“Carol” has lived with schizoaffective disorder for most of her adult life, and although she has maintained independent living with in-home supports for much of that time, she has few connections with family or friends, and she typically presents in public with rambling, tangential speech...
‘A Community of Total Honesty and Trust’ Clubhouse member and rapper Danny Evans sings the praises of Vail Place Danny Evans admits he was reluctant about joining the Hopkins Clubhouse. However, since becoming a member in April 2017, his life has been transformed in many ways. Danny, who...
Twenty years ago, Vail Place member Fiona K. could barely will herself to leave the front steps of her home, much less socialize or talk in front of a group of people. That was before she found Vail Place. According to Fiona, Clubhouse has transformed...
The Vail Place Clubhouse has adult members of all ages, with membership lengths ranging from just a few years to decades. Thomas C. has been active within Vail Uptown for the last three years. In that relatively short time frame, he says the Clubhouse has...
When Lori “Mish” Megow celebrated her 10-year anniversary as a Vail Place member, her life felt more stable and full of purpose than it had throughout the two-decade span of her career in finance. In spite of struggling with severe anxiety and depression since her teen years, Lori had worked her way through college and remained employed in her field, although she bounced from job to job as her anxiety worsened. Finally, however, her symptoms forced her to quit.
When Lori first joined Vail Uptown, she wasn’t sure she could continue. Lori had experienced a major breakdown, but her husband’s encouragement helped her stick with it, and she’s very glad she did.
After many years of struggling with mental illness and substance abuse, member Ralph finds hope and a new community at Vail Place. Ralph Coleman likes to tell a joke. “Why was the skeleton afraid to cross the road? Because he didn’t have any guts!” Guts are...
Jean Silver first visited Vail Place after a friend suggested she volunteer at the Minneapolis Clubhouse by helping with a holiday meal. That first visit was all it took. Seventeen years later, Jean has become a mainstay within the Clubhouse and the Vail Place organization...
[caption id="attachment_16987" align="alignright" width="213"] Martha and her dog Prince.[/caption] Vail Place Clubhouse member Martha Bird never dreamed that her recovery would not only revive an old hobby, but lead her into a new vocation as a nationally recognized artist and craftswoman. Martha’s recent accomplishments include curating and...
Calynn Hendrickson first heard about Vail Place after moving to Hopkins in 2010. With an educational background in psychology, counseling and wellness, Calynn was looking for a place to volunteer her services, in the hopes of facilitating a wellness group. After years of being told...
For Ranee and Jim, Vail Place is a family affair. ...
[caption id="attachment_21112" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Vail Place member Richard Whitman shares his story at the 2016 Tour de Vail.[/caption] A Vail Place Recovery Superhero Vail Place member Richard Whitman experienced what’s called a “late onset psychiatric break” at age 46. After a very difficult period and about six...
