January 22 To Be Designated “HI, HOW ARE YOU?” Day In Austin

Awareness for citywide neighbor-to-neighbor mental well-being check-in highlighted by a night of music and art

AUSTIN, TEXAS – January 19, 2018 – The City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division, within the Economic Development Department, is partnering with “Hi, How Are You?,” SIMS Foundation and Mohawk, to bring a night of music and art celebrating mental wellness at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 22 at Mohawk, 912 Red River St.

“Hi, How Are You?” Day, will be officially proclaimed by Mayor Steve Adler on January 22, and will serve to remind citizens of Austin to check on their friends and neighbors’ mental health and offer assistance and resources, if needed.

The line-up for the event will also include performances by Moving Panoramas (featuring Laurie Gallardo), Kathy McCarty, Cowboy Diplomacy, Jane Ellen Bryant, Will Courtney, Josh T. Pierson & Jonathan Terrell with Leslie Sisson, and special guests. The musicians will perform select songs written by Daniel Johnston, as well as their own original music. The event and music starts at 8:00 p.m. with a VIP reception preceding.

“Hi, How Are You?” Day is the brainchild of Courtney Blanton and Tom Gimbel, co-founders of the aptly named “Hi, How Are You?” Foundation that promotes togetherness and education around mental well-being. It derives its name from the beloved Austin frog, “Jeremiah the Innocent”, famously painted on the corner of Guadalupe and 21^st Street by singer-songwriter and visual artist Daniel Johnston. Johnston’s own mental health issues have long been chronicled and serve as inspiration to the music community and beyond that mental wellness can be a challenge for all of us and we need to check our mental health just like we get a physical at the doctor.

Tickets and more information can be obtained at:
http://eventbrite.com/e/hi-how-are-you-day-a-celebration-of-music-art-and-community-mohawk-tickets-41472988826

The event recognizes individuals who have struggled with depression and anxiety throughout their lives to create a platform where leaders in the field of mental health come together to exchange ideas and foster positive change.

The “Hi, How Are You?” (HHAY) Foundation was created to generate new conversation around mental well-being. The name and city-proclaimed HHAY Day were inspired by Austin’s love for the iconic mural painted by Daniel Johnston. On January 22^nd (Johnston’s birthday) Austinites are encouraged to check in on a neighbor, friend, co-worker, family member, or loved one and ask, “Hi, How Are You?”. The Foundation, created with the support of the Johnston Family, provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and education on mental well-being. Johnston is a world-renowned musician and visual artist despite his own struggles with mental illness.  www.hihowareyou.org

The SIMS Foundation provides mental health and addiction recovery services to Austin musicians, music industry professionals, and their family members. SIMS was founded in 1995 to treat the Austin music family with high quality, low-barrier to entry mental health services for depression, anxiety, stage fright, alcohol and chemical substance use disorders, trauma, and other mental health issues. More information about SIMS Foundation, www.simsfoundation.org.

The ATX Music Office within the Economic Development Department is an economic development accelerator and centralized resource center for Austin’s music industry, and an active community partner for Austin’s citizens, community groups, and neighborhoods. More information can be found at, www.atxmusic.org.