The mission of Norman’s Thunderbird Clubhouse is to build a community that offers respect and opportunities to adults living with and recovering from mental illness. With a $250,000 grant from Sarkeys in April of 2006, they were able to construct a new building where their members could work each day to achieve social, financial, vocational, and independent living goals.
Thunderbird Clubhouse was founded in l991 to help in the recovery process of adults living with mental illness. Participants are called members because the focus is on the person’s strengths not their illness. The Clubhouse is a place where people who have mental illness can come and rebuild their lives through pre-vocational training, paid employment, housing opportunities and great social/recreational experiences. Membership is for life so members have all the time they need to secure their new life in the community.
Thunderbird Clubhouse members are guaranteed...
• A place to come
• A right to meaningful work
• A right to meaningful relationships
• A right to a place to return
Thunderbird Clubhouse was located right across the street from Sarkeys for almost 10 years. They broke ground on their new facility at 1251 Triad Village Drive on Dec. 4, 2007, dedicated the Clubhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, and moved in on September 1, 2009. The new facility boasts:
• 6,700 square feet
• completely paid for
• constructed by Precision Builders
• includes: a commercial kitchen, snack bar, dining room, computer lab, conference room, offices for the Clerical Unit,the Kitchen Unit and our Employment & Education Unit.
• space for the Housing work and the Artists Collective.
• 30 members a day attend the Clubhouse; about 90 different members each month
Thunderbird clubhouse continue to make a difference by empowering their members. Below are personal accounts from two of their members:
“I was first diagnosed with mental illness in my early 30s. At first I believed all the bad stuff that everyone was telling me about people with mental illness. I ended up alone and bitter. Then I came to Thunderbird Clubhouse. At first I just sat back and tried to take it all in and that was okay with them. Slowly I started to do things. Now I do so much sometimes that I can’t keep up. Thunderbird Clubhouse gives me a purpose in life. The opportunities the Clubhouse gives me are numerous and purposeful. The work is real and not just work that is meant to keep us busy. The Clubhouse is a very important part of my life. I thank God everyday for the Clubhouse.” Debbie A.
“I love the Clubhouse. As a member, I enjoy the ownership quality of the Clubhouse. Members are motivated and supportive of each other. Staff are very helpful. One quality that sticks in my mind is opportunity. We put members to work, help them return to education, and assist them to continue on their independent living goals. This is truly a positive, wonderful environment. Hail to the Clubhouse!” Brian R.
