Speaker's Bureau

The Vail Speaker’s Bureau represents our organization at speaking opportunities in community. Vail Communities Speakers give presentations about mental health, Vail Communities, our history and our services, including the Clubhouse Model itself. Our Speaker’s Bureau participated in 12 presentations- virtual and in-person- in 2020! They have spoken at locations including Dow Towers, the Basilica of St. Mary and several NAMI family groups.

When Speakers go to speaking engagements they talk about what a Clubhouse is, does, and how it helps peoples’ recovery with some personal stories. They share how easy it is to become a Vail Communities member and that, except for meals, it is free.

The Bureau offers three types of speakers and presentations:

• Members and staff who speak about living with mental illness, personal recovery stories and information about Vail Communities.
• Members and staff who speak about Vail Communities as a resource, life in the Clubhouse Model and their personal experiences with Vail Communities.
• Members who use art to speak, such as prose, poetry, monologues or songs.

This diverse group of speakers gives every engagement a variety of perspectives, from a unique personal recovery story to experiences with Vail Communities and the Clubhouse Model, and/or the artistic expression of a mental health theme. The Bureau meets regularly to discuss potential populations for presentations, to process past presentations and to work on how one tells their story.