November 29th @ Berkshire Innovation Center
Join us for a FREE BIC Presents event featuring the award-winning mental health documentary “Healing Voices”. Written and Directed by BIC Studios Executive Producer PJ Moynihan, the film premiered in 2016 in 130 cities via a global grass roots release designed to bring communities together to “change the conversation” about mental health. This event features excerpts from the film with live Director’s commentary, followed by a panel discussion with local providers and stakeholders about the intersection of mental health, trauma, and addiction.
Doors 6:00 | Screening 7:00pm
Event Panelists:
PJ Moynihan is Founder & CEO of Digital Eyes Film, an Emmy-Nominated Producer, and Award-Winning Writer & Director that has helmed a diverse body of work over more than 20 years in the media and entertainment industry. Feature-length and broadcast credits include Fight Town: Sport and the Growth of an Urban Community (2005), Eye on the Dream (2007), Reel Hardball: Movies from Out of Left Field (2011), What Happened to You? (2014), Healing Voices (2017), The Changing Reality of Disability in America (2020), Project Frontline (2022), and the forthcoming documentary feature Over Dosed: Deconstructing an American Public Health Epidemic (2024). He is currently Executive Producer of BIC Studios at the Berkshire Innovation Center.
Dr. Jennifer Michaels is Medical Director of the Brien Center, as well as a staff physician at Berkshire Medical Center. She is dual-board certified in general and addiction psychiatry. Dr. Michaels is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from mindfulness, SUDS, mental health, and stigma, and presented a TED talk about brain healing. She is recipient of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare’s Francis O’Brien Award for Addiction Services, as well as the Berkshire County Massachusetts Medical Society Community Clinician of the Year award, and has received citations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate for her work in the field of mental health and substance use disorders.
Brenda Vezina is CEO of Kiva Centers, and has over 30 years of experience working within communities of people who have experienced mental health issues, substance use, and all traumatic experiences as a program creator, administrator, and direct service worker. She was a founding member of the National Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, and has led the United States in several federal efforts to center an understanding of community-run trauma healing in policy implementation. Brenda is a Board Member of the National Association for Rural Mental Health, Advisory Committee Member for Brandeis University’s Lurie Postdoctoral Fellowship in Disability and Health Policy, and Executive Producer of the 2014 “Voice Award” honorable mention documentary What Happened to You? produced in partnership with Digital Eyes Film, which speaks to the cause and effect of childhood trauma and public health. Brenda has supported the creation and implementation of peer-run organizations and Clubhouses around the world.
Samantha Kendall is Harm Reduction Supervisor in Pittsfield for Berkshire Harm Reduction. Samantha has worked professionally in the substance use field for seven years, with the last six years being primarily focused on Harm Reduction and directly working with people who are actively using substances. Sarah believes in the power of advocacy, education, and community to better serve people who use substances.
Dick Alcombright is the epitome of public service. After 36 years in the local financial scene and roles with the McCann School Committee, North Adams City Council, Northern Berkshire United Way, Northern Berkshire YMCA, and Berkshire Community Action Council, he became mayor of North Adams, a position he held from 2010 to 2018. As Mayor, he drove the renovation of Colegrove Park Elementary School, the installation of a massive solar array, and the creation of a skate park. After leaving office, he resumed work at MountainOne Bank and with MassHire Berkshire. He currently chairs the board of Berkshire Community Action Council, sits on the board of Berkshire Health Systems, is on North Adams School Committee, and works to promote recovery for individuals living with Substance Use Disorders.