Keynote Speaker, Hakeem Rahim, EdM, MA,

Mental Health Awareness Expert & Trainer
The Highs and Lows of Life; From Harvard to the Hospital and Back Again: One man’s journey with mental illness.

Hakeem will share his personal story of being diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder after experiencing a manic episode when he was a student at Harvard University. He will guide us to explore and transform the way in which we think about mental illness and encourage Ramapo students to embrace change and look at failure as an opportunity for growth and a foundation for building deep resilience.

Co-sponsors: Center for Health and Counseling, EOF, West Bergen Mental Healthcare

Free Wellness Kits, Depression Screenings, Free T-Shirts to the first 25 students in attendance, Stress Buster Strategies, Tea Tasting, Stomp Out Stigma, #RCNJFightTheStigma

Co-sponsor: Health Awareness Team, Active Minds, Center for Health and Counseling

Student Panel

Ramapo students share their stories of living with a mental illness and provide a forum for other students to ask questions and have an open discussion about mental illness.

Speaker: Isaac Brown

CEO of Baltic Street, AEH, Inc.

A consumer of mental health services himself, Isaac identifies with the people he assists daily at Baltic Street. Baltic Street is a peer-run, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with mental illness. Isaac will share his story of mental illness, recovery and success.

The Mandala (Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion”) has a long history and is recognized for its deep spiritual meaning and representation of wholeness. The very nature of creating a mandala is therapeutic and symbolic. Participants will learn the concept of the healing powers of Mandala and be guided to create their own Mandala.

Disclaimer – This workshop is not an actual therapy session, but rather an opportunity to learn how Mandala can be used to reduce stress and increase mental health.

Limited to 20 participants – RSVP necessary – email abenowit@ramapo.edu to reserve your spot.

Paul’s presentation provides an insightful and deeply personal introspective of his experiences growing up with cerebral palsy, while allowing the audience to immediately bridge the gap that seems to separate “normal” from “disabled” within their own lives.  His life story remains an important reminder of the possibilities when we learn to focus on our motivation, enabling us to achieve goals in our own lives. Dr. Paul will touch upon the following areas through sharing personal experiences and stories as well as sharing some videos of his accomplishments: the value of encouraging others, every little goal leads to a bigger goal, the importance of a smile, a support system is key to self-esteem, and everyone is a role model.

Paul’s presentation provides an insightful and deeply personal introspective of his experiences growing up with cerebral palsy, while allowing the audience to immediately bridge the gap that seems to separate “normal” from “disabled” within their own lives.  His life story remains an important reminder of the possibilities when we learn to focus on our motivation, enabling us to achieve goals in our own lives. Dr. Paul will touch upon the following areas through sharing personal experiences and stories as well as sharing some videos of his accomplishments: the value of encouraging others, every little goal leads to a bigger goal, the importance of a smile, a support system is key to self-esteem, and everyone is a role model.

Who better to cover the Paralympics, the international sporting event for athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities, than Niko von Glasow, the world’s best-known disabled filmmaker? Unfortunately — or fortunately for anyone seeking an insightful and funny documentary — this filmmaker frankly hates sports and thinks the games are “a stupid idea.” Born with severely shortened arms, von Glasow serves as an endearing guide to London’s Paralympics competition in My Way to Olympia. As he meets a one-handed Norwegian table tennis player, the Rwandan sitting volleyball team, an American archer without arms and a Greek paraplegic boccia player, his own stereotypes about disability and sports get delightfully punctured.

Dan Monzo, Team USA, Sochi, 2014 Paralympic Snowboarder
Darren Templeton, Wheelchair Rugby, New York Warriors

Dan Monzo lost his left leg in a dirtbike accident when he was 15-years-old. His first thought after the accident was, “Can I still snowboard?” Six months after he got his prosthetic Dan decided it was time to get back on a snowboard. He cleared a jump and slid half-way down a rail, face planted in the mud, stood up and smiled. It was at that moment Dan made the decision to become a professional adaptive snowboarder.

Darren Templeton, a Ramapo College Alum, sustained a spinal cord injury when he was 18 years old that left him paralyzed from the chest down.  Involved in sports from a young age, Darren did not let his paralysis keep him from being active.  He continues to ski, skydive and played rugby with the New York Warriors. Darren and his parents founded Push to Walk, a nonprofit spinal cord injury exercise and recovery center located in Riverdale, NJ.

Ela was born with Cerebral Palsy and yoga is her gift! Ela will share her experience of finding yoga and becoming an instructor, followed by an adaptive yoga session that will both inspire and energize.

Who better to cover the Paralympics, the international sporting event for athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities, than Niko von Glasow, the world’s best-known disabled filmmaker? Unfortunately — or fortunately for anyone seeking an insightful and funny documentary — this filmmaker frankly hates sports and thinks the games are “a stupid idea.” Born with severely shortened arms, von Glasow serves as an endearing guide to London’s Paralympics competition in My Way to Olympia. As he meets a one-handed Norwegian table tennis player, the Rwandan sitting volleyball team, an American archer without arms and a Greek paraplegic boccia player, his own stereotypes about disability and sports get delightfully punctured.

Dr. Robert Gilbert, Sports Psychologist

DECISIONS DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE. What is the most important decision you will ever make? In this presentation you will learn what this decision is and how it will bring you incredible success in every aspect of your life.

Robert M. Tudisco, Esq.

Robert is an attorney, nonprofit consultant and motivation speaker. Robert also has ADHD. This presentation will address the challenges students with ADHD face with various transitions such as going from high school to college. This session will also discuss not just how to survive the diagnosis of ADHD, but how to thrive based upon natural potential.

OSS Student Panel

Ramapo students with “hidden” disabilities speak up.  What they have to share just might surprise you.