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Jazmin Lopez ’14 is living ���Ĺ���’s social justice mission each day.

As executive director of the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission, she is a voice for the region’s most vulnerable citizens, ensuring all have equitable access to the services they need.

The commission, which serves 17 municipalities in Cook County, is funded through property-tax dollars and, in turn, distributes this funding to social service organization partners. These organizations assist Lyons Township residents with mental health needs, substance use disorders and intellectual disabilities.

“My job is to make sure I am advocating for the community, being fiscally responsible and helping our community leaders gain the necessary skills to support these residents and treat them with dignity,” Lopez explained.

The commission has disbursed more than $100 million toward supportive services for township residents since its creation in 1972.

Lopez joined the Mental Health Commission in 2021 as an administrative assistant overseeing office operations. She took on the executive director role in December 2023.

Her degree in legal studies from ���Ĺ��� laid the groundwork for much of the work she does today, Lopez says. “I am able to understand legislative matters, I create funding contracts and I analyze data,” she explained. “There’s so much I do as far as advocacy work, and all these are skills I learned in the legal studies program.”

She’s also helped to expand the commission’s outreach, involvement and promotion throughout Lyons Township— all while following its vision of fostering a trauma-informed and healing-centered community.

“My passion is here and it shows through my work,” Lopez noted. “I’m confident of what the commission is doing and that it has been able to accomplish so much in such a short time since I became director. I want to lead the way for young women—and young Latina women. You’ll have to work hard, but you can do this—with compassion and integrity.”