About
Our Vision
To provide trauma-informed care and evidenced-based therapeutic services that helps prevent community violence, trauma and supports those who are suffering with grief and loss. Using collaborative community programs that will lead to a safer community and a healthier lifestyle.
Our Guiding Principles to
Trauma Informed Care
Safety
Throughout the organization, staff and the people they serve feel physically and psychologically safe.
Trustworthiness and Transparency
Organizational operations and decisions are conducted with transparency and the goal of building and maintaining trust among staff, clients and family members of those receiving services.
Peer Support and Mutual Self-Help
These are integral to the organizational and service delivery approach and understood as a key vehicle for building trust, establishing safety and empowerment.
Collaboration and Mutuality
There is recognition that healing happens in relationships and in the meaningful sharing of power and decision-making. The organization recognizes that everyone has a role to play in a trauma-informed approach. One does not have to be a therapist to be therapeutic.
Empowerment, Voice and Choice
Organization aims to strengthen the staff, client, and family members' experience of choice and recognizes that every person's experience is unique and requires an individualized approach. This builds on what clients, staff, and communities have to offer, rather than responding to perceived deficits.
Cultural, Historical and Gender Issues
The organization actively moves past cultural stereotypes and biases, offers culturally responsive services, leverages the healing value of traditional cultural connections, and recognizes and addresses historical trauma.
Leslie Smith - Founder/Executive Director
Leslie has retired from a long standing clinical atmosphere serving clients who underlying trauma issues while working in the capacity of a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Intensive Outpatient Program Director from 2000-2014. She holds a Bachelors in Psychology, a Masters in Social Work and several other Practioner Certifications. Leslie was a grantee for the Urbana Arts & Culture program for her business called "Black Voices Theater Production " using the cultural arts platform to help alleviate violence in our community from 2019-2021. She serves on the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center Board of Directors since 2019 and served as Programming Co-chair as well as currently a committee member of WRFU 104.5 FM radio where she hosted her own show called "WORD UP " featuring Spoken Word Artist. Today she is passionate about pulling all of her experiences and talents together to continue fighting to help our community impacted by violence and trauma by promoting healing and hope for a safer and healthier community.
Meet Our Team
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Sam Smith - Board Member
Sam Smith is a long-standing member of the Champaign Urbana community. He is the father of three children.
Sam has an M.S.W. from the University of Illinois School of Social Work, and he has worked with youth and families in schools and community organizations for many years. In recent years Sam has developed an interest in juvenile justice programs, wraparound practice, arts-based community development, and anti-violence initiatives.
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Beverly Palmer - Executive Assistant
Beverly Palmer, the Executive Assistant to the Director and
the Board of Directors for the Non-Profit Organization Trauma
Survivors Heal 2. Beverly is a resident of Champaign, Illinois, and her Alma Mater is Eastern Illinois University (EIU). Her personal and
professional goals are to record her first gospel song and earn a
Masters Degree in Counseling. She is very proud to be the coordinator
of “Stop the Gun Violence Back to School Community Intervention
Event” sponsored by the Wayne McClain Pipeline Foundation. Her
hobbies include singing, traveling, and spending time with family. -
Elder Romie Hunter - Board Member
Elder Romie Hunter has lived in the Champaign-Urbana community most of his life. He currently has been an Associate Minister at Morningstar Freewill Baptist Church for the past 17 years. He has been retired but has been working closely with the youth at Morningstar Freewill Baptist Church as well as in the community. His desire is to try and reach our youths who have been impacted by gun violence.
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Tonia Ross - Board Member
Tonia Ross is a mother of three, a grandmother of four who retired from the Title and Banking industries. She attended Slippery Rock State College along with Riverside community college. She has been an advocate for at-risk youth for personal development. She was an educator of coordinating programs of personal enhancement developments where they gain skills to alternative violence and become productive members of society. In her spare time, she loves helping others and interior decorating along with crafting and spending time with her family.
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Cassandra Bryant - Board Member
Being on the Board of Directors of Trauma Survivor Heal 2, Gives me an opportunity to come face-to-face with other individuals, families, and children that maybe still dealing with Trauma. There are all types of violence that cause trauma that’s sometimes too difficult to deal with alone. Great News!!!! We’re here to Help!!! Experiencing Trauma firsthand gives me the chance to help others like myself. Put a Voice to the Face of Trauma & Violence.
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Kwenton Palmer-Smith - Board of Directors
I serve on the Board of Directors with "Trauma Survivors Heal 2 Inc, as it affords me the opportunity to share my business experiences and learn the inner workings of a non-profit organization. I also believe that the violence and trauma that impacts our youth needs to be addressed by a trauma-informed care approach through a safe, holistic and therapeutic environment of which we provide.
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Tammy Little - Case Manager
I am a mother of two children and a grandmother of two. I also have a fur baby Milo who is my daily companion, and walking buddy.
I earn my MSP and MSAJS at the University of Phoenix. I have worked in some workshops with youths from 9 to 13 and found it to be a rewarding experience.
I am looking forward to in using the Trauma Informed Care, which promotes safety, empowerment, and healing for all those that come through our doors.
As a trauma survivor myself working as a case manager up close and personal with our clients, I can empathize and use all tools to ensure that all those walking through the doors of Trauma Survivors Heal 2 will find a safe environment to learn valuable tools to cope with his or her trauma.
