Artist

Chih-Jou Cheng is a Chicago-based movement artist and puppeteer originally from Taiwan where she studied Community Theatre & Theatre in education. She is dedicated to creating artworks that illuminate the challenges and joys of the human experience through collaborative physical theatre. She is the co-founder of Dawn Theatre Project and has performed with Drury Lane, Teatro Vista, and other Chicago theatre companies. You can find more of her work at chihjou-cheng.com

Artist

Natalia Cuevas is a Mexican American artist, educator, and mentor, based in the city of Chicago and actively working towards building community, bridging cultures, and supporting youth through art based learning. My creative practice is deeply rooted in my experiences growing up in Chicago with undocumented parents and draws from traditional Mexican iconography, folklore, and family stories of migration. Through interactive, immersive, and collaborative projects, I aim to cultivate spaces for community building and create platforms for storytelling as a form of celebration and healing.

Artist

Leyda “Lady Sol” Garcia is a proud XICANA and Chicago native who is globally recognized as a teaching artist, creative director, and street dance practitioner. She is a Co-Founder of Kuumba Lynx, Chicago's first all woman led Hip-Hip arts organization and a proud 3Arts Chicago Award winner. Lady Sol is a self- proclaimed “Professor of Practice” who has taught street dance workshops at Columbia College, Harvard U, Stanford U, and U of C.

Artist

Jewel Hale is an interdisciplinary artist from Chicago, Illinois. She obtained her BA in theater studies from Northern Illinois University, received her MA in interdisciplinary arts from Columbia College Chicago, and her MS in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University. She is a certified wellness, SEL, and yoga instructor. She has been writing and performing professionally since 2012.

Artist

As an international DJ, musician, composer, anthropologist, ethnomusicologist, label owner, videographer, Qi Gong instructor, humanitarian, pro-activist, healer, sound scientist and Audio PharmacologistTM, Shannon explores obscure territories, regions, genres, styles, and traditions through his work in the Healing Arts. Receiving a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Music as Wellness certificate from the Berklee College of Music, his work bridges the dualities of unconventional futurism and indigenous traditionalism using sound energy. His journey in the fields of art, music, science, and research spans four decades, six continents, and numerous cultural and spiritual traditions.

Artist

1st Gen Chicano and a Chicago native. As a CPS student, he discovered his passion for the Arts in afterschool programs such as After School Matters. Today he is a professional artist, activist, and photographer with a passion for teaching. He believes in the power of art for personal transformation and building community.

Artist

Nile Lansana is an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist from the South Side of Chicago. His work is centered around revealing radical truths and amplifying marginalized voices and narratives through a lens of Black imagination and visionary intention. He’s just trying to be even better than he was the last time!

Artist

Shalom is first and foremost a person. One who loves people and loves making art, specifically ceramics, she is also an abolitionist and invested in her community. One of the ways that she has used those passions is through becoming an art therapist and LPC at Chicago Torture Justice Center and working with people who have been tortured by the police.

Artist

Mecca Perry is a Certified Sound Meditation Facilitator, Founder of Elevated Mediation Studio, Wellness Podcaster, and Wellness Event Professional. She weaves her background in event production/culinary with modern and ancient wellness practices, all in the service of others. Mecca’s mission is to create bespoke sacred experiences that transform her clients' experience of themselves and the world. After a decade-long meditation practice, Mecca turned her passion into service. She completed over 300 hours of Sound and Meditation Training in Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Tempe, AZ and Auroville, India.

Artist

“I am happy, healthy and healed.” This mantra is the foundation for my work in my community, Chicago, and beyond. I am a motivator! I am an educator and I am a coach. Through physical movement, mindfulness and gratitude work, I touch, move and inspire young people and adults to discover their best selves so they can live happy, healthy and healed lifestyles. My name is Erica Marie Serrano or Coach Erica Marie! My certifications are in Yoga, Personal Training, and Wellness.

Lead Project Administrator, DCASE, Leadership Team

Meida Teresa McNeal is Senior Manager of Art & Community Impact Investments with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. In this role, she designs and implements artist recovery programs and creative placemaking grantmaking initiatives. She received her PhD in Performance Studies (Northwestern) and her MFA in Choreography & Dance History (Ohio State). She is also Artistic and Managing Director of Honey Pot Performance. Awards include an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in New Performance Forms, Field Foundation’s Leaders for a New Chicago, 3Arts Award in Dance, Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist, and the Links’ Hall Co-Missions Fellowship.

Healing Arts Chicago Cohort Coordinator

Pascale Ife Williams, PhD is a cultural organizer, educator, disruptor, healing justice practitioner, and community scholar. Ife is a Chicago native with over 15 years of experience in justice-driven arts and community-engaged work that explores and engages racial, gender, and wellness equity. She invites communities to co-design their realities through radical imagination, strategic visioning, and creative healing practices.

Director, Greater Grand Mental Health Clinic and Englewood Mental Health Clinic

Stephanie Jones-Horne holds the position of Director at two mental health clinics in Chicago: The Greater Grand Mental Health Clinic on the Southeast side and the Englewood Mental Health Clinic on the Southside. Stephanie is new to her role within the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), but brings a wealth of experience in behavioral health and program management from her tenure at various organizations.

A native of Chicago's Southside, Stephanie's academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Human Services and Psychology from the University of Iowa. She furthered her education by earning a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University, along with a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Currently, Stephanie is pursuing her Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Despite her transition to leadership, Stephanie remains deeply committed to mental health advocacy. She continues to channel her passion by teaching a Trauma-Informed Mentoring course to at-risk youth as part of a violence prevention program.

Creative Producer, Healing Arts Chicago

Asad Ali Jafri is a cultural producer, community organizer and interdisciplinary artist. Using a grassroots approach and global perspective, Asad connects artists and communities across imagined boundaries to create meaningful engagements and experiences. Asad has over two decades of experience honing an intentional and holistic practice that allows him to take on the role of artist and administrator, curator and producer, educator and organizer, mentor and strategist.

Asad’s latest work includes directing the Words, Beats & Life Festival, co-founding SpaceShift Collective and producing Listening While Muslim.

Director, Greater Lawn Mental Health Clinic

Dr. Rodriguez is the director of the Greater Lawn clinic located in the southwest side of the city of Chicago close to Midway airport. Dr. Rodriguez has been with CDPH for over two decades. First as a clinical therapist and now as part of the leadership team in the mental health bureau. Dr. Rodriguez obtained his master’s in counseling psychology and his Doctorate in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Rodriguez was born in Mexico and immigrated to the States at age 17.

Director of Mental Health, North Lawndale & North River North Mental Health Clinics

Kadijat Alaka is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, who recently transitioned into leadership as the Director of Mental Health for two City of Chicago operated clinics (North Lawndale MHC & North River MHC). In this role, she oversees mental health and administrative professionals, while upholding her commitment to helping persons suffering from mental health conditions cultivate meaningful life experiences. Kadijat obtained her master’s degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University, currently known as the Illinois School of Psychology. In 2013, she began her career in community Counseling at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, where she learned the fundamentals in working with clients who suffer from severe mental health diagnosis. She then went on to work with NAMI Chicago as a Recovery Manager for the In-Home Recovery Team, a program created by the State of Illinois for the Williams Consent decree. After that, Kadijat worked at Compass Health as a trauma therapist before transitioning into the Clinical Therapist III position with the City of Chicago in 2019.

Assistant Commissioner of Mental Health, Chicago Department of Public Health

Alisha Warren, LCSW, is the Assistant Commissioner of Mental Health with CDPH, overseeing Clinical Mental Health services and the CARE team. With over 15 years of experience as a practicing social worker, she creates sustainable, holistic programs that promote physical health, mental wellness, joy, and community, valuing collaboration for optimal wellness.

Healing Arts Chicago Fellow

Lee Nah is an Obama-Chesky Voyager and Beinecke Scholar triple majoring in psychology, gender and sexuality studies, and studio art at Kenyon College. Raised in Chicago, she previously served on the Mayor’s Youth Commission, collaborating with City of Chicago leadership to propose and implement solutions that advance mental health equity for youth. Lee is committed to studying how art fosters cultural connections and holistic well-being in communities of color through feminist praxis.