Our Journey
Founded in Greater Chicago, WeHealUS emerged from the state trauma and mental health reform movement that had been building in Illinois for decades. After a series of successful healing-centered reform actions, support from partners across the United States led to the coordination of the first WeHealUS May Mental Health and Trauma Awareness Campaign.
The success of its first campaign launched WeHealUS into the national spotlight, becoming an organization that now provides support at the individual and collective levels that promote healing-centered reform throughout the United States.
Our Vision
WeHealUS, a grassroots initiative, celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month in May by highlighting efforts nationwide to build resilience and healing through trauma-informed and healing-centered policies. We recognize the need for informed relationships to foster resilience and support organizations across the U.S. in addressing mental health and trauma prevention/intervention.
WeHealUS is committed to meeting the increasing demand for mental health solutions and collaborates with leading experts in trauma, systemic change, and equity to offer customized training and support. Our goal is to empower organizations to become more trauma-informed and healing-centered.
Meet Our Team
Along with our partners that volunteer their time from their organizations, WeHealUS has individuals across the country that volunteer their time and expertise as well. We are grateful for their time and passion towards the movement!
Heather Proctor
Founder & CEO
Heather Proctor is the President and CEO of WeHealUS. Heather is a passionate advocate who believes that connection is a vital component to the human experience. She has dedicated her life to serving others in a variety of capacities including consulting for businesses, marketing, health and wellness and life. Her professional experience includes over 18 years in operations, management, human resources, finance, communications, marketing, and through a variety of sectors including not for profit, public, private and government.
Heather’s advocacy work includes homelessness, mental health, and trauma informed awareness. Her life experiences, leadership, out of the box approach to strategy and desire to help others has transcended through fundraising, events, and numerous awareness efforts including spearheading an initiative for Illinois to continue to move towards becoming a trauma informed state and one of the first healing centered states through resolution SR0301.
Heather’s advocacy reach includes municipal, state, and national efforts and her unique background led her to start WeHealUS grassroots, free marketing campaign for May’s Mental Health and Trauma Awareness month. This unique campaign has helped remove the siloed approach and stigma to mental health and trauma informed awareness by creating public/private partnerships across multiple sectors including nonprofits, healthcare, and government by providing free resources to individuals and businesses on a local, state, and national level.
Jazmin Lopez, MA, CDVP
WeHealUS Ambassador 2025
Illinois
Jazmin Lopez is a dedicated advocate with nearly two decades of experience in legal services, nonprofit management, domestic violence intervention, and mental health advocacy. She holds a BA in Legal Studies from Dominican University and an MA in Human Services from Concordia University Chicago. As an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional, she has worked extensively to support survivors through crisis intervention, advocacy, and education. She has developed and facilitated domestic violence education programs, co-created life skills initiatives, and conducted outreach to increase awareness and accessibility of resources for survivors.
In addition to her work in domestic violence advocacy, Jazmin is deeply committed to mental health awareness and accessibility. She has led initiatives to expand mental health education, increase community engagement, and improve service accessibility for underserved populations. She is Mental Health First Aid trained in both adult and youth interventions and has worked to bridge gaps in care by fostering partnerships between service providers, policymakers, and local organizations.
Jazmin is passionate about empowering individuals impacted by domestic violence and mental health challenges, working to break cycles of abuse and stigma through education, prevention, and policy change. She is committed to strengthening community partnerships and ensuring that individuals and families have access to the support and resources they need to thrive. Through her leadership, advocacy, and dedication, she continues to drive meaningful change in both the domestic violence and mental health fields.
Dr. Maryann McEvoy, EdD
WeHealUS Ambassador 2025
Pennsylvania
Maryann is an executive leader with over 20 years of experience advocating for vulnerable populations. She has dedicated her studies and professional career to humanitarian and educational programming, beginning her work in the classroom. Maryann has proven success in the development, management, and evaluation of programs dedicated to the protection and empowerment of women, children, and individuals with disabilities. After spending 10 years in the classroom working with students with I/DD, Autism, and Multiple Disabilities, she worked in various developing countries with a focus on creating inclusive educational programs. Maryann has experience as an advisor for educational programs in Africa, Asia, South America, and Latin America. Maryann has extensive experience in humanitarian leadership, advocacy, education, communications, and strategic planning. She has worked in a variety of contexts including state government, nonprofit leadership, and the United Nations. Most recently, Maryann served as the Child Advocate for Pennsylvania under Governor's Tom Wolf and Governor Josh Shapiro. Maryann is an elected member of the Executive Steering Council of HEAL PA, a coalition of close to 300 trauma experts within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania working to implement the Trauma Informed PA Plan and a co-chair for the Prevent Child Abuse America Pennsylvania Chapter. She is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's in special education, New York University with a master's in international development, and Drexel University with a Doctorate in Education and Global Advocacy.
Collin Wood Perdew | (She/Her)
Creative Director/Brand Strategist
Wisconsin
Collin is a branding and retail strategy consultant with over a decade of experience and a strong background in design and omnichannel integration. She specializes in creating cohesive brand experiences across multiple platforms, driving growth, and increasing customer loyalty.
She believes in a holistic approach to branding, where every visual element and customer interaction is meticulously crafted to tell a cohesive brand story. Her belief has enabled her to work with a wide range of clients from PGA Professionals in the golf industry and celebrity brands to small retailers just starting out.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Collin is dedicated to elevating the conversation around trauma and mental health, driven by her personal journey as a survivor of a house fire, which led her to experience PTSD. She understands firsthand the profound effects trauma can have on both individuals and communities and is passionate about educating others on the importance of recognizing trauma's impacts.Today, Collin continues to inspire change and drive success for a diverse array of clients. Whether reimagining an established brand or launching a new retail concept, her blend of creativity and strategic insight helps businesses not just meet but exceed their goals in the digital age.
Yulieanna Hernandez
Illinois
Hi! My name is Yulieanna. I graduated from DePaul University with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Digital Marketing. I work full-time for a land trust company assisting their marketing and customer service team. I’ve recently begun helping organizations with their social media marketing as a side job. Outside of work I enjoy dancing, traveling, and spending time with family.
Our Story
Prolonged exposure to adversity, stress, and trauma - particularly in early childhood - can cause lasting harm and contribute to some of our nation's most pressing social and health challenges. When trauma becomes a normal part of life, or embedded in communities, it can destroy hope, making the change process even more difficult, and collaborative transformation is needed at every level of society – in policy, systems, communities, families, and individuals.
#WeHealUS is a grassroots campaign that honors May as Mental Health Awareness Month by amplifying the hard work of individuals, organizations, and local/state governments building resilience and healing. Nationwide, more states and municipalities are embracing trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices because resilience grows through healthy and informed relationships
Learn how the movement for a trauma-informed and healing-centered Illinois has been building for decades.
Explore the strategies Pennsylvania’s counties, communities, neighborhoods, businesses, and homes are working together to heal trauma.
Check out New Jersey's coordinated, cross-sector, and statewide response to prevent and mitigate the lasting effects of ACEs on children’s health and well-being.
Explore Virginia's "Resilience Week," which features events, resources, and more to help provides a sense of hope and a renewed commitment to compassion and connection toward a more resilient future.
