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Member Spotlight: Bella Vondracek Serving with NAMI Johnson County

Healthy Minds Alliance is proud to spotlight Bella Vondracek, an AmeriCorps member serving with NAMI Johnson County. Bella began her service term in July 2024 and hit the ground running, providing capacity-building support at her host site.


Over the past two months, Bella has been instrumental in establishing connections with local colleges and high schools. With Bella's help, NAMI Johnson County has established two NAMI on Campus chapters—one at the University of Iowa and another at Iowa City High School through the Iowa City Community School District. Bella has also partnered with the University of Iowa to sustainably host Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in higher education.


Bella led her first MHFA training in September and has five upcoming trainings scheduled between now and December! In addition, Bella has worked to secure grant funding for NAMI Johnson County, enabling them to expand their outreach to youth and young adults regarding mental health.


So far during her service term, Bella has worked with several key organizations, including the Suicide Prevention Coalition in Johnson County, University Counseling Services at the University of Iowa, Johnson County Health and Human Services, and various community institutions such as churches and school districts. These collaborations have strengthened her efforts to expand mental health resources and build community connections.


One of the most fulfilling parts of Bella’s service term has been participating in community tabling events. These events have given her the opportunity to engage with the public, share valuable mental health resources, and raise awareness about the work NAMI is doing in Johnson County. So far, Bella is most proud of her work establishing the NAMI on Campus chapters within the Iowa City Community School District and at the University of Iowa. Bella shared, “These partnerships have helped me feel more connected not only with my host site but also with the greater community I work within.”


When asked how serving with Healthy Minds Alliance has impacted her future plans, Bella expressed, "My service term has influenced what I’m choosing to pursue in graduate school after completing my current degree. I’ve realized that I want to continue my work in the nonprofit sector and pursue a career in social work and public policy."


Thank you for your service, Bella! We cannot wait to see what other amazing partnerships and accomplishments you will achieve during the rest of your service term!



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