Guest
Dede Ranahan
Dede Ranahan is a mother, grandmother, and long-time mental health advocate who's worn many career hats. In 1982 she authored a book for young girls that won a national award for nonfiction. In 2001 she established the Institute for Mental Illness Education on the Cal State Hayward campus. In 2004 she served as the Walk Director for the first NAMIWALK in San Francisco. From 2007 to 2010, she worked in the NAMI California office as the Policy Director for the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63). Today, in her over-55 community, Dede runs a support group for families who have members coping with serious mental illness. She says, "In trying to help our loved ones, we need help ourselves. We need to know we're not alone."