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 Mrs. Angela Micelli Suarez's Bio
Her life is filled with much experience. And, her life experiences, observations, independent research and spirituality have led her to the vision of MIM's Model of Empowerment. Angela was born to an Italian-American mother of New Orleans, La. in Charity Hospital. The year was 1965. At the age of eleven, due to her mother's mental, emotional and economic disadvantage (MEED), her mother placed her, with her siblings, into the hands of Tupelo Children's Mansion Tupelo Children's Mansion(TCM). There, she traveled the United States extensively with TCM?s choir. And, she had many mentors as a young girl to later draw upon the knowledge she had been endowed with as a youth. The U.S. Army became Angela?s extended family at the age of 18. Her military life took her to: Fort Jackson, South Carolina - Fort Gordon, Georgia ? Camp Humphries, S. Korea ? Fort Lee, Virginia and Naples, Italy. She gained valuable communication skills through her training and service as a Data Telecommunications Center Operator. Today she draws on that experience to help others. At nineteen, Angela had a son that would be her greatest teacher. By the time, her son was five years old, she knew he was different, not like other children his age. She took him to see many doctors, but none identified any problem. So, she trained and was employed for eight years as a Certified Nurse Aide. This training and experience was two-fold. She learned how to interact with professional staff and clients. And, she gained valuable serving skills. When her son was enrolled in kindergarten, school officials began to accuse him of being "bad". Often, Angela was called to pick her son up from school for her son?s disruptive behavior. She tried to get the school to do some kind of testing, but was told, "You need to teach your child how to behave." Before he began first grade, while still in kindergarten, her son had his first mental break. Some call it an initial episode. He was hospitalized and finally it was recognized he was mentally challenged. But it took years to get a proper diagnosis and get appropriate treatment. In the mean time, he bounced out of hospitals, day treatment, jails and correctional facilities. Her own son?s troubled mind has taught her much. Now, she is helping others who have loved ones who are experiencing symptoms of mental illness. The first hand care giving to her son, her own divorce from her first husband and the death of her best friend become to much loss for Angela. So, when mental illness, in the form of Major Depression, walked upon the stage of her life nine years ago, she didn?t know it would also be a great teacher to her. Through treatment, the will to make a positive life for herself and her family, the use of the arts and her spirituality, she is in recovery now. Though she will tell you, "Sometimes I travel in the land of the mentally ill. I have to be careful to get proper rest and nutrition." All of these experiences, years of observation and the last six years of independent research into the causes, treatments and various management tools have led Angela to realize there have got to be more supports in place for families experiencing the challenges of mental illness. And, her own spirituality has been an encouraging factor for her to develop the MIM?s Model of Empowerment. So, though, she doesn?t have the Phd, or any of these letters behind her name, she is well equipped to spearhead the work to make her vision a reality. She admits she doesn?t have all of the answers, so she invites you to make this journey with her. She invites those with the Phd?s, and those without, to give MEED people a hand up and not out, and to create some safety nets, such as the Extended Family Solutions network of the ABOW Force. She truly believes the MIM?s Model of Empowerment can become a national tool to empower MEED people and their families at a grassroots level to live peaceful, positive and productive lives! | Return Home | What's New | Schedule of Events | Our Services | On-line Catalog | Great Links | FAQ Page | Contact Us | Download Page | Get Help Now | |
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