Community. Commitment. Collaboration.
Meridian’s Speaker Series was developed to bring community leaders, professionals, educators, and the general public together to discuss and identify issues surrounding community health. Through poignant guest speakers immersed in experiences related to identified topics and a discussion panel following, we enable and engage in conversation and discuss potential collaborative opportunities where people within the community can work together to build healthier outcomes for those in need.
This year’s Speaker Series events feature Brain Health Advocate and Storyteller Kevin Hines and the Founder of The Youth Mental Health Project Randi Silverman.
2023 Event Schedule:
- September 27th: Kevin Hines – Holiday Inn-Richmond, IN
- September 28th: Kevin Hines – Courtyard of Marriott-Lafayette, IN
- November 9th: Randi Silverman – Horizon Convention Center-Muncie, IN
- Stay tuned for information regarding the Muncie Speaker Series event.
2023 Guest Speakers
Registration Information for Randi Silverman will be coming soon!
Randi Silverman – Founder of The Youth Mental Health Project
Randi Silverman is the Founder and former Executive Director of The Youth Mental Health Project, a nonprofit organization which educates, empowers, and supports families and communities to better understand and care for the mental health of youth. Randi’s personal mission to change the narrative around youth mental health, improve access to resources, and help other families came from over a decade of personal experience fighting to find help for her son, who was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and early onset bipolar disorder as a young child. She created The Youth Mental Health Project to increase mental health literacy, support families, promote early intervention and prevention, and improve the mental health of children, teens, and young adults.
A believer in the power of storytelling, Randi used her real life experiences to write and produce the multi-award winning film, NO LETTING GO. Receiving critical acclaim from film reviewers and mental health organizations alike, the film has won over 20 awards at independent film festivals world-wide. Randi frequently travels the country to facilitate community conversations after film screenings and has become one of the nation’s leading voices on the topic of youth mental health.
Thank you For Joining us For Kevin Hines!
September is Suicide Prevention Month – Click here to see Kevin’s inspirational story
Kevin Hines—Brain Health Advocate & Storyteller – Golden Gate Bridge Attempted Suicide Survivor
Kevin Hines is an award-winning brain/mental health and suicide prevention activist, entrepreneur, multiple award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, international educator and speaker who reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (19 years of age), he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only thirty-four to survive the fall, and the only one to regain full physical mobility. The fall would break his body, but not his spirit.
Today, Kevin dedicates his life to saving lives and encouraging others to seek help and spread empathy by spreading the message of hope and sharing his story. He is one of the most respected and admired voices of lived experience. Kevin’s story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have.
