>> ... Next Generation ...

Fighting Stereotypes

Art event to raise awareness
of eating disorders.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL I MANAGING EDITOR

A

rt has always been a way for Samara Johnson, 23, to express herself
and show people how she feels. Now, she's using art as a way to raise
awareness of eating disorders and fight the stereotypes associated
with them.
Johnson is director of development of the Inner Door Foundation, the
nonprofit arm of the Royal Oak-based Inner Door Center, which helps those
who've struggled with eating disorders reconnect with food. She's organizing a
fundraiser called the Stereotype Event that will showcase Detroit artists at the
Detroit Opera House on June 14 from 6:30-11 p.m.
The venue is near and dear to her heart. Her grandparents, Margo and the
late Maurice Cohen, helped to fund renovations to the venerable building.
Her mission is threefold: to raise awareness of the foundation, educate the
public on eating disorders and shine the spotlight on local artists in Detroit. The
event — not your typical art show — features jazz artist Marcus Belgrave, a
silent auction, strolling cocktails and appetizers, and a DJ later in the evening.
Tickets are $125 for the full evening, $250 for benefactors and $50 for the
after-hours event featuring the DJ. Corporate sponsors include Quicken Loans
and Camp Tanuga.
"I want to break down the stigmas related to eating disorders through art
and coming together in a positive
way," Johnson said. "I want
people to realize that it's OK to
talk about this problem."

A Misunderstood Illness

A lot of stereotypes are associated
with eating disorders, but eating
disorders don't just affect models,
cheerleaders and sorority co-eds.
More people than most realize
-
are affected by this mental ill-
ness, some 24 million, according
to the latest statistics — from
the extremes of anorexia and
bulimia to overeating and obses-
Samara Johnson at the Detroit Opera House
sion with food and weight.
"That's why I chose
'Stereotypes' for the name of the
event," Johnson said. "It affects men, all races, all ages. I'm trying to show people
that there are many different kinds of eating disorders and those who suffer from
'disordered eating.' Our culture's way of relating to food could really use some help."
Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, she says,
and most health insurance plans do not cover treatment, which can cost $30,000 per
month for in-patient care.
Those who suffer from the illness cannot will themselves to recover without medical
treatment.
"Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, you always have to eat," Johnson says. "The
problem isn't just about food. It goes much deeper, and recovery requires a lot of self-
discovery and therapy. It's not as simple as telling someone to 'just start eating. —

A Personal Journey

Johnson was a 12-letter athlete in high school at Cranbrook Kingswood. "Being good
wasn't good enough for me. I was an overachiever," she says.
She started out trying to get into prime physical shape and went overboard. "I was

42

never emaciated, but I was
malnourished. You couldn't
tell from looking at me that
I had a problem. Nobody
knew the pain I was in once
the disease took over," she
says. "It became harder to
do everything in my life."
Johnson describes the
disease as "living in a fog —
only I didn't realize things
were foggy until I got help."
Her parents saw her
struggle and realized
something was wrong. "They
were supportive and didn't
give up on me," she says.
During her sophomore
year at Michigan State,
Johnson finally admitted that
she needed help. She went
into an in-house treatment
center.
"I was so fortunate that
I was able to go there —
everyone should be so
lucky," she says. "I learned
how to be healthy, learned
Above:
about myself, had therapy
Shattered Reality by Samara
with my family. I relearned
how to live and how to eat.
Johnson is one of many pieces of
I would never have gotten
art that will be auctioned to help
better
without it."
raise awareness of eating disorders.
She returned to school
and switched her major to
art, which led to her job at
Inner Door where she helps
recovering patients with art therapy. "Coming back was one of the
hardest things, but I had a support team and still do," says Johnson.

Creating Change

Although Johnson was lucky enough to get the treatment she needed, most people
with eating disorders struggle even to go to outpatient treatment for a week.
She's been working with the Eating Disorder Coalition to help make policy changes
that will improve insurance benefits for those affected by the disease. Information
about their efforts will be handed out at the Stereotype event.
Some of the money raised at the event will go toward making those changes a
reality. The rest will go toward assisting patients and creating an educational network,
including going into local schools to educate teenagers.
"We want people to know that eating disorders are a mental illness, caused by
chemical changes in the brain, and there is a way out."1___

For more information about the June 14th event, and to see the
artwork available for sale, visit Stereotype-eventcom or call (248)
336-2868.