By Steve Metsch
Jazmin Lopez has been training for her new job the past three years.
Lopez, 36, is the new executive director of the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission.
She started on Dec. 12. Lopez replaces Ron Melka, who retired. She had been Melka’s administrative assistant the past three years.
The Bridgeview resident is “so excited” to be in her new job.
“It’s a great opportunity to do more advocacy work in all of our township,” she said.
“When I started, at my interview, it was mentioned that it would be a training type of mentorship, at some point I’d succeed Ron. … I met the qualifications and they promoted me,” she said at the township office in Countryside.
Lopez brings 17 years of advocacy experience. She earned a legal studies degree from Dominican University and has her master’s degree in human services from Concordia University.
Both come into play in her day-to-day work.
“I have social work experience. I have community advocacy. I have experience working with people with disabilities. And I’ve been doing this since I was 19,” Lopez said.
She started working at a law firm at that young age.
“And I fell in love with disability and family law.”
Raised by her grandparents, she has an appreciation for what seniors deal with daily.
After working as a paralegal, where she worked on elder abuse, she shifted to working on domestic violence cases. She also worked the homeless.
“My experience working with people with mental illness, when I found this position, I thought this is exactly what I need to be doing.” she said.
The commission funds social service agencies to provide mental health, disability and substance mis-use services.
“The agencies we support are required to provide affordable or free services to our residents. Now we’re expanding the work we do by doing more community education,” Lopez said.
That means partnering with agencies, she said. The Bridgeview Public Library is one example.
“All these areas that are not La Grange, Countryside, Hodgkins, we want to make everyone else (in the township) gets an opportunity to use the resources,” she said.
The township covers 17 municipalities along with unincorporated areas like La Grange Highlands.
The pandemic, she said, may have opened eyes of many to the need for mental health awareness.
“After COVID, more people are open to destigmatizing mental illness is. We all got a taste of loneliness and the importance or community, of interacting with other human beings,” Lopez said.
Now, people are more open to talking about what scares them, what worries them, she said.
The commission is developing a resource guide “on top of what’s on our web site” that will be in English, Polish, Spanish and Arabic.
“We want to act as a hub, build relationships with libraries, villages, park district and schools. So, if someone needs support, they can’t find an agency, they can contact us and we’ll make the proper referral,” she said.
A workshop on teen mental health will be coming to the Bridgeview Public Library in February, she said.
Social media has increased pressure on teens, she said: “It’s a great tool to stay connected, but it’s not for youths who are easily influenced.”
The challenge she faces is building trust and making connections.
“We don’t have the presence we should have and I want to build that presence,” she said.
Township Supervisor Christopher Getty looks forward to working with Lopez.
“I am very happy to see Jazmin Lopez move into the director position as she thoroughly understands the purpose and goals of the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission.
“Jazmin is a talented individual who will only help further the work of the commission. I look forward to seeing her succeed in her new role,” Getty said in a text.
Mariam Ahmad, is the new executive administrative, filling the role Lopez had under Melka.
Melka, Lopez said, “is a great supervisor.”
“He had a passion for youth. He knows the ins and outs, anything related to youths. I hope to continue to advocate for teens and youth as much as he did,” Lopez said.
She plans to be involved with the Coalition for a Safe Healthy Lyons Township, as was Melka with an organization that tries to steer kids away from substance abuse.