News and Events

To contact Randye for a personal appearance or interview, please visit “Contact and Booking Info” page

Randye’s HealthyPlace.com blog, Mental Illness in the Family, wins Health Award!

Ben Behind His Voices audiobook nominated for Publishers’ Weekly 2001 Listen Up award! Called “among the best of the best” in “Read by Author” category

Upcoming events:

May 17, 2012 - 4-7 PM Keynote speaker, Bridge House, Bridgeport CT -

June 22, 2012 – PPAL (Parent/Professional Advocacy League -The Massachusetts Family Voice for Children’s Mental Health) Keynote Speaker,  Conference and Celebration

June 29, 2012 -10:15 AM, “How Telling Your Story Can Make an Impact and Help Create Change” presentation at NAMI National Convention, Seattle WA – with Susan Inman, author of After Her Brain Broke

September 5, 2012 - NAMI Fairfield Panel on Stigma and Mental Illness - watch for details

October 3-4, 2012 – Mount Union College, Ohio – Guest Speaker, Mental Health Students

October 6, 2012 - NAMI Mercer County, NJ – Keynote speaker, 4th Annual Harvest of Hope Conference.

Recent Events and Comments (Thanks!)

May 4-7, 2012 - APA Annual Convention - “The Importance of Building a Therapeutic Alliance in Schizophrenia” with Psychiatrist  Peter J. Weiden, M.D. -” Your presentation was outstanding!I learned a lot and you have have a true gift for communication and education thru narrative.” – Dr. Weiden

April 26, 2012 -  Keynote Speaker, Kennedy Center Inc Annual Awards Dinner - Bridgeport CT

April 14-17, 2012 - National Council Mental Health and Addictions Conference, Chicago – Presentation, “In My Own Words: Personal Stories of Recovery.”

April 16, 2012 – 7 PM - Additional presentation Chicago - Main Street Recreation Center,   Glen Ellyn – Hosted By: Western DuPage Special Recreation Association – “My coworkers here at the office are still talking about it today and all agree your story was very powerful to hear. It takes a talented person like yourself to be able to balance humor, education and ones’ personal story into a presentation and you did that beautifully. Please know that you are an inspiration to others and you made a difference to many.” – Dana Stewart, WDSRA

April 10, 2012 – Boston,  community lecture/book reading “Why Community Matters in Mental Illness Recovery” – Gould Farm event – Public Library Brookline, 361 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445 “Thanks again for the Gould farm event the Board members were very happy and there’s been tremendous feedback. ” – Pauline

April 3, 2012 - 5-7 PM - Keynote speaker at Artists Reception,VOICES ART EXHIBIT SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF YOUTH TOUCHED BY MENTAL ILLNESS – Legislative Office Building, 300 Capital Avenue in Hartford, CT – Exhibit continues through April 13th, 9-5 PM; also keynote speak for Families Anonymous meeting. “Just a quick thank you from all of us at FA;your talk was absolutely fantastic, even better than I imagined. Several people commented afterwards, saying how great it was and how, because you spoke from the heart, we could all relate.”

March 8, 2012 - Community Lecture in Phoenix AZ at ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus,
Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy, Arizona State University - presentation for Community-Based Mental Health Groups

 

March 4, 2012 - 4-6 PM – Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Avenue – West Long Branch, New Jersey 07764-1898 – for Shore Clubhouse – “Thank you so much, Randye. The response to your reading has been amazing!” – Susan Sandlass

Feb 15, 2012 – 7 pm – Book Reading/Signing/Presentation: “What Families Need When Mental Illness Strikes” NAMI CT Southeast – Norwich, CT

Feb. 8, 2012 - 6:30 PM – Fairfield University, Dolan School of Business Room 110A, book reading and discussion with Fairfield University nursing students and community,

Feb 2, 2012 – Quota Meeting, Yale Graduate Center, New Haven CT. 5:30 PM Book reading and author talk.

December 11, 2011 - Connecticut Press Club Holiday Party & Author Readings, 1-3 PM, Norwalk, CT

December 9, 2011 – Shabbat by the Book, Congregation B’nai Israel, Bridgeport CT dinner, services, program

November 29,2011 – 7 PM- Book reading/signing, RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road (Rt 1), Madison, CT 06443 -

“Your reading last night was very moving. You have such an inviting, unpretentious presence. And the stories you told sent shivers up my spine and some tears, as well. I can’t wait to read the entire book.”- Alice Stitelman, Ph.D., Stitelman Associates

November 17, 2011: Book reading/discussion, Fairfield CT Public Library/NAMI book club

“Thank you for the wonderful book talk on Thursday.  It was moving and hopeful and delivered with so much grace. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback.I hope this book goes on to help many more families struggling with mental illness–and to enlighten those who aren’t.” -Rebecca Fletcher

November 8-9, 2011 – book signing, US Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress, Las Vegas, NV-

“I received your book at the recent conference.  I just finished reading it:  it was amazing – I couldn’t put it down! Thank you for the courage to tell your and your son’s story.  Your openness and honesty has reminded me again of the frailty of life, but also the hope that there is help.” – Jack Mahdasian, psychiatrist in Grand Rapids, MI.

November 6, 2011 – author talk/book signing, 2 pm, Written Words Bookstore , Shelton CT -

“I’d like to thank you again for spending a delightful Sunday with us. You provided much food for thought and you certainly succeeded in providing voice to the voice-less and often misunderstood.” – Dorothy Sim-Broder, owner

October 26, 2011, 7 PM – Author Talk/Reading, Q&A – Barnes and Noble, Westport, CT “Your presentation at B & N was terrific. The right mix of humor even in the face of devastation – and addressing the need for all who have a family member suffering from mental illness (or any illness) to have support, to be educated, and to find reasons to remain hopeful did, I’m sure, hit home for many and are so essential for audiences to hear. BRAVO!”- L.A. Shapiro

October 21, 2011 - APNA (American Psychiatric Nurses Assn) Presentation “The Importance of Building a Therapeutic Alliance in Schizophrenia” -with Mary D. Moller, DNP, ARNP and Sunovion Pharmecauticals  Los Angeles, CA

October 12,2011 – 7 pm , author talk/reading, Q&A Trumbull Library, Trumbull CT – “Thank you for such a moving presentation about your story and the story of so many others. It must be gratifying to offer help to others as we witnessed during the Q&A.” Nicole Cignoli, Trumbull Library

September, 2011 -taped interview with PBS To the Contrary (watch for air dates)

October 6, 2011 : Keynote Speaker, Awards/Awareness Dinner, NAMI Waterbury CT and Guardian Ad Litem Services “Randye, thank you for sharing your touching story of love for your son, who is valuable! “- Veronica Rinaldi,

October 10, 2011 - Keynote Speaker, Family Day Celebration Symposium, Institute of Living, Hartford CT – It was a pleasure to have you as our Key Speaker, I know that everyone enjoyed it , I know I did, as well as people I work with. It was very educational,real and moving. – Nelly Abkowicz,

September 20, 2011 – Book Launch to Benefit Laurel House, Stamford, CT – Keynote/Book Reading -

September 7, 2011 – guest, “Let’s Talk Live”, News 8 Arlington, VA (ABC Affiliate)

July 8, 2011 – NAMI National Convention -  Presentation, “SEARCH – What Families Need When Mental Illness Strikes”

June 16, 2011 – Keynote Speaker: “Building Respect, Celebrating Potential with Employment Opportunities for those With Disabilities” DMHAS, Kennedy Center and Goodwill Industries luncheon – Your Story brought hope and inspiration to all the individuals there and proved to everyone how critical family participation is in a person’s journey to recovery.

– Fiona Jones, Kennedy Center Inc.,presentation

June 9, 2011 – Fellowship Place, keynote presentation “Community Matters in Mental Illness Recovery” Thank you for being our featured guest speaker. Your story was informative, moving and thought provoking. I know there are many families who will learn from your courageous story and be better able to support and advocate for their children after reading about your experiences.

– Mary Guerrera, Exec. Director,

I was at your reading tonight at the Ridgefield Public Library and I must say “Well done, sensitive and informative.” I have always admired your strength, fortitude and talent. A consummate communicator, you have touched and helped many people with your story. You offer hope, compassion and understanding to those who are embroiled in similar circumstances and that is a very special gift indeed.

- Peter Grobe, photographer

I found your family story very moving. On my summer reading list is Ben & you.

-Ray Andrewsen, General Manager,AM 1220 WQUN

Congrats on your book…I was on amazon and read the few pages that I could.  It was frustrating because I was hooked and wanted to read more.  Please know I feel this is an IMPORTANT work, and should be read by a lot of people.

-Jack Rushen, Playwright

Randye blogs about Family Matters in Mental Illness and Recovery here:

Ben Behind His Voices, the blog

and here: Mental Illness in the Family, HealthyPlace.com

Please come and visit, comment, follow – and spread the message of understanding, respect, and hope.

Here’s what some followers have had to say about it:

I love the way you write, the things you write about and the positive attitude that shines through your blog. I am glad to have joined up. ..Keep writing and keep up the good work!

I just found your blog, Randye, and will be doing lots of reading to catch up on your and Ben’s story. My son also has schizophrenia, so what you write really speaks to me. ..Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I ran across your site by accident. We first learned that our child was hearing voices when he drove himself to the hospital at the age of 26… I’ve been fairly stoic about the situation, but my eyes welled up with tears, when I read what you wrote about having lost part of your son’s former personality, and that for those of us who have experienced the illness, “no further explanation is necessary.” Unfortunately, I know exactly what you mean… Thank you for providing hope.

I am just starting on this journey with my fiance’s son. Your blog fills me alternatively with dread and with hope. I know the journey will be long and fraught with pitfalls and here I thought it had been trying up till now. Thanks for writing – can’t wait to read your book.