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EQUITY. OPPORTUNITY.FOR ALL.

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WINTER 2020

EQUITY. OPPORTUNITY. FOR ALL.HEARTLAND ALLIANCE NEWS

HEARTLAND ALLIANCEEQUITY. OPPORTUNITY. FOR ALL.

Dear Friends —

As we work to create a more just world, Heartland Alliance remains deeply committed to serving individuals who are most marginalized in society. And if there is one thing about which we are certain, it is that the people we serve—whether it is a 23-year-old man from Englewood, a family in Madison experiencing chronic homelessness, or a child who arrives in our shelters on their journey to safety in the U.S.—have endured significant and repeated exposure to trauma.

In order to serve them best, we lead with a trauma-informed approach in all that we do. For us, being trauma-informed means that we recognize the signs of trauma and practice out of a shared understanding of its impact. We infuse this knowledge throughout our programs and policy efforts, so that we are actively decreasing the possibility of re-traumatization.

Through the stories of our participants in this newsletter, you will learn more about who Heartland Alliance is. We meet people where they are, how they are. No judgment. You’ll read how Adriana learned she was not alone on her journey towards healing, while Luz learned that coping and healing from trauma represents courage, not shame.

This is what equity and opportunity looks like. Together, let’s celebrate and support individuals’ perseverance, healing, and growth.

Evelyn Diaz, President

HEALING FROM TRAUMA

From Iraq to Chicago, our commitment to trauma- informed care undergirds all of our programs. For participants at our Manuel Saura Center, an alternative to detention for young people involved with the juvenile justice system, our trauma- informed approach can change the trajectory of their lives.

When a judge chose to send Marquis to the Saura Center, we provided access to social workers who made sure he was going to school and following through on his responsibilities. He had the opportunity to speak with a clinician about his feelings and further opened up in group sessions with peers. He spoke with counselors who helped him see a path toward excellence.

This past summer, Marquis worked two different summer jobs while home from college. Now entering his sophomore year, it’s time for him to choose a major. He and his mom talked a lot about becoming a counselor or social worker, like the team at the Saura Center.

“The kids who can make it to the Saura Center have a much better chance of succeeding. That’s something I’m forever grateful for,” said Shanita, Marquis’s mom.

Read more about those we serve: HEARTLANDALLIANCE.ORG/STORIES

Providing A Hopeful Alternative

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my counselor told me I had a right to feel this way. When I walked out the door, I felt lighter.”

For Luz, healing means achieving a confidence and sense of self-worth she lost long ago–and it is already growing. Whenever she hears someone shaming or stigmatizing therapy, she shares her experiences and tries to shed light.

“The trauma I’ve been through is like a wound on my body, and this therapy has helped stitch the wound–helped the wound heal. I feel like everyone needs to go.”Luz says now is the first time she hasn’t been afraid, the first time she’s confident she’ll be okay no matter what. Those feelings are vital to healing, and we strive to help every participant we serve find this courage within themselves.

Healing Is The Universal GoalTrauma is one of the most powerful forces in nature–changing our thoughts, our behavior, our lives. In our quest for equity and opportunity for all, Heartland Alliance is dedicated to helping people understand and heal from trauma, build resilience, and restore hope.

For Adriana, a participant of our Marjorie Kovler Center, which is dedicated to supporting survivors of torture, healing is a lifelong process. A survivor of the Guatemalan Civil War, Adriana lost countless family and friends.

“Those are the years of the massacres, of disappearances. We saw horrible things every day.”

When Adriana found the Kovler Center, therapy was a brand new experience. It was the first time she felt safe enough to share such unimaginable trauma with others willing to listen.

“We got together to cry, scream, to let out everything. This is a community of all kinds of healers willing to accompany survivors through the difficult process of learning to live.”With that support, Adriana found her path toward healing. That path does not require letting go or forgetting. Instead, it provides space to be vulnerable and rebuild. That space is sacred, and we try to create it for everyone we serve –including for Luz, a participant at our Violence Recovery Services (VRS) program.

A survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, and ICE incarceration, Luz’s complex traumas have led to panic attacks and anxiety. She experienced suicidal thoughts regularly. VRS provides free mental health services in Spanish, a unique service in the southwest side of Chicago. Luz recognized the power of the place on her very first visit.

“In my community, people make me feel ashamed of how I feel. But