On Wednesday, November 30 in the University of Washington’s HUB Grand Ballroom, an event called “A Place for Everyone,” the fourth annual dinner for Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention, will be headlined by mental health advocate and UW alumnus Brandon Hadi, Washington’s First Lady Trudi Inslee, and radio talk show host Bill Radke. The event is free with required registration. Funds also will be raised toward Forefront’s suicide prevention causes.
Hadi (BA Psychology ’16) spearheaded the API Mental Health & Wellness Summit for Asian and Pacific Islander students at UW. In March, he was chosen as one of the Husky 100 with the goal “to address stigma around mental health so we can one day speak about mending a broken spirit the same way we talk about fixing a broken arm.”
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a sit-down dinner, drinks, and live music: Ethan Deutsch will play the flamenco guitar in memory of his son, and Issaquah High School student Sam Foster, rapper One2, and drummer Jawann Blanchey will perform an original collaboration. Guests will also view the short film “Full Circle,” directed by Rick Stevenson and edited by David Friedle, on the true story of one Washington community’s progression from tragedy to preparedness.
Forefront’s dinner will also acknowledge five award winners who made an impact in their fields:
• Micia Vergara (Emerging Leader Award)
• Kate Comtois (Sue Eastgard Training Excellence Award)
• Debbie Reisert (Tina Orwall Public Service Award)
• Frank Chopp (Legislator Award – with Special Recognition to Rep. Brian Blake and Sen. Joe Fain)
• KIRO 7 (Excellence in Coverage of Mental Health and Suicide) also will be acknowledged for its series of story segments by Michelle Millman, Deborah Horne, and Monique Ming Laven.
