MACC’s October 2025 Newsletter







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MACC’s October 2025 Newsletter

ISSUE #5
 


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

Building Momentum Into Fall!

As the fall season begins, we are reflecting with gratitude on the success of our second The Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention Summit, held in Cleveland on Tuesday, September 23rd. The event received an overwhelmingly positive response, with participants sharing appreciation for the resources, connections, and meaningful conversations it provided. Each summit reinforces our commitment to expanding this initiative to additional cities across Ohio, helping us forge new partnerships, identify community needs, and deliver trainings and resources where they are most impactful.

In addition to these summits, MACC continues to organize and host a wide variety of trainings—both public and private—most of which are approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). These trainings remain central to our mission of advancing equity and cultural competence in behavioral health, and we couldn’t do it without our growing partnerships with Miami University’s School-Based Center of Excellence and Mindfully Academy‘s support to provide CEU’s.

We are also excited to share that a brand-new MACC website is underway. The redesigned site will be more user-friendly, offer expanded resources, and reflect MACC’s evolving vision.

Finally, our partnership with the Ohio Navigator Initiative continues, strengthening our ability to connect individuals and families with culturally responsive resources and support across the state.

The MACC Team
 

 
 
 

ABOUT MULTIETHNIC ADVOCATES FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCE (MACC)

For over 20 years, MACC has been Ohio’s leading voice for cultural competence, empowering hundreds of organizations across behavioral health, government, criminal justice, higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, and business sectors through thousands of trainings that foster equitable services and culturally responsive workplaces.

 

 
 
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Healing Hearts: Grief Recovery & Harm Reduction for Children Training – 2 CEU’s offered
October 15, 1pm – 4pm

Understanding Trauma & Trauma Informed Care – 2 CEU’s offered

October 21, 10am – 12pm

The Importance of Culturally Competent Care for the LatinX Community – 2 CEU’s offered
October 22, 2pm – 4pm

Voices of Veterans: What Providers Need to Hear – 2 CEU’s offered
November 12, 1pm – 3pm

Substance Use Disorder for Families Impacted by Addiction – 2 CEU’s offered
November 19, 10am – 12pm

MACC Out and About!

Trainer, Breanna Allen, leads a second Culturally Competent Care for the Latinx Community training for the Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland in September.

The Right Dose Senior Overdose Prevention Summit – Cleveland

Event Recap: The Right Dose – Senior Overdose Prevention Summit, Cleveland

On September 23, 2025, MACC hosted The Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention Summit in Cleveland, bringing together community partners, healthcare providers, and aging services professionals to address the growing impact of substance use among older adults. The summit featured expert speakers, interactive discussions, and resource sharing designed to strengthen prevention, intervention, and support strategies for seniors and their families.

Building on the highly successful summit in Columbus in April 2025, this second gathering again drew an enthusiastic turnout and overwhelmingly positive feedback. The energy and engagement in Cleveland confirmed what we continue to hear from communities across the state—there is a real need for resources, training, and collaboration on this issue.

The strong responses in both cities underscore the importance of continuing The Right Dose as a statewide initiative. MACC is actively exploring opportunities to expand the summit to additional regions across Ohio and is also developing smaller, more tailored versions that can be customized to local needs. Stay tuned for more updates as this work grows and evolves.
 

Pictured to the left: State Representative and Keynote Speaker, Juanita O. Brent of District 18 holds The Right Dose signage with MACC Executive Director, Erica C. Crawley.

MACC Projects to Note

Ohio Navigator Needs Assessment 

Project Update – October 2025

At MACC, we believe every Ohioan deserves support that is easy to navigate and rooted in cultural understanding. That’s why we are partnering with the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OMHAS) and community leaders on the Ohio Navigator Evaluation Needs Assessment.

We’ve just completed Phase 1 of the program, which focused on listening to navigators, providers, and families across the state to better understand what’s working and where barriers remain. With this valuable input, we are excited to move into the next phase as we prepare to officially launch the program in Ohio.

Stay tuned for more updates this fall as we share findings, training materials, and recommendations that will strengthen Ohio’s navigation system and ensure families can access the help they need.

 


The Right Conversation

The Right Conversation: Supporting Families Through Dialogue

MACC is proud to share The Right Conversation, an initiative created to help families and communities engage in open, supportive discussions about substance use and mental health. By encouraging honest dialogue and ensuring loved ones feel understood, we take important steps toward healing and resilience.

To make these conversations easier, we’ve created a user-friendly flyer that includes practical conversation starters, guidance on how to listen and offer support, and a list of helpful resources. Whether you’re talking with a friend, parent, sibling, or child, this tool is designed to help you begin meaningful conversations when they matter most.

We’re proud to expand this program across Ohio and invite you to download the flyer today at www.maccinc.net/empower

Join MACC’s Growing Network of Trainers and Subject Matter Experts

MACC is expanding—and we’re looking for mission-aligned professionals to grow with us. As we continue to advance equity and inclusion in Ohio’s mental and behavioral health systems, we’re seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and trainers with hands-on experience, deep subject knowledge, and a strong commitment to culturally responsive care.

We are especially interested in candidates with lived experience and a passion for serving historically marginalized communities, including immigrant and refugee populations, Black and Brown youth, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Latinx, Somali, and Nepalese populations

  • Immigrant & Refugee communities

  • Opioid & Illicit Drug Use

  • Suicide Prevention & Intervention

  • Maternal Health

Ideal candidates will have:

  • At least 5 years of experience developing and delivering culturally sensitive training

  • Expertise in evidence-based curriculum design and professional development
     
  • The ability to travel across the state of Ohio to provide trainings
  • A strong equity lens and experience engaging diverse audiences with authenticity
     

This is an opportunity to partner with a mission-driven team, expand your professional reach, and contribute to statewide efforts to deepen cultural competence in behavioral health.

Interested in joining us? We’d love to connect.

Apply here or scan the QR code below.

DATES TO KNOW – OCTOBER

  • October 1–31: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

  • October 1–31: Global Diversity Awareness Month

  • October 10: World Mental Health Day

  • October 11: National Coming Out Day

  • October 12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day

  • October 15: National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

  • October 16: World Food Day

  • October 24: United Nations Day


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 the warmth of summer shifts into the crispness of fall, I’ve been reflecting on the growth, energy, and connections that have carried MACC through these past few months.

September, in particular, was a season of momentum. We successfully hosted our second Right Dose: Senior Overdose Prevention Summit in Cleveland, where the response was overwhelmingly positive. Each conversation, partnership, and new connection affirmed the importance of creating spaces where seniors, providers, and communities feel seen, heard, and supported.

This fall also marks the close of several training cycles and the beginning of new opportunities. From Trauma-Informed Care to Immigrant & Refugee Foundations, we continue to meet the demand for culturally responsive education across Ohio. Each training strengthens our network of providers and advocates who are committed to embedding equity and cultural humility in their work.

As we step into October, I encourage you to give as much attention to yourself as you do to the communities you serve. The change of seasons can be a reminder to pause, breathe, and renew. Taking time for rest, reflection, and care allows us to show up more fully and sustainably in the work ahead.

Together, we are advancing a vision of behavioral health that is inclusive, compassionate, and rooted in justice. Thank you for continuing to walk this path with us.

Thank you for reading!

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

https://www.maccinc.net

Our mailing address is:
2323 W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 160, Columbus, OH 43214

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