Suggestions
Summer Berman
Clubhouse PSR & Social Practice Professional
Summer Berman is a seasoned professional in the field of mental health and community organizations, with over 20 years of experience.1 She served as the Executive Director of Fresh Start Clubhouse of Ann Arbor from September 2022 to May 2023, following her role as Director from July 2013 to July 2022.1
Professional Background
Summer holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work, where she specialized in Management of Human Service Agencies and Community Organizing with Communities and Social Systems.1 Her educational background also includes:
- BA in Psychology and Social Science from the University of Michigan Residential College
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification
- Training in Myomassology and Therapeutic Massage
Expertise and Specialties
Summer's areas of expertise include:
- Clubhouse programs
- Mission-based practice
- Consumer advocacy
- Mental illness recovery
- Person-centered planning
- Stigma reduction
- Community education
- Staff development and training
- Public speaking
- Coalition organizing
She has a strong history of working with mental illness stigma and recovery programs, particularly utilizing the Fountain House/Clubhouse model of psychiatric rehabilitation.1
Fresh Start Clubhouse
At Fresh Start Clubhouse, an accredited program by Clubhouse International, Summer led efforts to serve people with mental illness in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The program focuses on building community to help individuals recover from the social isolation often associated with chronic and severe mental illness.1
Additional Interests
Beyond her primary focus, Summer has expressed interest in various social and community issues, including:
- Environmental concerns
- Workers' unions
- Politics and civic engagement
- Women's health
- Community organizing
- The arts
Summer Berman's career demonstrates a strong commitment to mental health advocacy, community building, and social work practice, with a particular emphasis on using community-based tools and methods to support individuals with mental illness.1
Highlights
Fresh Start is an organization near and dear to my heart. I have spent much of my professional career connected to this mental health Clubhouse, joining as a part time unit staff just two months after Fresh Start opened in late 2000. I have come and gone over the years, serving in various roles, including unit facilitator, board member, and director–most recently leading Fresh Start successfully through the pandemic and the loss of our parent agency (easily the scariest and most challenging situation we have ever faced as an organization), and into our new iteration as the first and so far only "freestanding" clubhouse in our state.
Though I am now stepping down from the Executive Director role to find some much needed and well deserved rest, I am still passionately invested in the wellbeing of this organization and the individuals it serves. Some of our member colleagues have been with us since we opened back in 2000 and we have been working and playing together for the last 23 years.
The work mental health psychosocial rehabilitation Clubhouses do is life changing and life saving for our members. It is simple but profoundly impactful.
Show people they matter. Invite them in. Create community around them. Let them know they belong. And set up the environment to promote success and development.
It's as easy as that.
In fact, anyone could be as successful as our members are if they're provided the right resources.
Please help me ensure the newest iteration of our Clubhouse starts off with the resources it needs to be successful. Thank you. -s #mentalhealthmatters #ClubhouseWorks #ClubhouseGivingDay #MentalHealthMonth #StrongerWithCommunity
#hiring Seeking creative and energetic folks who care about #mentalhealth #recovery and building #community! #personplacepurpose #strongerwithcommunity #clubhouseworks
