Oakland County Residents Receive 2015 OCCMHA Achievement Awards

Pictured in the back row from left to right are Melvin Eckles, Margaret Topij, OCCMHA Executive Director and CEO, Willie Brooks, Christopher Moore, Jim Diegel, and Yvette Thomas. Pictured in the front row are Nafaa (Noofi) Makadsi and Gina Boiko.

Oakland County Residents Receive 2015 OCCMHA Achievement Awards

Seven Oakland County residents received 2015 Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) Achievement Awards during a special celebration recognizing people who receive services through the public mental health system and the service provider agencies who offer assistance to them.

The awards honor the successes and accomplishments of individuals who have disabilities, including people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders.

Stigma Buster Award Winner: Troy resident, Nafaa Makadsi - Noofi literally travelled miles to break down barriers about Down Syndrome created by stigma. In 2003, when Iraq became unsafe due to war, Noofi and his family fled to Jordan where they lived until relocating to the United States in 2008. In 2014, Noofi proudly became a U.S. citizen. While in Iraq, Noofi received little to no services for his diagnosis of Down Syndrome. His mother worked with him academically and his grandmother taught him art. Today, Noofi draws every day, creating abstract masterpieces. His artwork was recently featured at the Down With the Arts show at the Oakland YMCA, where he sent 10% of his proceeds to a school in Iraq that supports children with Down Syndrome.

Dan Moran, Rights and Advocacy Award Winners: Holly resident, Jim Diegel and Royal Oak resident, Yvette Thomas
Jim Diegel: Jim is a former OCCMHA Office of Recipients Rights Advisory Committee member and a current member of the Springhill Housing Corporation. He led his peers during advocacy efforts for the continuation of the North Oakland Drop-in Center in Holly, Michigan and afterward became an engaged member in the newly formed Friends Group at the Holly Presbyterian Church. Jim is involved in Special Olympics, a role model for his peers at New Horizons, and an advocate for independent living for individuals with disabilities. He is eager to offer help whenever needed and to share experiences with others who want to lead independent lives.

Yvette Thomas: Thomas raises community awareness about Recipient Rights by sharing her personal story and recovery journey. She served as the Chairperson for the OCCMHA Consumer Advisory Council, using her leadership role to break through boundaries and encourages those around her to do the same. Yvette currently works for Community Housing Network, where she coordinates supportive services and resources to help people who have a disability and are homeless achieve independence. She connects individuals to existing programs, helps them fill out necessary paperwork and stands beside them to guide them to achieve the supports they need to live independently in their communities.

Helping Hands Award Winner: Pontiac resident, Melvin Eckles – In December 2014, Melvin Eckles was chosen as the 2015 Adult Ambassador for Easter Seals Michigan. He is an active member of the Easter Seals Michigan Positive Action Group and the organization’s Consumer Advisory Council and a Peer Support Specialist.

Melvin first began volunteering at the HOPE warming shelter in Pontiac because he wanted to give back and soon found himself at the center almost every day. Melvin also volunteers as a public speaker for adults with mood disorders, and recently completed a presentation training to enhance his communication skills. He recently joined a group of advocates to speak in Washington D.C. about the importance of services for individuals with disabilities.

My Life Award Winners: Oak Park resident, Christopher Moore and Rochester Hills resident, Margaret Topij
Christopher Moore: Christopher is a bright and articulate young man who receives services from Macomb-Oakland Regional Center (MORC). Through hard work and the support of his family, Christopher has not let his diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder stop him from achieving his dreams and inspiring others. He is a full time student at Wayne State University and is preparing to graduate with a Criminal Justice Degree. After graduation, he is enrolling in law school. Christopher also succeeded in obtaining his black belt. He volunteers at his little brother’s school and advocates for people appropriate funding for public mental health services.

Margaret Topij: Margaret’s life journey toward recovery exemplifies her determination and resilience to success despite her encounters with abuse, stigma, and disappointments. She began receiving services at Training and Treatment Innovations in 2003 and for many years struggled with severe and intense symptoms from her mental illness. Even with these daily battles, Margaret has excelled in every area of her life. Margaret is achieving her life ambitions, including enrolling in the Anthropology Program at Oakland University. She continues to uphold her exceptional academic performances and change the opinions for professors and classmates who had pre-conceived views about individuals with a mental illness.

Director’s Award Winners: Southfield resident, Gina Boiko – Gina is a community advocate and champion in the most natural and sense. She attends New Gateways throughout the week and has a long and cherished history of speaking up for herself and on behalf of her friends. She has also spent the past 17 years cultivating her thoughts and putting them into book form. In her writings, Gina provides insight about her entire life, beginning when at a young age she was told she would never achieve certain benchmarks or goals. She also discusses her experiences with depression and the importance of being determined to advocate for oneself.

About OCCMHA

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 27,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.