On Tuesday, the Center for Life Experience announced the establishment of the John C. Thorns Jr. Annual Memorial Lecture Series: “Finding Healing and Hope in Western Kansas.”
The event will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus. A reception will follow in the lobby. There is no cost to attend and all are welcome.
The featured presenter will be David Schramm, a Hays native and well-known mental health advocate. Schramm speaks on issues related to overcoming depression and living life fully. He also was a lifelong friend of the late John C. Thorns, a prolific local artist and longtime professor at FHSU, and wanted to honor Thorns’ memory.
Thorns was a founding member of Healing After Loss of Suicide, one of several support groups headed by CFLE, a philanthropic organization based in Hays. Thorns spoke openly about losing his spouse to suicide and the importance of mental health in rural Kansas. He was a Charter Board member for CFLE when it began in 2001 as an Outreach Ministry of the First Presbyterian Church until his death in 2014.
“I am so thankful for the group,” Margaret Schmidt, Thorns’ sister said of the Healing After Loss of Suicide group, “and this group for wanting to do something to keep John’s memory alive.”
Carmen Gerber, a member of Healing After Loss of Suicide, said John Thorns was the “rock” of the group.
“He had really valuable lessons that he taught to all of us,” she said. “He was a really amazing person.”
Thorns’ good friend Mark Hantla said he thought John would be proud the group and the lecture series will be a part of his legacy.
“He loved people, and he wanted to help, and he was a fine example for all of us,” he said.
Blending his own experience, with research on trends at a local and national level, Schramm will bring a message of hope and healing to our community from the unique perspective of one who knows the distinct benefits and real challenges of life in Western Kansas.
Schramm currently serves on the faculty of Stanford University, where he also directs the leadership programming for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars. He holds his doctorate of education from the University of Pennsylvania, his MBA from New York University, and his BFA from Emporia State.
A 1982 graduate and former faculty member at TMP-Marian, he regularly addresses high school and college audiences on a wide range of topics from effective communication to entrepreneurship to making our classrooms and churches more welcoming and inclusive to all.
He openly shares his own story of surviving a near-fatal suicide attempt and moving forward in recovery into a vibrant and full life. Since 2011 David’s TED talk has been viewed more than 1.8 million times. His mission is to elevate and connect individuals and teams to communicate effectively, relate authentically, and embrace life fully.
The November event is sponsored by the FHSU National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus; National Alliance on Mental Illness Hays Affiliate; High Plains Mental Health Center; and FHSU Kelly Center.
Center for Life Experience is a philanthropic opportunity of urgent need for the support of those in grief across Northwest Kansas. Core services include three local support groups: Healing Hearts, supporting those who have experienced the loss of a child; Healing After Loss, supporting adults who have lost someone important to them; and Healing After Loss of Suicide.
Annual events include Avenue of Pinwheels, Healing Kids’ Heart Retreat, and the Longest Night Candlelight Service. To learn more about CFLE or to make a donation, visit www.cflehope.org.