.
It's called the United Day of Hopeand it's coming up soon.
(12:31):
Would you tell us more about that event,Mary?
I'd be happy to.
It's coming up very soon.
The season just seems to be flying by.
But yes, UnitedDay of Hope is a very special day for the
NAMIWalks program,and we actually have two of them.
So we have one coming up in May,like you mentioned on May 16th.
And then our fall season also hostsone this year it'll be on October 10th.
(12:53):
So they were originally createdback in the pandemic to bring the entire
NAMIWalks community togetherwhen we couldn't gather in person.
And so while now that we're back in liveand in person, while not every NAMIWalks
event happenson those exact dates anymore,
they've really kind of becomea movement of their own.
(13:15):
And they're staying with usas a connection across the country.
Because what I love, whatthe United Day of Hope symbolizes, is it
reminds us that we're bigger than any onewalk or any single community.
We're part of this national movement,and it's just kind of a chance to, again,
pause and reflect and recognize the impactthat we're making together and not just
(13:37):
in our individual communities.
So it's a very, very special daythat the majority of our walks
do host their events.
United Day of Hope.
United Day of Hope. May 16th. Yep.
Thank you very much. So.
May I ask you, how can listeners,Mary get involved with NAMIWalks?
(13:59):
Yeah.
So I think the easiest way to get startedis just to see
and find a walk in their community.
So you can go to namiwalks.org.
We have more than 200 across the countrywith both that spring and fall season,
so there's just lots of opportunitiesto participate.
So whether you registered a walkor join a team or support
(14:20):
somebody that you know is participating.
For companies,there's lots of ways to get involved,
whether that's sponsoringor forming a team or even just engaging
their employees in a really meaningful wayaround mental health.
So donate.
Volunteer, simply helping spread the word.
It all makes such a huge difference.
And I always say thatjust showing up matters.
(14:43):
Your presence helps create that sense ofcommunity that just supports someone else.
So however you choose to get involved,there's so many different ways
namiwalks.org and you can helpmove this movement forward.
NAMIwalks.org.
to all of our listeners.
Go to NAMIWalks.org.
And if you have been involved in a walkand you brought others
(15:05):
with you, continue to do that.
If you've come to a walkand you haven't brought someone,
bring someone to the next one.
It is a lot of energy.
It's engaging, it is caring.
And you will enjoy it so very muchand it just fills you.
It fills your spiritwith so much hope and energy
(15:29):
and it's really very special.
So Mary,thank you so very much for this overview.
And we wrap up our podcast by askingour guests a question at the end.
And here'sthe question we'd like to pose to you.
The world can be and is a difficult place,and sometimes it can be hard to
hold on to hope.
(15:51):
So we wrap up the episodeand dedicate the last couple of minutes
of our podcast to a special segment calledHold On to Hope.
Mary, what helps you hold on to Hope?
Such a good question.
For me, I'd have to say it's my kids.
I'm a very proud mom of two boys.
(16:11):
They're almost 16 and 12 now,which is hard to say,
but they give me hope every single day.
And it's not just them, it's theirgenerations and how they're showing up.
Gen Z and Alpha.
They don't just care about causes.
They see them as part of who they are,as part of their identity
(16:32):
and mental health, we're so fortunate,is such a big part of that.
They talk about it more openly.
They support each other in waysthat I know we didn't see growing up,
and they're just not afraid to saythat they're struggling.
And it's so empowering to see the nextgeneration openly discussing this.
(16:53):
And, you know, professionally,we see it reflected
in the work that we're doing with NAMINext Gen as well.
And this next generation they're steppingin, they're using their voices,
and they're really leadingthe conversation in a different way.
And I see it in a way that they expectthe world around them to do better
(17:13):
and to be better, and they're not waitingfor somebody else to fix it.
They're stepping in and stepping up,and they are pushing for change.
And so watching my kids grow up with thatmindset that gives me so much hope,
because this isn't a generationthat's going to accept the status quo.
They are--they're ready to reshape it.
(17:33):
They are absolutely ready to reshape it.
And as a parent to a parent, you know,thank you for sharing a little bit
about your boysand our young people in terms
of how they're challenging the status quo.
And to your 16and I think it's 12-year-old?
Sixteen and 12.
Yeah.
High school and middle school going on.
(17:55):
So you're navigating quite a bit.
And thank you for sharing that.
And our young people are very vested andthey want to see the status quo change.
And they want to see the evolution of whatwe're what we see
in terms of mental illnessand mental health.
And so it's really coolto see their energy and their passion.
(18:17):
So thank you for sharing thatand what gives you hope, Mary.
So Mary is our Director of Field ResourceDevelopment,
leads our NAMIWalks organizationand has done a great job.
And as she shared with you,with over 200 walks and over 16 million
raised, we're looking to actually increasethe number of walks
and the revenue generated because it helpsevery one of the organizations
(18:41):
that host to walk.
So as we wrap up,this has been Hope Starts With Us,
a podcast by NAMI,the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
If you're looking for mental healthresources, you are not alone.
To connect with the NAMI HelpLine and findlocal resources, visit NAMI.org/help.
Text NAMIto 62640 or dial 800 950 NAMI.
(19:06):
Or if you're experiencingan immediate suicide, substance
use or mental health crisis,please call or text 988
to speak with a trained supportspecialist or visit 988lifeline.
I'm Dan Gilison, your host.
Thanks for listening and be well.
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