Volume 2, Issue 2
Summer/Fall 2013
Wellness Newsletter
S P E C I A L
P O I N T S O F
I N T E R E S T :
A
V i e w
O n
W e l l b e i n g
Here are some things said to contribute to the feeling of Wellbeing: Money, Health,

Inspirational Stories

Upcoming events
true for a particular person’s well being. However what Wellbeing means to one

New pictures
person, does not necessarily mean that holds true for everyone else. Well-being

Letter from the
Coordinator
literally means exactly that, when a person feels well, in their very being without the

Volunteer Corner
Happiness, Love, Kindness, the holidays and Botox! Any of these things can be
stresses and tensions of life taking over, they feel well. This also includes getting
out and enjoying what is around you, that which contributes to wellbeing. Wellbeing affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. This creates an uplifting effect
on our whole system Wellbeing is good for our souls.
M e n t a l H e a l t h M o n t h
c e l e b r a t e d t h r o u g h t h e a r t s
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
A View on Mental Health
1
Success Story, Upcoming
Events & Letteer From
the Coordinator
2
Spanish Translation
3
Volunteer, Vocational
Services
4
TAY Living Well &
Creative Corner
5
Wellness Center
Calendar
6
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S u c c e s s
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s t o r y
My name is Teresa and this is my story. If you would have met me in 2010, you would have met a vibrant, happy, working mother of three. In 2011, that all changed. I became depressed and began dealing with
anxiety. My days consisted of laying on the couch, staring at the walls, crying and not wanting to participate
in life.
Then I was referred to Tri-City through a hospital emergency room. I started seeing a therapist and
case manager at Tri-City, who were able to get me on the right medication and I began going to group therapy for anxiety and depression at the Wellness Center.
That is where I learned my coping skills. I listened to other people’s stories and learned that I was not
alone. Coming to groups has gotten me back into a routine of life and has allowed me to once again participate in my life. I graduated out of Tri-City in May of this year, but I will always use the Wellness Center as a
place for comfort and, hopefully, help other people.
U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S
I n
W e l l n e s s
The Wellness Center will be hosting a Job Fair on Friday, October 25. Sonny Alino, our Employment Outreach Specialist, is expecting 15 employers to be in attendance. The Job Fair is scheduled for 11am–3pm in the TAY Building also known as the Activity Room. You can also see Sonny at
the Mt. SAC Fair on October 16th. Please watch for our upcoming events in the monthly calendars
and on our website at www.tricitymhs.org.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness had their annual NAMI Walks in Santa Monica
on October 5th. The event raises funds to bring awareness of mental illness and the ways to promote
recovery. It was an amazing event as always.
Welcome to our new volunteer, Mona Mouradi, who will be helping out in the Wellness Center
Computer Lab. The Wellness Center also has welcomed 7 interns from USC, Long Beach and National University. They will learn the concepts of Recovery and participate in all that we have to offer to the
community.
By Chris, CSW and Lorin, CSW
f r o m
t h e
C o o r d i n a t o r
The year has come and gone, leaving some of us in utter amazement at how quickly time is
passing by. I mean, daylight savings time already ending. As the saying goes, “time waits for no one”.
What a cruel reality for all of us, but more so for those who find themselves alone and void of support
networks in their lives. That is why, we at the wellness center, are so excited to be present for those
who honor us with their attendance on a weekly basis. We are honored that 1/4 of all of our visits have
been coming for over a year to the Wellness Center and its activities. Just as exciting as the folks that
have touched us with their presence for well over a year, is the fact that roughly about the same
amount of participants are new folks that have found the center less than a month ago and have started to call it a home. The month of August, the center welcomed more than 2100 visits.
It is exciting seeing familiar faces taking advantage of our support groups and activities for over
a year and also the new faces that are learning about all the supports that are available to them. It is
our sincerest hope that finding the center will make the journey less cruel as we all watch time travel
on. People touch our lives in so many different ways, that not to stop and acknowledge those encounters rob us of life’s truest pleasures. So thank you for touching our lives with your presence.
Gamaliel Polanco, ACSW
Wellness Center Coordinator
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Historia de Teresa
Mi nombre es Teresa M. y esta es mi historia. Si me hubieras conocido en el 2010, hubieras
conocido a una mujer vibrante, feliz, y madre de tres hijos. En el 2011, todo cambió. Me
deprimí y empecé a sufrir de ansiedad. Mis días consistían en quedarme acostada en el sofá,
mirando las paredes, llorando, y no querer ser participe en mi propia vida.
Despúes de haber ido a la sala de emergencias de un hospital, me refirieron a Tri-City.
Empecé a ver a un terapeuta y a un administrador de casos de Tri-City, que fueron capases de
ayudarme a conseguir la medicación adecuada y también me aconsejaron a ir a grupos de
apoyo que ayudan a manejar la ansiedad y la depresión en el Centro de Bienestar.
Ahí fue donde aprendí mis habilidades de afrontamiento. Escuché historias de otras personas
y me enteré de que no estaba sola. Asistiendo a los grupos de apoyo me ha sido beneficiario
por que emprendí de nuevo una rutina diaria, y me ha permitido ser participe en mi propia
vida. Me gradue de Tri-City en Mayo de este año, pero siempre sigo utilizando el Centro de
Bienestar como un lugar de alivio y tal vez algún día llegar a ayudar a otras personas.
R e s u m e n
E n
E s p a ñ o l
Bienvenidos a la edición de verano/otoño. El centro de bienestar sigue creciendo, y nuestra
meta es que sigan aumentando el numero de grupos de apoyo que ofrecemos a la comunidad.
Algunos de los grupos de apoyo que fueron implementados este año fueron: Dolor y Pérdida
en Ingles, para padres que han perdido a un hijo/a. El otro grupo es Abuso Domestico en
Ingles, para personas que han sufrido este abuso y quieren compartir su historia y ayudar a
otras personas a superar este trauma y a la vez continuar en un camino de recuperación.
Además, agregamos Talleres sobre el Empleo los Lunes a las 6:00pm, los Miercoles alas
11am y los Viernes a las 3pm. Ofrecemos una clase de preparación (GED) a las 6:30 pm
(requiere registrarse). Los Martes hay un grupo de apoyo para las mujeres que sufren de
depresión ala 1pm en Ingles, pero estamos por agregar uno en Español. Finalmente, los
Viernes tenemos noches de cine de 6-8pm. Mostramos peliculas familiares gratis!!
Por primera, el centro sa ha asociado con Plaza Comunitaria quien ofrece clases de Ingles. Si
gustas aprender Ingles, ven e inscríbete.
Continúe revisando nuestros calendarios mensuales para obtener más información acerca de
los cambios o nuevos grupos que estaremos implementando. Si tiene sugerencias sobre
nuevos grupos y clases de interés personal, o cualquier otra pregunta, contáctenos.
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V o l u n t e e r
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This is a recipe from one of our wonderful Volunteers
LA Donna. La Donna co-facilitates the bi-monthly Cooking Group Held every other month see the current
month’s Calendar for date of group. Enjoy this tasty
dish of La Donna’s.
La Donna’s Ambrosia Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6 people
Ingredients
1 can of fruit cocktail
1 can of pineapple chunks
3 bananas (sliced)
Instant vanilla pudding (8oz)
Marshmallows
Cool whip
Coconut flakes (toasted)
Directions:
Drain the juice from pineapple chunks in a medium sized bowl and set aside
Mix vanilla pudding and pineapple juice until smooth
Drain the fruit cocktail and empty into pudding and pineapple juice mixture
Add pineapple chunks, sliced bananas, and marshmallows
Mix and fold in cool whip
Serve in small desert bowl
Sprinkle toasted coconut for topping
Coconut flakes: spread on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees until coconut flakes are
light brown.
V o c a t i o n a l
R e h a b i l i t a t i o n s e r v i c e s
An Interview with Job specialist Veronica Awodu
What brought you to Tri-City Wellness Center?
I was working with Pomona Unified School District and I was assigned to the Biaco Club at Tri
-City for G.E.D. classes as a teacher. Currently I work with employment at Tri-City Wellness Center
with Sonny Alino. It has been successful , we have at least 3to6 placement’s a month and maybe more.
My most enjoyment is when participant’s come back and express their gratitude when they received
employment. There is a certain amount of humility in helping someone reach a goal that they so desperately desire to achieve. It’s an ongoing process. The challenge is topping the last, How great is this
job?! By Sonya
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TAY LIVING WELL
Untitled by Roy “Beatz” Delgado
Go to the Wellness Center at Tri-City
If you don’t go it will be a pity
You will have a good time
You don’t need a dime
‘Cause everything is free
The Wellness Center at Tri- City is the place to be
I’m glad to call the Wellness Center my second home
That is my happy place anywhere I roam
A lot of groups to join and be a part of
Everyone is nice, we don’t push and shove
There is Michelle, Danny and Jose
Trust me they’ll never say no way
We have fun and play
It’s just great to go to Tri-City everyday
This is a poem to my second home Tri-City
When I go there everything is so fine and pretty
They know your place in the Wellness Center to be
But nervous or shy, at Tri-City you can be free!
T h e
C r e a t i v e
C o r n e r
The Creative Corner is a new section in the newsletter. The participants in our writing groups
do different projects . The following was written in the Creative Writing Group. The facilitators
encourage everyone to participate. This submission was well received by the group and it
sparked a wonderful and lively discussion. The writing prompt for that day was : If I had Superpowers what would they be?
My Superpower is Magic
I am a magical woman, with magical powers. I can get all the magic I want to help
people, with Mental Health problems like myself. The ability to take my magical powers and
make all of the mental health problems go away. My Magical Powers are for good and not
evil. I will use them to help all humankind. With this by reconstructing the Mind to be okay
with this illness. My Power’s come from being a spiritual person from God. I am a wonder
woman in the heart!!! With Magical Powers I can make the Illness Disappear.
Written by Ellen