{"id":141,"date":"2004-05-01T00:49:32","date_gmt":"2004-05-01T06:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chartervision.org\/archive\/141"},"modified":"2006-04-26T09:24:16","modified_gmt":"2006-04-26T15:24:16","slug":"yellow-ribbons-capitol-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.sdho.org\/2008\/01\/chartervision\/archive\/141\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellow Ribbon’s Capitol Idea"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 30th<\/sup>, 2004: Students from RiverBend Academy headed towards Minnesota’s State Capitol with the standard trip slips in hand for a special day of awareness for suicide prevention and mental health accessibility.<\/p>\n

Buses left many of Mankato’s surrounding high schools at 7 a.m. to join other schools from all over Minnesota.<\/p>\n

RBA<\/abbr> students were excited to be a part of making a difference and helping others. As most would say, the trip opened their eyes to the seriousness of this issue and to how awareness can be a big first step. The day at the Capitol included an initial informational meeting followed by meetings with Sen.<\/abbr> Hottinger and Rep.<\/abbr> Dorn. The importance of suicide prevention and its funding were a major part of the discussions as was seen in the 3,000 letters delivered to Gov.<\/abbr> Pawlenty and the attendance of nearly 200 students from around the state. South-central Minnesota remains the organization’s strongest region being based in Mankato and having 150 of the 200 students from Mankato, Mapleton, and Winthrop.<\/p>\n

The day was concluded with a press conference in the Capitol rotunda and group pictures on the Capitol steps. The message was clear that “it’s O.K.<\/abbr> to ask for help and Yellow Ribbon is a place you can get it.”<\/p>\n

24-Hour Toll-Free Crisis Line:<\/h3>\n