08/04/2026
Over the past week, my hometown community has experienced an unimaginable amount of heartbreak, trauma, and loss. It has been incredibly difficult to watch a community that helped shape me carry so much pain all at once.
In small communities, these moments often feel especially heavy because the connections run deep. Even when we are not directly involved, it is normal to feel sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, helplessness, or simply the weight of everything happening around us.
Whether you were directly impacted by the recent events, know someone who was, are supporting a loved one, or are feeling overwhelmed by everything our community has experienced, please know that your feelings are valid.
I wish there were a way to take away the hurt our community is carrying. I know that a conversation cannot change what has happened or erase the pain people are experiencing. But sometimes having a safe space to talk, process, and feel supported can make a difficult moment feel a little less heavy.
As a way to give back to the community that raised me, I am opening my schedule this weekend and offering a free support session for individuals in my hometown community and surrounding Illinois communities who have been impacted by the recent events and feel they need a place to talk, process, and begin working through what they are carrying.
If additional support would be helpful after that, we can discuss options for continuing services or connecting you with other resources that may better support your needs.
You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable before reaching out for support. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is a way of taking care of yourself.
Please also check in on the people around you. Sometimes the people carrying the heaviest burdens are the ones who don’t say anything at all.
If you or someone you know is struggling or feeling unsafe, support is available:
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text: 988
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Take care of yourselves, take care of each other, and remember: you do not have to carry difficult moments alone. 💕