20220215 - Stigma Free Committee Minutes

Stigma Free Minutes 2/15/2022

• The meeting officially began at 3:04 pm and introductions occurred
• Danielle Pagani shared statistics on the Cards of Joy for the Valentine ’s Day and how we went over 240 cards to Share house, the nursing homes, some residents that are homebound, etc…
• COVID updates were discussed quickly regarding updates in vaccine recommendations and Ridgewood’s COVID numbers
• Danielle Fabrizio discussed the Lifestyle Challenge kicking off April 7^th at 6 pm. It will be done in person but streamed virtually as well. The challenge will have exercise groups, walking groups, etc. In previous years weight loss was the focus, but this year it will be more focused on overall wellness and includes a mental health component. It is an 8 week program this year. Mary Davey offered for West Bergen to collaborate with the program in some way this year.
• Age Friendly and the Library are doing a photo exhibit in May for Older Americans Month and doing “Age my Way” of photos of older adults in the community walking, cooking, gardening, etc..and Sheila Brogan discussed how this may be a good opportunity to incorporate the two
•  Kathleen McCann discussed the idea of someone coming to Share to talk about breaking out of the pandemic to the residents at the Share house locations
• Deanne Schablik offered using the community center to use the bus as well
• Andrea Watson from Ridgewood High School was on the meeting as well. We discussed Mental Health month in May and Marianny Fermin brought up the idea of getting Stigma Free more known amongst the students during that time. Andrea Watson brought up student government may be able to organize something and she asked for more detail on what we have in mind to plan and requested another meeting to discuss further.
• Past program of showing Angst (film on anxiety) to students and parents and having a Q&A session with a panel was very successful.