FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2019
Mental Health Awareness Month Kick-off Event at City Hall
Friday, May 3 at 5:30pm
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steve Noble is pleased to announce the kick-off for Mental Health Awareness Month with Kingston INTO Yellow, a celebration of optimism and resilience. Throughout May, community members, organizations, and businesses are joining together to host collaborative public art projects, special events, activities and educational programs to raise awareness for mental health.
On Friday, May 3 at 5:30pm, City Hall will host a reception on the first floor with music, food, drinks, photo booth, community tabling, and more. A ceremony will follow in Council Chambers, hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Micah Blumenthal. Mayor Noble will deliver a declaration for Mental Health Awareness Month, and the importance of support and services in our community. Reverend Erica Baron from the Interfaith Council will lead a meditation. Local gong master, Theresa Widmann, will lead a gong session. Speakers include representatives from the Mental Health Association in Ulster County, HealthAlliance, Kingston School District, the YMCA, the ARC of Ulster-Greene/Cornell Creative Center, the Kingston Arts Commission, as well as Alderwoman Andrea Shaut, City of Kingston Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Adrielle Farr, and local artist G. Riley Johndonnell, the founder of the INTO Yellow movement.
“We are happy to participate in this year’s Kingston INTO Yellow,” said Mayor Noble. “Mental health is an important issue, and we want to make sure every person in this community is supported and has the resources they need to for mental health. This event is a great way to shine a light on the challenges people face, and to come together in support.”
Created by Kingston-based artist Riley Johndonnell, INTO Yellow is a color with a cause, just as blue is to Autism, pink is to breast cancer, red is to HIV. Locally, the YMCA, HealthAlliance, UMEWE, ARC/Cornell Creative Center for the Arts, Kingston Happenings, the Kingston Interfaith Council and others are collaborating to brighten the city with bursts of yellow and to help shed light on the stigma around mental health.
“We are turning ‘Optimism into Action’ through collaboration,” said Riley Johndonnell. “We’re coming together to literally and metaphorically brighten communities and the world one splash of yellow at a time.”
Friday, May 3
Kingston INTO Yellow
5:30pm Reception | 6:30pm Presentation
City Hall 420 Broadway
www.intoyellow.com/kingston/
Mental health resources are available at:
Mental Health Association in Ulster County http://www.mhainulster.com/
The ARC of Ulster-Greene https://www.thearcug.org/
Health Alliance of Hudson Valley https://www.hahv.org/