Who is NAMI Illinois, anyway? As the statewide NAMI organization, we're mainly known for behind-the-scenes support of our 19 local affiliates, our statewide conference, virtual support groups, legislative advocacy, and strategic work to advance equity and inclusion.

But it's people who make things happens. Over the past year, several new board Directors have joined with our longstanding leader to expand our base of expertise and relationships. Over the next year, we'll profile the new leaders, longstanding stalwarts, and innovative affiliates who make "NAMI in Illinois" a community that works for you.

Since joining the board in October 2021, Dr. Mauricio Cifuentes has already made a difference -- bringing a combination of expertise, experience, and commitment to justice and inclusion that inspire us all. Originally from Colombia, Dr. Cifuentes first career was in the law, where he both practiced and taught Labor Law at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana De Bogotá for twenty years before moving to the United States to pursue a career in social work. Earning a Master’s and PhD. in Social Work at Loyola University, with additional certifications in Clinical Practice with LGBTQI Individuals and Their Families. s Clinical Director of Cicero Family Services, he puts his experience to work by helping members of Latinx and immigrant communities overcome stigma and get the care we all deserve.
Dr. Cifuentes cites a few driving factors in his career change, including a passion for the practice of holistic community healthcare, his own experiences with anxiety and depression, a commitment to align his life with his values, and the providence of God. While new to NAMI Illinois, his years of involvement with our friends at NAMI Minnesota give him an intimate understanding of our shared commitment to being an “authentically grassroots organization...that never loses sight that it exists as a creation by its members, for its members,” pointing out that empowerment may be individual, organizations like NAMI can create the conditions and networks of support that foster personal power.

Already, Mauricio has made an impact, brokering relationships with leading LGBTQI+ health providers and other social justice organizations, while providing leadership on our newly formed Board Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. As we move into strategic planning this summer, the Board DEI committee will be responsible for ensuring that current efforts to make Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion a priority, not only continue and grow, but become a permanent lever for change - in NAMI and in our mental health community at large.
Great to have you aboard, Mauricio. NAMI Illinois continues to recruit new board members, strategic advisors, and is prioritizing communities that are underserved and underrepresented by mental health care, as well as skill sets such as community organizing, legal counsel, finance, and organizational development. If you'd like to learn more, please email VP/Organizational Development Chair, Carrie Worthington at Board@namiillinois.org.