People who live with mental illness often lose their choices. At the GOC we seek to empower and give our Members their voices back. Members help with everything at the GOC, including advocacy. Here we are at City of Gainesville, FL – Government City Hall educating and advocating as to why we are important to our community. This year we are meeting with all 6 city commissioners and the Mayor in order to show how we are making a difference. Thank you to Commissioner Ed Book for taking the time show us around and to listen.

Members who participate in Clubhouses like the GOC have less interactions with law enforcement, less hospitalizations, and a better overall quality of life. We got to go behind the scenes where important decisions are made by the City Commission. Commissioner Book took time to explain the collaborative nature of the Commission voting process. Members got to see the chamber from the Commissioners’ point of view. Later we sat down and and talked about ways the GOC can partner with the City to make lives better. Through participating in our program, the GOC makes lives better and saves the taxpayer money.