Please be advised that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa) office will be closed on Monday, March 31, 2025, in observance of Cesar Chavez Day.
This day honors the legacy of Cesar Chavez and his dedication to social justice and community. We encourage you to take time for reflection and to prioritize your mental wellness. Whether it’s practicing mindfulness, engaging in self-care, or spending quality time with loved ones, nurturing your mental health is essential.
If you have any concerns during our closure, please don’t hesitate to call us at (925) 942-0767. While our office will be closed, we are still here to support you.
We will reopen and resume regular operations on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Please be advised that the NAMI CC (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Contra Costa) office will be closed on Friday, March 28th at 12 PM to attend an advocacy rally protesting the early release of Andrew Hall.
If you have any concerns on this event day, please don’t hesitate to call us at (925) 942-0767. We will resume operations on Saturday, March 29th at 10 AM.
JOIN US at the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office this Friday in protest of Andrew Hall’s EARLY RELEASE and DEMAND the SEPARATION of the sheriff-coroner!
When
Friday, 03/28, 1:00pm PT
where
Contra Costa County Sheriff Dept. 1980 Muir Rd, Martinez, CA 94553
why Rally?
Former Deputy Sheriff Andrew Hall, who shot and KILLED both Laudemer Arboleda and Tyrell Wilson, is covertly being RELEASED EARLY for parole after serving LESS THAN HALF of his sentence.
After the unjust killing of Laudemer Arboleda in 2018, the Contra Costa County Sheriff, who is ALSO the Coroner, CLEARED Hall of any wrongdoing. It wasn’t until AFTER shooting and KILLING ANOTHER MAN, Tyrell Wilson, in 2021, that charges were brought against Hall for his prior injustice. After a historic conviction in 2022, Hall was set to be eligible for parole ONLY AFTER serving 85% of his six year sentence.*
FURTHERMORE, following the 2022 judgement, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston, expressed CONTINUED SUPPORT for Hall and expressed disapproval of his sentencing and conviction. If Livingston hadn’t DISMISSED Hall’s actions and inactions as justified, he wouldn’t have had the chance to kill ANOTHER community member.*
Women’s History Month: The Power of Community and Self-Care!
As women, we carry so much. We show up for our families, friends, workplaces, and communities—often without hesitation. Taking care of others feels natural, but at what cost? How many times have we come home exhausted, yet still found the strength to cook dinner, help with homework, drive kids to activities, clean the house, do laundry, and open our work laptops to meet deadlines?
We do it because we love. We do it because we feel responsible. We do it because it’s what we’ve always done. But when was the last time we showed up for ourselves?
If someone asked what makes our spouses or children happy, we would have a list ready. But if someone asked what makes us happy, would there be silence? Would our answers be wrapped up in the happiness of others? Would we struggle to answer at all?
We are not alone. So many of us feel this way—giving, pouring, showing up—while quietly running on empty. And when we do need help, we hesitate. Why? Because someone let us down before? Because we see it as a sign of weakness? Because we never built the kind of support system that reminds us we don’t have to carry it all alone?
The truth is, we were never meant to do life alone. We need each other.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s honor the women who came before us—not just by recognizing their sacrifices but by making a commitment to ourselves. Let’s slow down, let’s rest, and let’s create space for our joy.
Together, we can take small steps toward self-care:
Look at our calendars —what can be postponed, delegated, or removed?
Set boundaries around our time, energy, and commitments.
Prioritize rest as much as we prioritize responsibilities.
Most importantly, let’s step into a community. If we don’t have one, let’s create one. We can start with just a few women—schedule a coffee chat or a simple check-in. Let’s make space for real conversations where we can be seen, heard, and supported. This is how we reclaim our time, well-being, and joy.
This Women’s History Month, let’s remember: We are strong, but we are even stronger together. Let’s lift each other up, take care of ourselves, and build the kind of community that reminds us that we are never alone: We are strong, but we are even stronger together.
Back by popular demand, NAMI CC is reinstating its hiking/walking group. After surveying staff and interested participants for their availability, we have decided to hold this season’s hiking group on Mondays from 9:30 AM – 11 AM.
Our first hike will be on Monday, March 24th at Briones Regional Park. We will access the trail from the Alhambra Creek Staging Area. Water and snacks will be provided.
Since cell service is limited at the site, we will wait until 9:45 AM at the trail gate at the end of the parking lot to accommodate late arrivals before embarking.
Join us for an exercise and vitamin D filled morning as we blaze the trails on a path to recovery. We will go at a pace that accommodates ALL skill levels.
Disclaimer: NAMI CC is not liable for any injuries that might occur on a hike. First aid kit available.
Join us this year, 2025, in serving warm meals to the unsheltered through our “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) Program, a part of our NAMI FaithNet program. Your participation and service will help those who sleep under the stars!
Our Warm Meal will be held Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at our office:
In Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI Contra Costa will hold its 6th Annual Community Change Agent Appreciation Awards during our General Meeting on May 15, 2025.
How You Can Contribute
Submit your 2025 Change Agent Appreciation Award Nominations for Individuals and other entities making an extraordinary difference in improving mental health outcomes!
This meeting was held over Zoom on March 20, 2025 at 7 PM PDT.
Agenda
The General Meeting begins at 7 PM, with announcements kicking off the meeting. The presentation begins at 7:15 PM.
Speakers
Speakers: La Tanyua Brown-Thompson – President, NAMI CC Board of Directors and Self Care Expert
Kristin Fuller – Certified Trauma and Somatics Practitioner
Anh Oppenheimer – NAMI-SF Peer-to-Peer facilitator and the creator of the website My Happier Mind
Angelica Lopez – Mental Health Warrior, Attorney, City of Pittsburg Councilwoman
Daming Mou – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Counselor for the “Love and Conflict Reconciliation Ministry.”
Meeting Description
In Honor of Women’s History Month, for our General Meeting on March 20, 2025, we will highlight several influential women who have lived experience with mental health challenges and dedicate themselves to reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness in their community. They have connected to their purpose by telling their wellness journey.
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. The 2025 theme, “Moving Forward Together,” celebrates “Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.” This theme celebrates the collective strength, equality, and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership, shaping the minds and futures of all generations.
Assemblywoman Anamarie Avila Farias Honored our CEO, Gigi R. Crowder, L.E. as a “California Woman of the Year” for Assemby District 15! On March 10, 2025, Gigi and Assemblywoman Anamarie Avila Farias reported to Assembly floor for Women’s History Month Resolution and ‘Woman of the Year’ floor ceremony in Sacramento. Congratulations, Gigi!
Questions, Comments, and Closed Captioning
If you have Questions or Comments for our speaker during the presentation, you may contact Gigi Crowder at gigi@namicontracosta.org.
Closed Caption Translation is available in various languages for any of NAMI CC’s General Meetings on ZOOM. Attendees can select the language of their choosing. RSVP to gigi@namicontracosta.org by March 20, 2025 if you require audio language translation.
Join us for an afternoon of community support and solidarity on March 29th from 11 AM to 2 PM! Our event, heart of the community (Corazon de la Comunidad) will have information on mental health services and legal support, food, and more.
Assemblywoman Anamarie Avila Farias nominated our CEO, Gigi R. Crowder, L.E., for “California Woman of the Year” for Assembly District 15. On March 10, 2025, Gigi along with other honorees will participate in a ceremony in Sacramento.
About California Woman of the Year
From California Legislative Women’s Caucus:
The Woman of the Year event was founded in 1987 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R) and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D), who noticed that the California Legislature had no events planned for the month of March, Women’s History Month. In celebration of the contributions to society made by remarkable women throughout California, Hansen and Tanner arranged to invite one woman from each Senate and Assembly district to come to the Capitol and be honored for their accomplishments. The women were to be recognized as Woman of the Year in a formal ceremony on the floors of the Senate and Assembly. This yearly event, sponsored and organized by the Women’s Caucus, is greatly anticipated by all Legislators today.
Gigi Crowder has elevated the African American Uplift program over the last several years and helped establish the Contra Costa County’s African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub. In addition, she has led the African American outreach efforts at NAMI CC, helping people through culturally responsive peer specialist support through the criminal justice system and promoting growing and healing for men of color through workshops. Gigi has also spearheaded interfaith trainings aimed at providing faith congregations the tools needed to build Mental Health Friendly Communities. She is undoubtedly the most deserving of this award and is indeed a remarkable icon.
Gigi has also been a champion in advocating for other marginalized communities’ needs, including Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Latino/Latinx, and we are grateful for her passion and leadership at NAMI Contra Costa.
Memories were made and prayers were answered at our 2025 Crab Feed fundraiser on March 2, 2025, where guests feasted on fresh crab and enjoyed a great night of cheer, dancing, fun, and reunion while funding the greatest need in the county this year, the “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) program in an effort to help the unsheltered who live with mental illness and sleep beneath the stars.
NAMI Contra Costa, a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nonprofit organization that provided education, support, outreach, and advocacy to individuals and their families living with or impacted by mental illness, delivered a night to remember with the biggest fundraiser of the year. The Crab Feed funded a place where individuals from all walks of life came into a shared safe space to come together, serving as a reminder of what was key: the healthcare of our loved ones who often found themselves unsheltered due to grappling with severe untreated behavioral health diagnoses. Proceeds from the Crab Feed fundraiser supported a range of programs, including education programs such as Family to Family and Basics, FaithNet, peer-run programs, and support groups.
At the highly anticipated event, which nearly sold out again, attendees enjoyed an all-you-can-eat feast of fresh crab, shrimp, pasta, Caesar salad, and bread rolls with all the fixings from Olde Towne Catering and complimentary sparkling water. The night was packed with excitement, featuring energetic professional auctioneer, Dave Aahl. The live auction offered over 35 donated items with bids on the vacation package, date night package, spa package, golf package, winery package, Joshua’s gift hiking package, and a surprise auction item—the signed Kittle jersey. Aahl also led a riveting heads and tails game where participants guessed the outcome of a coin and won a package if they guessed correctly all the way to the end.
The event was sponsored by a few larger companies, and hundreds of attendees sat comfortably at a table with all of their personal guests with an array of live entertainment throughout the evening, including host Dave Clark of KTVU-TV News, the Wayne Fettig Band, a drumming circle led by the Peaceful Warriors, and guest singing sensation January.
A special thank you to our volunteers who made the success of this event possible, from set up, check-in, to clean up, along with Staff and the Board of Directors who were involved. We could not forget our thanks to our fearless leaders, President La Tanyua Brown-Thompson and our CEO Gigi Crowder, who made this event happen. We thank everyone for participating and hope those who are not yet members of our humble affiliate become one through our website, namicontracosta.org/become-a-member.
On the day following the Crab Feed, March 3, 2025, we will be opening our office later than usual to give our staff and community members time to rest. Instead, we will be opening our doors at 12 PM on March 3rd.
We will resume regular operations on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Should you find yourself struggling to find support and services for your loved one or yourself, please contact us. A trained staff member can work with you to help navigate the various government resources to get you the help you need. Please call us at (925) 942-0767.
Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you at the Crab Feed!
![[Urgent] 3/28 Rally for Sheriff-Coroner Separation!](https://namicontracosta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Friday0328RallyGraphic.webp)
![[March 24] NAMI CC Hiking Group Returns!](https://namicontracosta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hiking_group_2025.webp)
![Join us! [March 29] Heart of the Community](https://namicontracosta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/corazondelacomunidad_esp.webp)
