Congratulations to Lezlee Bertie and Amber Ferrie! On Monday, May 9, the Moorhead City Council and Mayor Shelly Carlson presented them with the MoorHeart award.
Lezlee and Amber are committed to keeping the mental health of Moorhead’s youth strong through their M3 program. Started through Moorhead’s Youth Hockey program, M3 empowers kids to constructively understand and handle personal mental health concerns. Lezlee and Amber encourage everyone in Moorhead to raise awareness, eliminate the stigma, and connect resources for people facing mental health issues. The program is supplemented by other mental health awareness programs and guest speakers and has been utilized by organizations such as the Minnesota Wild and Augsburg University’s hockey program. Through monthly topics including focus, mindfulness, and confidence, Lezlee and Amber created a powerful resource for anyone trying to effectively handle mental health issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the MoorHeart award selection committee thought it especially appropriate that this award go to Lezlee and Amber.
Lezlee and Amber’s nomination includes the following statement:
“Lezlee and Amber have given so much of their time and resources in order to see real results with M3. This program was inspired simply by the fact they wanted to create a healthier community for not just their kids, but all kids. M3 offers support and hosts events throughout the year that bring focus to mental health. They wanted a program to ensure the youth in our community know it’s OK to not be OK and that when it’s not OK, it’s important to talk to someone. Their shared passion for this community, shared love for not just their own kids, but other kids as well, and shared commitment to simply making this community a more mentally healthy place to live demonstrates why they should receive this award. They truly embody what it means to have more heart in Moorhead.”
For all Lezlee and Amber do for Moorhead – and especially for their effort to show others that mental health conversations should not be taboo, but instead welcomed with open arms and listening ears – the MoorHeart selection committee chose Lezlee and Amber to receive the MoorHeart award. Lezlee and Amber are great examples of the MoorHeart way of life. Congratulations to Lezlee and Amber for uplifting our community in such a meaningful and long-lasting way!
The MoorHeart award is an opportunity to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to demonstrate community within our City by their actions and service. A team of volunteers from city boards and commissions selects award recipients. The MoorHeart award is commemorated with a piece of art commissioned from Moorhead-based artist Karman Rheault especially for this purpose.
Information on nominating individuals/organizations for the MoorHeart award can be found here. Contributions large and small are worthy of nomination!
Find out more about M3 here.
(Mayor Shelly Carlson with Lezlee Bertie.)