The Coalition held their Annual Advocacy Day and Rally on June 1st, 2010 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. Although it was a rainy morning, large numbers of people turned out for the event, totaling 300+. Jack Register of the NC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers led two advocacy trainings in the morning before rally participants visited their legislators. At Noon, Jennifer Mahan, Chair of The Coalition and Dave Richards, Co-Chair of the Budget Committee, opened the Rally with passionate words on the state of NC’s MHDDSA system. The message was clear, funding for developmental disabilities, addictive diseases, and mental illness is not optional and these life saving treatments and services must be maintained at adequate levels. Rep. Weiss, Rep. Brisson and Rep Insko were also in attendance and assured rally participants that their demands were not falling on empty hearts.
