Our Vision
#WeHealUS started as 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.
#WeHealUS is committed to supporting local, state, and national organizations to achieve success as they respond to the mental health and trauma prevention/intervention needs in our communities. We recognize the overwhelming increase in need across the United States to respond to and prevent mental health crises both at individual and collective levels. #WeHealUS is proud to partner with leading experts in the fields of trauma and mental health, systems change, and strategy execution who perform all duties from a lens of equity and healing. We are thrilled to have the ability to offer custom training and support to help further your organization's efforts in becoming Trauma Informed and Healing Centered services.
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.
Meet Our Founder
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.
Stephanie Thwaites, MBA | (She/Her)
Creative Director
Michigan
Stephanie is a Brand Strategist & Designer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended Davenport University, where she earned her Master of Business Administration degree, specializing in Marketing. Soon after, she founded Maitri Creative, a trailblazing creative agency specializing in strategic brand design. Her work is characterized by being minimalistic and user-centered.
Over the years, she’s had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients in the wellness and travel industrie. She has helped them to develop their brand identities, create engaging content, and build beautiful and functional websites that resonate with their target audience.
In addition to her professional work, Stephanie is also deeply committed to raising awareness about trauma and mental health. She is passionate about helping others to understand the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, and believe that by fostering greater awareness and empathy, we can build more compassionate and resilient societies.
When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures which helps her stay inspired and creative. She documents her travel experiences on social media to inspire others to do the same.
Website: www.maitricreative.com
TikTok: @midwest.bucket.lists
Instagram: @stephieryann
Sarah Herr
Pennsylvania
Sarah Herr graduated from Shippensburg in 2019 with a Major in Communication and Journalism and a Minor in Political Science. Herr currently works in thebehavioral healthcare field and is serving as Business Development Co-Chair for HEAL PA, sits on the board of the Suicide Prevention Alliance, and is a part of various coalitions in Eastern PA. Through both her professional and personal experiences, Herr is driven by the systematic disparities that continually plague our nation. While change does not happen overnight, Herr is committed to creating equitable, sustainable solutions that improve EVERYONE'S collective quality of life. With enthusiasm, passion, and dedication to helping others, Herr is ready to be an effective and engaging servant leader.
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.
Christian Cesaro
Illinois
Christian is a dedicated mental health advocate who began working in the field as a local paramedic. Christian has gained valuable experience and knowledge through his work and personal experiences. He is passionate about using this knowledge to help others, particularly in the areas of behavioral addictions and familial trauma. His goal is to promote a better understanding of mental health issues and to support individuals in their journey toward recovery.
Kristina Manuel
Texas
Kristina is the Founder; Board Chairperson for The Lucky Foundation to empower and embrace the families of fallen United States Military and First Responders. She previously founded charitable events to honor people living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers, and those lost to the disease, while raising funds and awareness to advance the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Kristina also actively pushes forward with volunteer efforts towards causes such as Cajun Navy Ground Force, Autism Awareness, Donate Life America, 7 Cups (an on-demand emotional health service and online therapy provider), as well as ministry work through the American Marriage Ministries (The AMM). She is a commissioned Notary Public in the State of Texas and a member of the National Public Underwriters, Inc.
