The Village of Park Forest, in collaboration with The Place of Impact and Byrd Chest Fitness, is hosting the second annual Awakening Wellness Fest on the Village Green on May 17 at 11:30 a.m.

Tateanna Foster, founder of The Place of Impact, stated that the purpose of this free event is to provide the community with an opportunity to promote wellness. The goal is to bring residents together so everyone can heal collectively.

"Whether it's physical, emotional, or mental wellness, all of it is interconnected," Foster said. "I wanted to create a space that is open, welcoming, and easily accessible, so there are no barriers for those who want to seek help but don't know where to go."

During the Awakening Wellness Fest, attendees will participate in a roundtable discussion with Foster and other professionals from various health-related fields. Park Forest native and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Jasmin Ford will be the keynote speaker. Foster mentioned that she and others will discuss available resources to help individuals promote their wellness.

"We're doing it all," Foster said. "Please bring your own mat because we'll do yoga, meditation and even some dance fitness. We must take care of ourselves, and we'll discuss the importance of that at the event." 

Foster, a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience, observed a noticeable increase in mental health issue among her clients. She highlighted that several societal factors contribute to this concerning trend, particularly impacting the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community. These factors include systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and a lack of access to culturally competent mental health care. Foster explained that such challenges can lead to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression within these communities, underscoring the need for tailored support and intervention strategies.

"I feel like we historically have always had things thrown at us that challenge our mental and emotional wellness and our physical wellness, honestly," Foster said. "And so having the event like this, I was intentional about making it free because I didn't want there to be any barriers to our community members accessing these health opportunities and resources."

The second annual Awakening Wellness Fest is free and will take place on the Village Green on Saturday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m.