Working Group

Energetic people who care about mental illness are working together to develop a recovery-focused clubhouse for people living with mental illness in Elkhart County. Meetings are open to the public. See the home page for meeting details or contact us


Working Group members
(organizations reflect individual affiliations, *Steering Committee):

Christine Guth, Chair*, Anabaptist Disabilities Network         
Nekeisha Alexis-Baker, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Charlotte FletcherNational Alliance on Mental Illness
Leah Garboden
Susan Garboden                    
Barbara Nelson Gingerich,
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
James Nelson Gingerich, Maple City Health Care Center       
Jonathan Gingerich*               
Stephanie Johnson*
Rachel KoontzNAACP
Gregg Nussbaum*Oaklawn
Hilda Peters, Indiana Healthy Marriage Initiative
Lily Rath, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Lora RuselMaple City Health Care Center
Sandy Sandusky*Oaklawn
Nathan Shenk
Jeannie Stuckey*National Alliance on Mental Illness


The working group meets at Central Christian Church on first Tuesdays.
(L to R: Lora, Jonathan, Barb)

Special thanks to these folks for their efforts in 2009:
Gloria Holub, Oaklawn
Gary ShetlerMMA
Jim Smith, MMA


See our list of supporting organizations.

Read articles written by working group members

Working group meetings begin with supper and are open to visitors.
Christine, Stephanie, Nathan and Leah share some laughs while James (left) makes an emphatic gesture.

FAQ's about the "Working Group"
  • Is it the same group each month?   No, some persons are always present, but new people attend and are welcomed each time.  The group is constantly evolving.  Some old faces come and go irregularly, and are always welcomed back!   
  • Do the meetings drag on for hours?   No----they end promptly at 8 pm.   
  • Will I be pressured to "work" if I attend?   No---we are just happy for your presence.  The more persons who attend, the more connections we have within this community, and the more persons who simply understand who and why we ARE and what we are becoming together.   
  • Will I be pressured to donate money?   No.
  • Will I be pressured  to talk and tell my story?  No.   
  • Must I or my family have a history of mental illness to attend?   No----anyone who wants to make Elkhart county a better place is welcomed. We won't ask your history.   
  • What is the steering committee? The Steering Committee is the decision-making group for the Clubhouse Project until the Board of Directors has been named. It is composed of six people who attended the New Clubhouse Development Training at Carriage House, Fort Wayne, May 7-8, 2009, to develop an action plan for the Elkhart County Clubhouse project. The training was led by staff from the International Center for Clubhouse Development and from Carriage House. Steering Committee and Working Group meetings are open to anyone interested.
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James and Hilda listen to Christine (right) make a serious point at the February working group meeting