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F.A.R.M. Cafe F.A.C.E.S. Mental Health in High Country, Invites Public To Nov. 6 Expert Roundtable at Restaurant

Nov. 3, 2014. Many changes have occurred in recent years in the local, state and national mental health systems. Changes in the provision of public mental health in Watauga County and High Country have been featured in the local press over the past several years. The University Community began this semester with a critical mental health concern that engaged much of the community.

We invite everyone to join a distinguished panel of mental health professionals at F.A.R.M. Café on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. as they discuss the ever changing mental health system. The presentations will feature an opportunity for participants to ask questions and learn how all can be more informed and engaged in mental health.

farm cafe newThe closing of New River Behavioral Health has left many community members confused about what is available and who provides services. This event will give the public a chance to hear from a panel of mental health professionals in the area and ask any questions they may have. The panel will include Sarah Duniggan from Daymark, Karen Brown from Smoky Mountain, Denise Lovin from Appalachian State University Counseling Services, and Mary McKinney who is a private provider of mental health services in the community.

The Panel will begin at 5:30 p.m., and time for questions will follow.  Dinner will be served after the panel presentations and conversation. The meal will follow the pay as you can model used daily at F.A.R.M. Cafe, which is based on suggested donations according to plate/serving size. Those who can give are encouraged to give within the suggested range or a more to help a neighbor in need. Those who cannot give are invited to donate an hour of their time in exchange for a meal.

F.A.C.E.S., which stands for Food, Agriculture, Community, Economy, and Spirituality, is a community forum held at F.A.R.M. Café on the first Thursday of every month. Each event offers community members an opportunity to come together to share and discuss community issues or participate in a presentation around topics of interest to the broader community. Generally, it consists of a forty five minute to an hour presentation followed by questions, dinner, and conversation. The December event will focus on the interaction of local businesses and their support of nonprofit organizations like F.A.R.M. Cafe. Future F.A.C.E.S. presentations are in process of being determined; community members are invited to suggest possible topics or suggest possible presenters.

F.A.C.E.S. is an extension of F.A.R.M. Café’s goal to create a healthy and inclusive community. Allowing the café to serve as a safe space for community dialogue will ensure that the F.A.R.M. community continues to improve. F.A.C.E.S. is not only a platform for important conversations but also an opportunity for people to get connected to one another and issues that affect us all.

The F.A.C.E.S. event will be held at F.A.R.M. Café located at 617 W King St., walking distance from the ASU campus. All community members are invited to join the conversation and share a delicious meal. F.A.R.M. Cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can community kitchen that strives to build a healthy and inclusive community. F.A.R.M. Café provides high quality and delicious meals produced from local sources when available, served in a restaurant where everybody eats, regardless of means. The daily menu and event information can be found on Facebook or at farmcafe.org.