Past Club President Mary Ann Lutz and frequent visitor Ulisses Gutierrez were the day’s presenters, speaking about a subject that we learned had profoundly affected each of them. The program that that became Healing Connections traces its roots to 2012, after the forth teen suicide in five years took place in Monrovia. Former Superintendent Linda Wagner and Mayor Mary Ann Lutz realized the approach of staying silent about these suicides in the hopes that the problem would go away was not working and, in an effort to de-stigmatize the issue, began to discuss the issue with local counselors, clergy, and the students themselves. The program serves as a conduit where someone at risk can turn for help and Healing Connections will put him or her in contact with those most able to help. The program’s success can be measured by the fact that there hasn’t been a local suicide in the past 6 years.

*Article courtesy of Kris Leonard