Odette's Fundraiser for Cowtown Clubhouse

I first fell in love with the Clubhouse Model during my sophomore year of college. An assignment for one of my psychology classes required us to interview an organization involved in mental health. I chose Fountain House. Not only did I interview the director, but I ended up spending the afternoon with the members. I remember thinking as I left that my relationship with the clubhouse was just beginning, and that one day, I would be back.

After graduation, when I returned to Texas, I searched to see whether there were any clubhouses in the area. There weren’t. I even went so far as to email Clubhouse International to ask about the steps involved in starting a clubhouse here in Fort Worth. I eventually moved to Boston to become the Events and Wellness Director at Elliot House, a clubhouse just outside Boston in Newton, Massachusetts. Although I was there for a little under two years, the memories and relationships I made remain an important part of my life.

In the years that followed, despite not being directly involved with a clubhouse, I continued to talk with others about the Clubhouse Model and the wonderful, unique space it fills within the mental health community. I was beyond excited when a new friend casually mentioned a small organization she had been working with to support adults living with mental illness right here in Fort Worth. I couldn’t believe we had finally gotten our own clubhouse!

I immediately became involved. I have served on the board since 2022 and as board president since 2023. I often say that to know a clubhouse is to love a clubhouse. The work, the community, the members, and the relationships have given me some of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

At times, the world of chronic mental illness can feel overwhelming, hard, and unforgiving. The clubhouse offers a different experience. It exudes warmth, acceptance, dedication, and hope. Cowtown Clubhouse is a special place where people are welcomed and treated with dignity. They are not defined by a diagnosis or by the challenges they have faced, but instead welcomed for who they are and encouraged to participate in whatever way they can. It is a community where members form meaningful relationships, discover purpose through their work, and recognize how much they have to contribute. It is a place where people belong. 

On North Texas Giving Day, I hope you will help us continue building this community. Your gift to Cowtown Clubhouse helps create a place where every member is welcomed, valued, and reminded that they matter. Please join us in making belonging possible.