Independent Perspective 1683 with Lisa Marie Cruz on her MHPC Virtual Open Mic Night.

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

Guest:  Thank you so much for having me.

Host:  It’s our pleasure. People that have been listening to this program for the last few weeks know that we've been exploring a number of the support group both in person and online done by people from MHPC especially Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family talking about lived experiences to help with recovery from use of controlled substances from other issues of behavioral health concerns and providing broad support to people that want to have a more enjoyable quality of life. Well, your group is a little different because it kind of goes straight to the enjoyable quality of life by what you do. Can you tell us who Open Mic Night is intended to serve?

Guest:  Sure, I'd be happy to do that. The Virtual Open Mic is open to anyone 18 and up and so we meet every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and we meet via Zoom. So, the people that participate in the group, I send them the Zoom link and then they join us week after week. It's a fun group. We connect with one another, we share our art, we observe each other's performances. And really, it's just a good time. It's relaxing and fun and we have a very friendly and accepting group of people who attend.

Host:  Can you tell us what are the ways that people participate in Open Mic Night? What sort of things do they offer?

Guest:  Sure, we have people share spoken word, singing, playing musical instruments. We've had hula hooping, comedy. So really any kind of art form is welcome.

Host:  In fact, you yourself are known for occasionally contributing both prose and poetry and even a little bit of amusing things, having fun with alliteration of words. And if people want to see some evidence of that if they can get a hold of the most recent MHPC newsletter, they have both standard article and fun with alliteration. Both can be found there. Of course, I suspect the fact that you're the editor might have something to do with your access to content but (laughter) well, can you mention I guess you've pretty much covered the different types of things. I dare say this is as someone who occasionally goes to karaoke in the community, I have yet to see anybody do hula hooping on stage as part of their performance. But why not? Of course, in order to get the Zoom link so that people can participate. They need to contact you. What are the ways that they can do that?

Guest:  Okay, well you can give me a call at the office. My number is 716-836-0822 extension 520 or you can shoot me an email at lmcruz@wnyil.org. If you have any interest in the group at all, please feel free to reach out to me. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. It's a fun group. And we're always welcome to new members.

Host:  And let me stress something that you've already mentioned since this is a virtual online group people can do it from the comfort of their home or office computer and don't need to worry about going out in these days of COVID. So that's certainly a bonus for them. And in case people didn't have a pencil handy, could you repeat your phone number once more?

Guest:  Sure, I can do that. It's 716-836-0822 extension 520. And please give me a call.

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

Guest:  Thank you. Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Lisa Maria Cruz, MHPC Outreach Coordinator and I've been your host Ernie Churchwell.