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MACC’s December 2025 Newsletter

ISSUE #7
 

Here’s what has happened, and here’s what’s to come!

Looking Ahead with Purpose!

As we enter December, our team at MACC is reflecting on a year marked by meaningful partnerships, powerful conversations, and steady growth across our programs. The past eleven months have shown us just how strong and engaged our Ohio communities are—providers, families, youth, and partners who continue to show up with a shared commitment to culturally responsive, compassionate care.

This final month of 2025 offers us a moment to pause and acknowledge the progress we’ve made together. Through statewide trainings, listening sessions, and community events, we’ve witnessed an increased desire for learning, deeper dialogue, and continued collaboration. Your participation and support have shaped this year’s impact, and we are sincerely grateful for every connection we’ve built.

This season also holds special meaning for several members of our team who are wrapping up their first year at MACC. Their fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and dedication have strengthened our work and helped us grow in new ways. We are grateful for the talent and energy they bring to MACC every day.

As we prepare for 2026, there is much to look forward to. Our team is already planning a robust calendar of trainings, conferences, and community-centered events, along with the launch of our newly redesigned website! We’re also expanding our social media presence to bring you timely updates, resources, and wellness offerings, ensuring you have multiple ways to stay informed and engaged. Several of our key initiatives—including Ohio’s Navigator Initiative, The Right Conversation campaign, and The Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention—will continue to grow in scope and reach as we deepen our work statewide.

We are grateful for our grant sponsors, CEU provider partners, trainers, facilitators, and the community networks that anchor our mission. Your partnership fuels our ability to serve families and professionals across Ohio, and we look forward to building on this foundation in the year ahead.

From all of us at MACC, thank you for walking alongside us throughout 2025. We are excited for the work ahead and honored to step into the new year with you!

The MACC Team
 

 
 
  

ABOUT MULTIETHNIC ADVOCATES FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCE (MACC)

For more than 20 years, MACC has served as Ohio’s leading voice and statewide resource for advancing cultural competence and equity in systems of care. Through thousands of professional trainings, technical assistance, and community-centered initiatives, MACC has equipped hundreds of organizations — spanning behavioral health, government, criminal justice, higher education, healthcare, nonprofits, and private industry — with the tools to strengthen cultural responsiveness, reduce disparities, and create more inclusive workplaces and services.

MACC continues to play a vital role in shaping policies, practices, and partnerships that elevate the well-being of historically marginalized and underserved communities across Ohio.

 

 
 
  

UPCOMING TRAININGS & EVENTS

Please visit the Educate page on our website for more information. 

We are currently planning out our 2026 trainings and events, and those will be on our website shortly!
 

January 31, 2026, 11am – 1pm

Cocoa & Conversation: Helping Families Navigate Addiction & Mental Illness
 
Shine Bright Community Center, Whitehall

MACC Out and About!

Franklin County Coroner’s Office

Last month, Kimberli Anding and Sarah Henry had the opportunity to visit the Franklin County Coroner’s Office for an informative and eye-opening tour of the facility. MACC is grateful to Senior Advisor & Director of Public Affairs, Jeremy Blake, for his time, insight, and thoughtful discussion on how our organizations can partner in the months ahead. The visit allowed us to explore shared goals and identify ways to collaborate on upcoming MACC initiatives, including January’s Cocoa & Conversations event, our ongoing The Right Dose senior overdose prevention sessions, and the launch of The Right Conversation campaign in 2026. We are also excited to welcome Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nathaniel R. Overmire as a participant in these future events. This meaningful exchange reinforced the importance of cross-agency collaboration as we work together to support families and strengthen behavioral health efforts across our community.

2025 Photo Recap

Throughout the year, our team had the opportunity to engage in a wide range of meaningful events and community activities. We joined the celebration of Day of the Girl, connected with seniors at UARC, and continued our statewide The Right Dose Senior Overdose Prevention efforts—including a special radio recording to expand outreach. Our staff also came together for a productive retreat focused on alignment and growth, and we were honored to participate in the OACHBA conference alongside so many dedicated partners and advocates. Each of these moments strengthened our relationships, deepened our learning, and reaffirmed the importance of the work we do. These highlights represent only a portion of the work we’ve been part of this season—there are many more moments and photos that we simply couldn’t fit here, each contributing to a strong season of engagement across Ohio.

MACC Projects to Note

How to Start the Right Conversation
 

The holiday season often brings moments of closeness — times when families gather, share meals, and reconnect in meaningful ways. These moments can naturally create space to gently check in with loved ones who may be experiencing challenges related to substance use or mental health. Sometimes it begins with a simple, sincere question that invites openness: “How have things really been going for you lately?” Small openings like this can lead to important conversations that strengthen understanding and support.

MACC is preparing to launch a strengthened initiative called The Right Conversation, designed to help families and communities approach these sensitive topics with greater confidence and compassion. This effort will begin on January 31st with our first event, Cocoa & Conversation: Helping Families Navigate Addiction and Mental Illness, which will introduce tools and approaches to guide thoughtful, supportive dialogue at home and in the community.

Throughout 2026, we will continue building out this campaign with practical resources, conversation strategies, and additional learning opportunities. We’re excited to share more soon and to provide guidance that empowers families to talk, listen, and navigate these moments together.

Download a copy of this flyer on our website at: www.maccinc.net/empower

Looking Ahead

Programs & Initiatives Growing in 2026
 

Our team is preparing for a dynamic year ahead—one filled with expanded learning opportunities, strengthened partnerships, and new ways to connect with communities across Ohio. Early 2026 will introduce a renewed lineup of statewide trainings, conferences, community listening sessions, and family-centered events designed to support providers, seniors, youth, and caregivers.

Several of our core initiatives will continue to grow:

• Ohio’s Navigator Initiative – Advancing work around role clarity, care coordination, workforce needs, and improved navigation pathways for communities across the state.

• The Right Conversation Campaign – Launching with a dedicated website and social media channels to help families approach substance use and mental health conversations with confidence and compassion. The campaign will begin at our January 31st event, Cocoa & Conversation: Helping Families Navigate Addiction and Mental Illness.

• The Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention – Additional sessions will be hosted statewide as we continue engaging older adults, families, and care teams in meaningful prevention efforts.

• Community Listening Sessions – New family, senior, youth, and community-focused sessions will be held throughout 2026, ensuring we continue elevating lived experiences and community voice.

• Statewide Trainings & Conferences – A full calendar of culturally responsive trainings, expanded CEU offerings, and collaborative events with partners is already underway.

A New Digital Home for MACC

We are also excited to debut our redesigned website in early 2026. This updated platform will make it easier to explore upcoming trainings, access resources, and stay informed about MACC’s programs, initiatives, and events. We look forward to sharing it with you soon.

Stay Connected With Us

To keep you updated throughout the year, MACC is expanding its social media presence. Beginning in 2026, you’ll see more frequent updates, campaign highlights, community spotlights, and wellness-focused content across our platforms. We invite you to follow and share as we broaden our reach and continue advancing culturally responsive care across Ohio.

DATES TO KNOW – DECEMBER

  • December 1–31: HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
  • December 1–31: Universal Human Rights Month
     
  • December 1: World AIDS Day
  • December 3: International Day for People with Disabilities
  • December 5: International Volunteer Day
  • December 10: International Human Rights Day
  • December 14: Hanukkah begins at sunset 
  • December 25: Christmas 
  • December 26: Kwanzaa week begins
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve

Gratitude from the MACC Staff

As we look back on the past year, our team is collectively grateful for the experiences, partnerships, and progress that have shaped 2025. This has been a year filled with meaningful conversations, expanding programs, and deeper engagement with communities across Ohio. Together, we have learned, adapted, and grown in ways that strengthen our mission and reinforce the importance of the work we do. We are thankful for every collaborator, participant, and supporter who has walked alongside us, and we carry that gratitude with us as we prepare for the opportunities and continued growth ahead in the new year.

Crawley’s Corner

A monthly space for reflections, updates, and important news from MACC Executive Director, Erica C. Crawley, JD, MPA . Stay connected with her latest insights and the work happening across our organization.

As we close out 2025, I’m reminded of how much we can accomplish when we stay rooted in purpose and committed to the communities we serve. This year has been one of intentional growth at MACC—strengthening our programming, expanding our reach, and deepening partnerships that support culturally responsive care across Ohio.

December offers a chance to pause and acknowledge the dedication of our staff, trainers, facilitators, and community partners. I’m especially proud of the team members who are completing their first year with MACC. Their passion, innovative thinking, and commitment to equity have added tremendous value to our organization and to the families and providers we support.

Looking toward 2026, we are positioning MACC for continued expansion. Our upcoming website redesign will create a more accessible and engaging experience for those seeking training opportunities, resources, and information about our statewide initiatives. We are also strengthening our social media presence to keep our communities connected with timely updates, events, and wellness-focused content throughout the year.

Our core initiatives—Ohio’s Navigator Initiative, The Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention, and the forthcoming The Right Conversation campaign—will continue to grow in visibility and impact. These efforts reflect our commitment to breaking down barriers, elevating lived experience, and advancing behavioral health equity for individuals and families at every stage of life.

Thank you for your support, your partnership, and your belief in MACC’s mission. I am grateful for the trust you place in us, and I look forward to all that we will build together in the coming year.

Thank you for reading!

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Copyright © 2025  Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), All rights reserved.

https://www.maccinc.net

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