Petra's Sharebook 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z23DnwHlqr8&feature=youtu.be

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-new-perspective-the-unacknowledged-abuse-survivors/

San Diego, California - An awareness campaign has been launched by the P. Luna Foundation, called “Male Abuse Awareness Week” every December 1st through the 8th.  Scheduled the first week of December, this campaign shines light on the neglected cause of abused males during the holiday season when statistically domestic tensions rise.  All forms of child abuse are considered in this effort.Inspired by the campaign to fight breast cancer, this campaign is meant to;  Encourage people to start talking about this sociallytaboo subject, inspire young males to seek treatment, promote  their web site http://help4guys.org exclusively for abused males, and raise money to sponsor therapy sessions for young male victims of child abuse.

This year, the P. Luna Foundation is holding their First Annual Educational and Fundraising Event in San Diego, CA on December 5, 2011.  Also this year, they are introducing a Male Abuse Awareness merchandise line with a new and unique mascot character they have created called “Maa Man.”  M.A.A. stands for Male Abuse Awareness and this merchandise is currently being sold at http://www.zazzle.com/maleabuseawareness.  These products will also be given away as FREE gifts in exchange for donations to the organization at http://www.plunafoundation.org.According to Founder Petra Luna, “The time is NOW to get widespread media coverage for the problem of abused males.  This topic has been in the taboo closet for too long.”  Richard Gartner, PhD at the William Alanson White Institute also stated, “The media has been of little help deepening the conversation about male sexual victimization.  We can talk about it now, and we must do so, no matter how difficult this talk can be.”  How does this organization and campaign help abused young males?  The effects of child abuse on anyone are devastating and psychologists are just now starting to realize how young males are processing the abuse they have suffered in the past, and how their situation is much different than their female counterparts.  Young males are the last to admit weakness and the last to seek help.  These males that go without therapy to deal with their hurt and anger are at higher risk for going down destructive future paths like drug addiction, sexual addiction, violent crime, and even suicide.  They are also at risk of becoming abusers themselves, and continuing the cycle of abuse in their lives.  Getting the help which the P. Luna Foundation is providing will give these vulnerable young males the tools to deal with their anger and express themselves in a positive manner so that they may have hope for a happier, healthier future.  

The P. Luna Foundation(PLF) is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization founded by International recording artist Petra Luna in 2007.  In addition to the Male Abuse Awareness Week Campaign, the PLF provides several different ways of serving our online community of abuse survivors.  The PLF is the premiere portal and hub program with three different online directory listings of the world’s top services and resources for the abused.  The PLF also has a vibrant volunteer staff who supplements their therapy and healing by working for their cause.

For more info, see the P. Luna Foundation’s main web site at http://www.plunafoundation.org or contact Petra at 818.300.2052 or theplunashow@aol.com.  They are located in Southern California at 5334 Lindley Ave. Suite #136, Encino CA 91319 and in Northern California at P.O. Box 523, San Bruno CA 94066 (for all mail).

P.S.  Please, if you're on facebook, please like us here -

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maa-Man-Merchandise/287207611310834?sk=wall 

Please don't forget to sign the petition for the guys, to get equity in services, support and emergency shelter - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-new-perspective-the-unacknowledged-abuse-survivors/

Things have been hectic, busy and very productive, and it's hard to believe it's almost been a whole 'nother year!  The PLF is moving right along with so many things.  Please refer to www.plunafoundation.com for more information.

It's time to get the 4th Annual Male Abuse Awareness Week kicked off, December 1-8, 2011.  We have a lot of exciting things going on this year.

We have a counselor from Australia that is willing to give deals on giving our abused guys the support they need through one on one counselling as well as group sessions, to maximize the therapy.  No one should have to make this journey alone.

Please visit www.help4guys.org for more information regarding donations to go for the cause.  This will help ensure that the cost for each person is low or free.  Many times, as victims of abuse, we don't have the funds available to us to get therapy.  Please consider making your tax deductible donation today, to support this cause to help men become survivors, not continuous victims, of abuse.  For those with less money, you may donate a smaller amount to go towards one of PLF's other awesome missions.

If you don't have any to donate, but would love to give a special and unique gift to donate, please consider buying some cool new merchandise, featuring MAAW Man, to show some love to our male abuse survivors and to help out that way.  There's t-shirts, hand bags, coffee mugs, and more!  All proceeds go right back to helping our guys!  Come check out our store today!  http://www.zazzle.com/maleabuseawareness

They make great Christmas gifts as well as a gift of life to a guy whose life has been turned upside down.  Place your orders to ensure delivery.

Thank you all for your kind and courageous support!

Our thanks to Alison Rogers for sharing these insightful resources that help create awareness and education regarding concerns around the holidays for those who struggle with PTSD and depression – this information can also help their family and friends.

PTSD and the Holidays - http://www.sidran.org/pdf/..PTSDandholidays.pdf

State of Grace - An Adult Child Abuse Survivor's Guide to the Holidays –

http://gracedavis.typepad.com/..i_am_dr_lauras_worst_nigh/..2009/11/a-child-abuse-..survivors-guide-to-the-..holidays.html

Sometimes just the simple act of sharing your story with someone can be one of the most powerful tools for healing – it is exciting to be able to share some great resources that can help you in that process. Maybe these sources of inspiration can lead you to some of your own ideas to help not only yourself, but to also help others – just as these kind and caring folks and organizations are doing with their respective works and advocacy.

1] Meghan Caughey has founded a new arts organization called VISIONS: A.R.T.- Art for Resilience and Transformation - VISIONS will inspire persons who have lived experience of mental health challenges to create art that expresses their unique stories, creating opportunities to educate, inform, and transform public perception of what it means to have mental health challenges.

You can learn more at - http://www.visions-art.org/

Meghan recently received “The Howie the Harp Award” at the Alternatives 2010 Annual Conference - “Promoting Wellness Through Social Justice”. This distinguished award is given each year to someone who best exemplifies social change in using the creative arts. Meghan is someone who I not only think of as a ‘Surviving Spirit”, but also a gentle spirit and she gives so much to so many in her creative advocacy efforts - so a well deserved award. You can learn more about the Alternatives Conference at:

http://www.power2u.org/..alternatives2010/index.html and “The Howie the Harp Award”

at: http://www...alteredstatesofthearts.com/..index.htm - then click on News and Info.

2] Gayle Bluebird who has been ‘in the trenches’ for so long in helping and inspiring so many was also honored recently with a VOICE Award. The VOICE awards are given annually by SAMHSA [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration] to honor movies, TV shows, and stars that portray mental illness in a positive light. They also present six consumer advocate awards. This year Gayle was one of them [and justly so], along with a few others you may know; Laverne Miller, Janet Paleo, Moe Armstrong - who received the Lifetime Achievement Award [way to go Moe!!], Fred Freese, Clarence Jordan and Lorrin Gehring [for the youth award].

I am one of those who Gayle has helped to inspire in my own creative advocacy endeavors; she has been a friend, a peer, mentor and so much more. Please visit the NASMHPD [National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors] website to read her bio and her acceptance speech along with pictures of the event – just scroll down to - Recent updates and Information:

http://www.nasmhpd.org/..consumernetworking.cfm

3] Ed Pazicky, Coordinator and Webmaster for Altered States of the Arts – “Promoting Recovery Through Art’ is looking for artists to display their creative efforts at the website - www.alteredstatesofthearts.com Ed is another one of those caring people who helps so many others, just visit the website to see this in action. He’s also posted Gayle Bluebird’s above mentioned award and information – scroll down to Bluebird’s Words. Please contact Ed at - edpazicky@comcast.net

4] Corinna West is gathering recovery stories and recovery poems to post on her website for Poetry for Personal Power. Corinna’s words sum it up best – “I would love to feature works from people across the country.” Please contact her at:

Corinna West, MS, CPS Creative Director, Human Hand Wordworks

PO Box 172351, Kansas City, KS 66117 816-392-6074

http://corinnawest.com/ corinnawest816@gmail...com

5] Draw That Beast is an online art project. People are welcome to submit original artwork (drawings, paintings, montages, photos) of how depression visually looks to them. Anyone is welcome to join in; it is not an art competition. If you can't draw, then take a photo or compile some pictures together that have some meaning to you. If words fit best, then that is ok too. http://drawthatbeast.blogspot...com/

Submit by email: drawthatbeast@gmail.com
Submit by post:
Draw that Beast, PO Box 7043, Watson ACT, AUSTRALIA 2602

Chris and his wife Ophelia are also the founders of (Wo)Men Speak Out™ - a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating violence against both genders. They seek to educate both men and women, cultivating healthy relationships and gender equity. Learn more at - http://www.womenspeakoutnow...com Chris also took part in the recent Oprah Winfrey shows about males who were sexually abused as children.

7] Lauren Leigh, mental health activist and founder of “On the Borderline” [and fellow NH resident!!] is looking for your videos about your experiences while living with Borderline Personality Disorder. Please include all of your relevant links in the email – e.g. your You Tube channel, Facebook or Myspace profile, your blog, etc and send to – contact@ontheborderline.org

To learn more, please visit Lauren’s sites at - http://ontheborderline.org/ and

http://www.youtube.com/..ontheborderline30

8] Sharon Wise is now holding first readings for people interested in her hit play, "Meet me on the Moon". She’s looking for two females and one male actor to be a part of this creative effort – so if you are in the Washington, DC area, please contact her at

Skype - 202-460-2753 or by e-mail at - thehouseofsharon@msn.com

I have been fortunate to experience Sharon’s powerful dance renditions and her equally impressive art creations, so I can’t wait to see this play.

9] Kate Swift’s book - “This Tangled Web” is one woman’s journey from victim to survivor. It is the untangling of a web created by the pain of childhood sexual abuse. The author brings you to the center of the web through her poetry and art, allowing you to see the journey through her eyes.

http://www.thistangledweb.co...uk/kate-swift-book.htm

10] Chipmunka Publishing’s catalog of mental health books gives a voice to writers with mental illness around the world. They help to raise awareness of mental health and the stigma surrounding mental health problems by encouraging society to listen. They are offering 45 Free E books to download from their website, learn more at - http://www...chipmunkapublishing.co.uk Click on specials and then e books.

I would like to close by sharing this quote from Albert Einstein - “Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” I truly believe that all of you who are mentioned in these newsletters and those who graciously receive them exemplify this quote – Thank you for what you do in helping others.

Please keep the Surviving Spirit in mind for your next event when you need a talented and inspirational keynote or workshop presenter. Please visit our Speakers’ Bureau for all of your needs - http://survivingspirit.com/..Speakers_Bureau.html

You can help the Surviving Spirit in its Mission to help others with your Time, Treasure or Talent. To learn more please visit - http://survivingspirit.com/..donate.html

Take care, Mike

ps. Please share this with your friends & if you have received this in error, please let me know.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

A diagnosis is not a destiny.

www.survivingspirit.com – Healing the Heart Through the Creative Arts

Speakers’ Bureau - http://survivingspirit.com/..Speakers_Bureau.html

www.mskinnermusic.com - Hope, Healing, & Help for Trauma, Abuse, & Mental Health through music, resources, & advocacy

www.new.facebook.com/profile...php?id=635415804%20 Facebook - for friends, music, & advocacy!!

Mike Skinner

"BE the change you want to see in the world." Mohandas Gandhi