Becker to speak at Monticello library, March 7

     The Friends of the Monticello Library, Monticello Public Library, and the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition are collaborating to bring in Joan Becker on Tuesday, March 7, at the Monticello Community Building (200 E. Grand St.) at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

     Becker will have books available to purchase and autograph.

     A snow date has been set Thursday, March 9.

     Becker is the author of “Sentenced to Life: The Mark Becker Story—Mental Illness, Tragedy and Transformation.” In her book, she shows how personal family experience served as a catalyst for her to become an advocate and public speaker for individuals with mental illness. Her focus is to open the doors and promote change in Iowa’s mental health system. She and her husband, Dave, believe God wants them to share their family’s story about Mark and the experience their family had of coping with paranoid schizophrenia in the hope that is will help other families, caregivers, and professionals understand how they can make a difference in moving forward and improving Iowa’s mental health system. Their son, Mark Becker, shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg High School Coach Ed Thomas in 2009.