January Snapshot

Project AWARE
SNAPSHOT OUTLINE:
Meet the Team
1. Introduction to Project AWARE Staff pg. 1
2. Upcoming Project AWARE Events pg. 2
MPPS
3. SAD..What is it? pg. 2 Community
4. SPS Updates pg. 2 Project
Manager
Alexis Syrette
Introduction to Project AWARE Staff
Alexis Syrette: Alexis is the Project AWARE Community Project Manager for
Mount Pleasant Public Schools. She is a member of Batchewana First
Nations in Sault Ste. Marie, ON but has been in the community for the past
4 years as she worked on her degree at CMU. She graduated in spring with
her bachelor’s degree in Family Studies, and prior to working with Project SPS
AWARE, Alexis interned at ACFS. She is also currently pursuing her Master’s Community
degree in Indigenous Education through Arizona State University online. Project
Manager
Judy Pamp: Waabanoqua (Dawn Comes the Morning) is also know by her Judy Pamp

English name Judy Pamp. Judy is the Project AWARE Community Project
Manager for the Shepherd Public Schools. She is a member of the Saginaw
Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. She has been a teacher, principal,
school board member and recently the Assistant Director of the Ziibiwing
Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways.
Project
Kehli Henry: Kehli is the Project AWARE Coordinator/SCIT Community AWARE
Project Manager, and a descendant of the White Earth Nation. She started Coordinator
working for SCIT as a Summer Youth Crew Leader in 2001, and has also /SCIT Project
worked as a teaching assistant at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy, a Manager
Kehli Henry
tutor and advocate with SCIT’s K-12 Education Program, and as a Grant
Intern at the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways. Most
recently, Kehli worked with the Office of Grants and Contracts as a Grant
Analyst. Kehli received her PhD in Anthropology from MSU in fall 2019, and
currently serves as a member of the SCIT Data Governance Board.

Trisha Bassett: Trisha Bassett is the SMHA Project Aware Co-Coordinator. Project
Trisha grew up in Mount Pleasant and returned to the area to complete AWARE Co-
Coordinator
her graduate work. Trisha earned a Master’s degree in Professional and
Trisha Bassett
School Counseling. She has a background in education but has also
worked as an Addictions Counselor as well as a Home-based Therapist.
She is currently pursuing her Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug
Counselor certification.

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SAD.. What is it?
SAD Statistics
SAD, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression
that is related to the change of seasons. Most often, seasonal affective
disorder occurs or starts in late fall-early winter and can last until the
sunnier days of spring or summer begin. In some cases, people can
have the opposite pattern and have symptoms in spring and summer. 5%
The specific cause of SAD is still unknown, but some factors include:
 “Your biological clock (circadian rhythm)- The reduced level of
sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This “5% of the U.S. population
decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and experiences seasonal
lead to feelings of depression.” depression”
 “Serotonin levels- A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical
(neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD.
Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may
trigger depression.”
 “Melatonin levels- The change in season can disrupt the “4 out of 5 people who
balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in have seasonal depression
sleep patterns and mood.” are women”

Ways to take care of yourself if you’re experiencing SAD:

 Light therapy: sitting next to a special light box to be exposed
to more light
“The main age of onset
 Exercise regularly
for seasonal depression
 Consult a mental health professional
is between 20 and 30
 Spend time outside
years of age”
 Maintain the recommended amount of sleep
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Mental Health
America.
Want to watch a short video on SAD? Click on the link below: https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/seasonal-
affective-disorder-sad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLg3EIH1xY
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-
affective-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20364722
Upcoming Project
SPS AWARE Updates AWARE Events

Judy is the SPS community Project AWARE Manager. She assists SPS in
carrying out the Project AWARE grant goals and objectives while
bridging Shepherd and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s - Mindfulness with Laura
Communities. Gourlay- the last Tuesday of
Judy also assists the SPS Project AWARE Team in planning events and every month starting Jan.
training around mental health topics, trauma, and resiliency. Join us 28th from 4-5 pm at the
February 14, 2020 for our “Love is a Work of Heart” community event to Saginaw Chippewa
learn about taking care of oneself. This will take place in the lobby by Academy
the SHS gym from 5 pm to 8 pm during the SHS Boys Basketball games.
- Upcoming staff wellness
Judy is on-site every Tuesday in the Laidley Building from 7:30 am to training- Practicing
4:30 pm to answer questions about Project AWARE. Contact her at Resilience for all districts
jpamp@shepherdschools.net or jupamp@sagchip.org

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