Eleanor Owen

rdf:langString Eleanor Owen

rdf:langString Eleanor Owen

rdf:langString Eleanor Owen

rdf:langString Seattle, Washington, U.S.

rdf:langString Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

rdf:langString Eleanor Elizabeth DeVito

rdf:langString Co-founder of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

rdf:langString Professor of Dramatic Arts, mental health professional, theatre actress, journalist

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rdf:langString John Owen

rdf:langString Eleanor Owen (January 22, 1921 – February 6, 2022), also known as Eleanor DeVito, was an American journalist, playwright, university professor, costume designer, theatre actress, and mental health professional. She received statewide and national honors and awards for her advocacy work on behalf of families and individuals with mental illness. Serving as an advocate in Olympia, Washington, Owen participated in the introduction and successful passage of health and human services legislation. In 1978, she founded the Washington Advocates for the Mentally Ill and the following year in Wisconsin, she co-founded the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), which is the largest public initiative in the US that works to support families and individuals facing mental health difficulties. The organization encompasses over 1,200 affiliates at the regional, state, and federal level in every geographical region throughout the US. Offices can also be found in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Canada. In 1999, King County Executive and Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ron Sims, honored her with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the King County Mental Health Exemplary Service Awards. In 2000, she received the Jefferson Award from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for her advocacy work on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

rdf:langString Eleanor Elizabeth DeVito