Bio
Mitzy shares her journey through writing, spoken word, and videography. She's consciously unlearning messages that hindered her from living wholeheartedly. She believes in respecting another person's worldview and know there is power in knowing more than one story. Her living, working in different environments, and life lessons make her voice one of the transformational stories added to the narrative of overcoming adversities.
Her motivation is to inspire others who experienced all levels of adversities to take back autonomy, dignity and confidence. She knows for sure the incredible effect of support, empathy, compassion, practicing forgiveness, awareness, continued learning, speaking up, and letting go to move forward, to know oneself, connection to others, and being in the world with more presence and less chasing pretty.
WRITING
- Creativity and Staying Motivated in Oppressive Environments - Know your worth and purpose (Published: The Good Men Project, August 31, 2020)
- Why Compassionate Activism (Published: Mad in America. May 12, 2020)
- Forgiveness Does Work (Published: The Good Men Project. May 8, 2020
- Meet – Mitzy Sky (Published: Advocacy Unlimited Newsletter. May 2020)
- "Empire," Took A Leap of Faith and Nailed It (Published: The Good Men Project. April 24, 2020)
- Why Beyond the Story (Published: American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation (AJPR) 22.1–2 IRCC Special Issue Boundary Crossings: Systems, Communities, and Expertise - Volume 47: 1-2 (Spring-Summer 2019)
- Remembering Deron Drumm: The Vision and the Hope for Healing and Connection (Published: Mad in America. April 28, 2019)
- Something About Chloe (Published: Inner-City News. June 13, 2018)
- Nothing Real Can Be Threatened (Published: Advocacy Unlimited Newsletter. March 2017)
- Dear Son: A Mother's Experience of Psychiatry, Racism, and Human Rights (Published: Mad in America. September 20, 2016)
- Where Would I Be If I Didn't Believe In Me (Published: Absolute Prohibition: Campaign to Support CRPD Absolute Prohibition of Commitment and Forced Treatment. March 21, 2016)
- Just Me: A Series of Reflections on Trauma, Motherhood, and Psychiatry (Published: Mad in America. January 9, 2015)
- The Curve (Written 1998 Adapted 2008 by Original Works Inc/Youth Art Work with Donna Sue DeGuzman and Luther Blackwell, Jr. (Writer/Actor - Teacher's voice)
BOOKS
- We Are the Change-Makers: Poems Supporting Drop The Disorder! - Poet/Contributor In This Moment (Editor & Contributor Jo Watson, Published: PCCS Books U.K. 2020)
- Imagining Monsters Anthology - Author/Contributor All Mind: The Influencers (Editor & Contributor Alison McBain l Published: WestportWRITES and Fairfield Scribes. 2019)
VIDEOGRAPHY
Short Films/Video
- Letting Go of The Pain of Internalized Oppression - Beyond the Story Presentation at Yale Divinity School (February 24, 2020)
- Awareness is Necessary – Beyond the Story Presentation at Yale Divinity School (February 24, 2020)
- Movement is Necessary – Exercise Goals (Created January 2020)
- Facing Internalized Oppression – Recognizing and Moving Forward (Created January 2020)
- Working to Live – Creator, Videographer, Director, and Editor (Created at American View Productions with Frank Borres, CEO, Bridgeport, CT 2011)
Beyond the story PRESENTATIONS
Elm City NAMI Affiliates at Yale School of Divinity,
New Haven, CT - February 24, 2020
New Haven, CT - November 1, 2019
NARPA's 2019 Annual Rights Conference, Moving Forward with Hope,
Hartford, CT September 19, 2019
Alternatives 2019 Conference, Catholic University of America,
Washington DC, July 11, 2019
Karuna 2019 Conference, Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.
Rocky Hill, CT April 13, 2019
3rd Annual Holistic Healing and Recovery Through Integrative Medicine Conference Holistic Healing
Cromwell, CT December 7, 2018
SPREAKING ENGAGEMENTS
A Disorder For Everyone online global 14 hour festival
People who do not accept the pathologising of emotional distress shared their stories in all sorts of creative ways. 14 hours of talks-poetry-interviews-presentations-videos-drama-panel- music etc.
Women’s Mental Health, Racism, and Working in Mental Health Advocacy
ZOOM Event June 24, 2020
When They Hear Us: Voices in Color, Sponsored by We Rise Storytelling
We currently find ourselves at an existential crossroad, in conflict with a system that targets and perpetuates violence toward people of color and those who would stand up for them. Many of us are at a loss for how to respond so, naturally, We Rise: Storytelling Collective thought we’d create a platform for the voices being silenced to speak their truths.
ZOOM Event June 19, 2020
Presentation on Compassionate Activism and Beyond the Story for the 2nd Year Psychiatry Residents with Asti Jackson, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Billy Bromage, Community Organizer, Yale/CMHC, Dr. Chyrell Bellamy and Dr. Flavia De Souza
New Haven, CT April 9, 2019
Karuna 2018 Conference by Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.
Presentation on Compassionate Activism with Greg Benson and Latosha Taylor
Rocky Hill, CT April 28, 2018
Presentation - Healing within Social Action: Diversity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality Atty. Tina Minkowitz, and Yvonne Smith
Boston, MA August 20, 2017
Presentation CT-Hearing Voices Network by Selina Grover-Welborn and Jenna Rai Miller
Hartford, CT May 6, 2016
The Connection's Agency 2015 Conference, at Wesleyan University
Presentation on the 5 R's with Claire Bien and Daryl Mcgraw
Middletown, CT October 29, 2015
PERFORMANCES
In This Moment - Performed at the 3rd Drop the Disorder poetry event with host Jo Watson and Lucy Johnstone in association with Onlinevents (John Wilson)
The Vagina Monologues - The Westport Library (Performer) with Director Kerri Gawreluk (Created by V (formerly Eve Ensler)
Westport, CT February 21, 2020
We Rise Storytelling Collective/The Fall - The Westport Library (Performer) with creator Will Diaz and Kerri Gawreluk
Westport, CT October 30, 2019
The Westport Library's Saugatuck Storyfest – (Creators Alex Giannini and Cody Diagle-Orians) (Author/Contributor/Performer)
Westport, CT September 27, 2019
In This Moment – Karuna 2019 Conference (Writer/Performer/Video creator)
Rocky Hill, CT April 13, 2019
My Ode to The Trees – Karuna 2019 Conference (Writer/Performer/Video creator)
Rocky Hill, CT April 13, 2019
The Curve – (Written 1998. Adapted 2008 by Original Works Inc/ Creative Youth Art Work with Donna Sue DeGuzman and Luther Blackwell, Jr. (Writer/Actor - Teacher's voice) Bridgeport, CT 2008
Not So Sweet Sixteen – Original Works, Inc./ Creative Youth Art Work with Donna Sue DeGuzman and Luther Blackwell, Jr.(Actor - Mother)
Bridgeport, CT 2007
Colors of The Heart - An Original Play at Housatonic Community College - First Theater Program (Songwriter - I Don't Wanna Cry No More - Contributor/Writer/Actor) with Instructor and Director Donna Sue DeGuzman
Bridgeport, CT May 1998