WORTHINGTON — Unspoken Truth has partnered with University of Minnesota Extension to bring a Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) facilitator training to Worthington. The training will be from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at Phileo’s Coffee and Eatery, 212 10th St.
is required.
A COMET facilitator is able to help people learn ways to start supportive and emotional conversations, which can help a struggling person move away from crisis and back toward wellness.
It becomes a full circle that you almost want to do it to help the community, but you in turn find something so much more for yourself at the same time.
Mark Stewart
While attending a COMET facilitator training in Rochester, Mark Stewart, leader of Unspoken Truth, recognized many familiar faces in the room, which, to him, was a problem.
“We need more educators in our area. All facilitators’ education happens in Rochester, it happens in Minneapolis, it happens away from the Worthington area. All of our certificates that we have achieved, we have all been sent somewhere else to the class time,” he said. “The frustration arose because I was looking around and I’m like, well, they’re from Nobles County, they’re from Jackson, they’re from Cottonwood. I said, ‘Why are we all in Rochester instead of bringing trainings here, facilitating them here, we have enough people.’”
Stewart’s hope is that this training grows from one to several across the area. Each individual that attends the training will become a certified COMET facilitator and can then begin facilitating their own trainings, and it can spread from there.
“This is a new approach that we’re finally being able to do by giving the community the same education and same opportunities that each professional has to be able to do more and feel confident in doing it,” Stewart said.
Attendees will have continued access to the educational materials from the training, as well as access to other certified trainers.
“They’ll not only gain the certificate, but they’re going to also gain support for their self in their journey as well,” Stewart said. “It becomes a full circle that you almost want to do it to help the community, but you in turn find something so much more for yourself at the same time.”
Stewart spoke of his own experience, having struggled with addiction for 18 years and going through treatment and recovery.
“In a sense, I knew a lot of the material,” he said. “The part that made my arm hair stand up is when I looked around the room (at the COMET training), there were parents. There were teachers. There were individuals from all walks of life … It changed my perception, like this needs to be brought back. This needs to be everywhere.”
The training can benefit everyone, Stewart said, “especially in the world today.”
People need human connection and to feel validated, he said. The COMET training teaches how to connect with others and be able to ask, “Are you OK?”
Stewart said he and his team are excited to bring the event to Worthington.
“We’ve never had an opportunity to become trainers. We never had an opportunity to be on the other side of the table. We’ve always received the help,” he said. “We actually have other things to give and these certificates and (events) we’re offering like COMET, it shows that we have lived experience … and that we can be there for one another.”
In addition to the COMET training on Saturday, Unspoken Truth’s Peer Support Motivational Speaker Gunner Beckering will lead a mixed genre music show from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at Forbidden Barrel Brewery, 900 Third Ave., Worthington. It’s free entry, though there will be a donation box. All proceeds will go toward Unspoken Truth’s Lighting of the Lanterns this summer.
Genres include hip-hop, pop, acoustic and ukulele.
“I kind of mix my motivational speaking with my music,” Beckering said. “I’ve been through a lot myself along with Mark. I lost my mom to suicide when I was 18 … I’ve conquered a meth addiction that had me gripped for about six years, but now I’m nine years clean.
“You got to be there for one another,” he continued. “My goal is to make sure that the people around in my environment know there are options and know there are resources. And on top of that, there are people who care, because to me, this isn’t like a business at all. I care straight from my heart because I’ve been there.”
Going by the artist name Just Gunner, Beckering said he doesn’t think anybody needs to let their past define them.
“I was an abuser in a previous relationship and I’ve taken a lot of time and effort to reconstruct my mentality on how I react to situations, because I let my anger be my king,” he said. “Tell people to not let their anger be their king and not let their anger guide their decisions.”