On Jan. 30,  Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launched the Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force (HCITF) at Governors State University. 

The HCITF was created by a 2020 Illinois Senate bill. It is designed to unite community members and find positive outcomes for trauma survivors. After the launch, the task force held its first official meeting in Engbretson Hall. 

GSU President Cheryl Green introduced Stratton and welcomed guest speakers and attendees to the event. “Thank you so much for recognizing Governors State University as an integral part of this initiative,” Green said. “When we lift each other up, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Thank you for letting me share a glimpse into the transformative work happening here at Gov. State. I look forward to building on our progress together.”

Stratton expressed her excitement for the launch and told the audience that she was also a trauma survivor. The HCITF will make Illinois “a little bit wiser, more trauma-informed, healing-centered state,” Stratton said. “I understand that harm is not only done by individuals one to another but harm is also done by communities, to communities by systems of power.

“This harm is too often generational. It’s cyclical, and it is perpetuated when we fail to be intentional about healing these harms. The Illinois Healing Center Task Force aims to coordinate existing projects, identify the impact of intergenerational trauma to develop preventive solutions and viable resources, and facilitate broader community engagement. Our goal is to restructure how trauma-informed and healing-centered principles are applied to the policymaking process.”

The panel of speakers that followed Stratton shared their experiences and support. Many of the emotional testimonies highlighted the need for the HCITF.

The entire program can be viewed on the Gov St. YouTube channel. To learn more about the function of the HCITF, board members, and composition, visit their webpage.