Independent Perspective #1633

Guest:  Lisa Maria Cruz

Topic:  Virtual Open Mic Night Support Group

Duration:  05:36

Published:  February 18, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Lisa Maria Cruz, Mental Health PEER Connection Outreach Coordinator, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Lisa.

Guest:  Thank you for having me.

Host:  It's our pleasure. As anybody who's been listening to our last several programs knows that, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of the services of the agency have resorted to online ways of participation, so that people can do things safely from their own home, and the support group offered by Mental Health peer Connection are no exception to that. You yourself have for some time been responsible for something called Open Mic Night, if you could tell us for whom this is intended?

Guest:  Our virtual Open Mic Night is open to everyone. If someone has a talent they'd love to share, we'd be more than happy to have them come join us. We have people do spoken word; we have singing. We've had people playing musical instruments. We even had a hula hooper at one time. So really any kind of performance art, you're welcome to share, and if you just want to come and observe, that's okay too.

Host:  All right, and I guess when you say spoken word, you're talking prose poetry perhaps a dramatic reading, would those all be welcome?

Guest:  Oh, definitely more than welcome.

Host:  And as I'm sure that many people who have watched television in the last few decades, when they think of open mic night, they think of amateurs stand-up comedians trying out their act. Is that something that you see a lot on your program there?

Guest:  Well today we haven't had any comedians, but we would certainly welcome anyone who wanted to crack a joke or two.

Host:  Just the occasional wise guy as it were. Well that's terrific. I'm sure people are wondering how they can participate if you could tell us what the process is?

Guest:  Sure, people can either shoot me an email at lmcruz@wnyil.org, you can shoot me an email, or you can give me a call. And my phone number is 716-836-0822 extension 520. So, I would get back to the person who's interested in my group, I would just need to collect a little bit of demographic information because we're required to do that. And then I would send the person the link and then they could come join us. They can either go through a GoToMeeting, or they can call in like whatever method they would like to join us with is fine.

Host:  All right, we'll ask you to repeat the number at the end of the program in case people didn't have a pencil handy to take it down. What other things might be useful for people to know besides the fact that you're wide open to all kinds of performances and auditions are, I presume are not required?

Guest:  You presume correctly.

Host:  Well, I guess in a way that's kind of like karaoke, all comers are accepted, and they do not have to be pre-approved by management in order to be there. But because this is essentially to largely fill a therapeutic function is it not?

Guest:  Yeah, it's a safe way for people to connect with one another. It's a very friendly and safe space. And really, we try to ensure that everyone feels comfortable, and we don't require you to share but you're welcome to share.

Host:  And we're coming near the end of our time. If you could again repeat the contact information.

Guest:  Sure, if you're interested in the Virtual Open Mic please reach out to me. My number is 716-836-0822. And then my extension which will get you to me directly is 520.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Lisa Maria.

Guest:  Thank you so much for having me, I really appreciate it.

Host:  Our pleasure. You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a Public Affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today has been Lisa Maria Cruz, Mental Health PEER Connection Outreach Coordinator and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.