Are you an active member of your community? Do you run a non-profit organization? Are you a business owner or do you simply want to stay informed and know what’s available in your community?
There are two meetings that should be at the top of your list to attend; City Council and the Mesquite Interagency Meetings (MIMS). Of course you can always stay home and watch the City Council Meetings, you’ll have to physically attend MIMS but you will be glad you did.
MIMs are held at First Baptist Church, 700 Hardy Way, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month and are designed to be a way of gathering information on resources that are available to the Mesquite community members.
The meeting held on Sept. 5 began with an announcement about an upcoming “Violence against Women and Girls” Conference.
They encourage you to come hear about the issues, resources, support, and ways everyone can work together to reduce the prevalence of violence in the community, not just for now but for future generations. They want you to come with questions and curiosity. Registration is required; you can register at: www.eventbrite.com/e/violence-against-women-and-girls-conference-2018-registration-48067434992.
MIMS goal is for every attendee to feel motivated and empowered to make a change for improving the lives and living situations of every woman and girl in Mesquite and the surrounding communities!
They have some remarkable speakers lined up to educate and inspire everyone to open their hearts and minds to the problems of domestic violence, statutory rape, human trafficking, and rape/sexual assault.
The conference will include speakers from Safe Nest, Nevada Public Health Foundation, New Hope Foundation International, and The Rape Crisis Center.
The conference is FREE and includes a continental breakfast and sack lunch for attendees. Registration opens on August 1st, 2018. Space is limited so be sure to register ASAP!
The conference is sponsored by Virgin Valley Family Services, Mesquite Behavioral Health Center/Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services and First Baptist Church.
If you have questions or concerns, please email Judy Smith at jbs41@mvdsl.com or Kim Gilbert at kimgilbert.0122@gmail.com or call 702.346.4696 ext. 35.
Jean Watkins, founder of the new Women’s History and Culture Center was a guest speaker. Watkins explained the purpose of the center and the resources available through WHCC which include meeting space, a fully stocked kitchen for cooking clubs or demonstrations, a tea room and a plethora of books on Women’s outstanding achievements throughout history.
The WHCC has scheduled a ribbon cutting for Thursday, Oct. 11. The currently have the Mesquite Honor Guard, The Girl Scouts, Mesquite Showgirls and of course it’s all made possible by the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce. They hope you all plan to attend; it will take place at 150 N. Yucca St. suite #23.
The group has been in existence for a year and a half and has grown substantially over that time to include groups that provide resources of every kind. Whatever your needs are, there is an agency that will provide help, information or support. If you have a need that you don’t find a resource for, ask Gilbert, she’ll find it for you; she’s been building quite a list.
Before the group was formed, Gilbert spoke with many people from a variety of non-profit organizations in Mesquite and several agencies in Las Vegas. There was a plethora of information and resources available to the Mesquite community but not all the information could be found in one place. Everyone seemed to agree there was a need for some type of organized meet and greet. Gilbert said they knew networking was vital to effecting positive change in a community and they thought that “interagency meetings” might be the answer so MIM was created.
Several non-profit groups and organizations attend each month. You can bring a sack lunch and listen to two or three short presentations from speakers who provide information on their organization. Information provided consists of many things such as the services the organization provides, how individuals access services, referral processes, upcoming events, and any needs or supports.
The group has been able to maintain approximately 16 participants each week but September’s meeting was particularly large with well over two dozen agencies represented. Gilbert said they aren’t always the same participants, and there’s sometimes more, which means there’s always variety in the type of information to be gathered at the meetings. Speakers have included folks from NAMI, the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, Vocational Rehabilitation, Aging and Disability Services (Elder rights representative) and others that provide extremely valuable resource information for everyone.
For more information on the MIMS or to add your name to the MIMS list, contact Gilbert at kimgilbert.0122@gmail.com or call 702.346.4696 ext. 35.
