Jamie Tworkowski, founder of a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide, is the keynote speaker at UALR’s 2010 MidSOUTH Summer School under way this week at the Donaghey Student Center.

MidSOUTH is a community service and outreach agency initiated in 1973, responsive to local and state needs for education, training, evaluation, and professional services for counselors and others who deal with people fighting addictions.

Tworkowski, who will speak from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, June 10, founded To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA). The movement began as an attempt to tell the story of a friend in need of treatment and soon became an Internet phenomenon and global movement.

In order to fund his friend’s treatment, Tworkowski posted a blog on MySpace and began selling T-shirts. Supported by the bands Switchfoot, Anberlin, and Paramore, TWLOHA became widely recognized in the music world, and its message was spread from venue to venue, across towns and cities all over the world.

The organization now has the largest online audience of any nonprofit on MySpace and Facebook, and has responded to nearly 100,000 messages from more than 40 countries. It also has donated nearly $500,000 to treatment and recovery organizations.

For his work, Tworkowski has been interviewed by NBC Nightly News, CNN, MTV, and Spin magazine. He speaks frequently, bringing a message of hope and community to audiences at universities and conferences throughout the U.S. and as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Other speakers scheduled during the summer school June 7 to 11 include:

· Cindy Crone of UAMS Partners for Inclusive Communities, discussed “Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap Tuesday.

· Jack Claypoole, administrator of the Drug-Free Communities spoke on “Drug-Free Support Programs: A Part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy” Tuesday.

· Comedian Mark Lundholm will speak on “From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10. The comedian will help participants use humor to rediscover passion and purpose in the workplace and highlight priorities such as family.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit 2010 MidSOUTH Summer School.

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