This past weekend, I returned to a room that changed my life.

Not metaphorically. Literally.

The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Wisconsin Annual Conference was held at the Hilton Paper Valley in Appleton—the exact place where, years ago, I stood up and shared my story for the very first time.

I remember how it felt in my body. The shaking. The weight of everything I had been holding in for so long. And then someone said something to me that I’ve never forgotten: “It’s your story. You can’t mess it up.”

And I believed him.

For the first time, I felt like I had permission. Permission to speak my truth. Permission to stop filtering it. Permission to take the mask off and just be honest about what I had lived through.

So I did.

And something shifted.

Not all at once. Not perfectly. But enough to change the direction of my life.

This weekend, I walked back into that same room—not as someone trying to find her voice, but as an Author and the Executive Director of RISE TOGETHER. I was there to lead a workshop, to share the work we’ve built, and to stand alongside Meghyn, our Program Director, who has been leading the way with our RISE Hangouts across the Fox Valley.

Same room. Different version of me.

And if I’m being honest, I could feel both versions at once.

The one who was given permission to speak… and the one now creating spaces where others get that same permission.

Because that’s exactly what happened in the room.

It was surreal.

People didn’t just listen. They opened up. They took the mask off in real time. They said things like, “I’ve never said this out loud before,” and “I can’t believe I’m sharing this here.” And you could feel it—the moment something heavy got a little lighter just by being spoken.

That’s the work.

Not just presenting information. Not just raising awareness. But creating a space where people feel safe enough to be real. Where they don’t have to perform. Where they can tell the truth without worrying if they’re going to mess it up.

This is what makes RISE different. Yes, our work is backed by research in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine. Yes, we’ve collected thousands of data points that show increased help-seeking and reduced isolation. But the real impact lives in the moments you can’t measure—the exhale, the honesty, the shift that happens when someone realizes they don’t have to carry it alone.

We’re not just teaching people what to say. We’re teaching them how to be with someone. How to listen. How to respond when someone opens up. How to create spaces that don’t just look good on paper, but actually work in real life. Because programs don’t change communities. People do.

And then there were the moments that made it even more personal.

My 4th grade teacher walked into the room among the first attendees.

My teenage niece was there—watching, listening, taking it all in.

And I kept thinking… this is what this is really about.

Not just the room we’re in.

But who’s watching…

Who’s learning what it looks like to tell the truth.

Who’s learning that they don’t have to hide.

At the end of the session, people didn’t rush out. They stayed. They shared more. They asked questions. They said thank you. Some walked away with a signed copy of Enough Already. But more than anything, they walked away having said something out loud that they hadn’t before.

And I left with a feeling I can’t fully explain.

Grateful. Grounded. Clear.

We are right on time.

This work is growing. These conversations are needed. And what we’re building through RISE TOGETHER is bigger than a single room—but it will always start there. One person is given permission to speak, and someone else choosing to listen.

Because connection changes everything.

And sometimes, a story shared at the right time can save a life.

I know it saved mine.

This isn’t just a presentation. It’s a model. And it’s working.

And if you felt something reading this… And you’re part of a school, organization, or community, and you’re ready to move beyond awareness and actually learn how to create spaces like this, join us.

We’re opening our next RISEconnection summer cohort, where we teach this work in a real, practical way for those supporting youth every day.

Save your spot here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/riseconnection-summer-cohort

Together,

Nadine Machkovech
Executive Director