Last weekend, dozens of affiliate leaders from around the state gathered for a weekend-long retreat at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn southeast of Asheville. Beyond its natural beauty and quaint shops, Lake Lure is best known as one of the sites where the 1980s classic film Dirty Dancing was filmed.

Sponsored by the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities & Substance Abuse Services through a federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Fund, the retreat was designed to allow leaders from around NAMI North Carolina to come together for personal reflection, education, and networking.

The retreat was ably led by Katie Weeks, a senior advisor at Armstrong McGuire, a well-respected firm that provides leadership development and recruiting assistance to nonprofits across the state and beyond. Katie had the crowd laughing, singing, thinking, and best of all, connecting.