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A Conference To Train Legal Professionals On Consumer Issues By: Kim Holt In November M-POWER presented a day long conference on legal issues pertaining to Consumers Survivors and ex-patients. The event itself is a testament to our organizations ability to undertake and complete large projects. Numerous members worked on various stages of bringing the Legal Conference to fruition. From writing the proposal, to organizing and preparing the many workshops given throughout the day M-POWER demonstrated that, when given the opportunity those of us with psychiatric disabilities can make a most positive difference. This past summer, Andrew Palmer headed up the team that responded to a Request for Proposals by the Disability Law Center and the Center for Public Representation for a consumer-led training on consumer issues for attorneys and other legal professionals. Andrew talked to many people, and eventually succeeded at arranging speakers for the day, and other such details. He then worked with Kim Holt and Beth Michel to finalize the actual written proposal. This proposal was well-received and M- POWER was awarded the contract to perform these trainings. In a meeting with the Disability Law Center and the Center for Public Representation, the date of November 22, 1999 was scheduled. And from there the preparations began to take place. A number of M-POWER members gave presentations on November 22. The day started with Emcee Kim Holt introducing the heads of the Disability Law Center and of the Center for Public Representation, and thanking them for their support. She then gave a brief synopsis of the plan for the day and M-POWER's hopes in terms of what the attorneys would leave with. Next up was Moe Armstrong, who spoke about "The Consumer Experience." He was followed by Naomi Pinson and Deni Cohodas, who spoke about "Recovery Issues." The final speaker of the morning was Jonathan Delman, who spoke on a variety of subjects surrounding the topic "What Does The Consumer Expect of You, The Legal Professional?" Next came a lunch break, during which consumers and legal staff mixed and shared stories and situations with one another. After lunch, we divided into two groups for workshops. During the first workshop, Beth Michel and Mozella Williams addressed issues of diversity and cultural competency. The second workshop during that first time period was a role-play led by members of Lowell M-POWER, but including many members of various M-POWER groups. During the second workshop time, Martin Koehler and Deborah Delman led a workshop on the "History of the Consumer Empowerment Movement." At the same time, Beth Michel moderated a panel which included Jonathan Delman, Andrew Palmer, Rita Callaghan, and Evelyn Kaufman, speaking about Informed Consent, Involuntary Commitment, and Outpatient Commitment. The day ended with a wrap-up session in which next steps for the building of a relationship between the attorneys and the consumer movement were identified. The attorneys identified many areas in which they would like additional training, and training they would like to see others, such as judges, receive. The day ended on a positive note, with a promise of our working together again in the future.
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