Representatives of Hope for the Day, a nonprofit focused on proactive suicide prevention and mental‑health education, addressed the Village Board on Thursday and offered the organization’s resources, trainings and a localized ‘‘find help’’ tool for residents.

Trustee Sadiki introduced the group, noting their work fighting mental‑health stigma and promoting intervention skills. Ben Cohen of Hope for the Day described the organization’s outreach and programming and urged the village to partner on education and resource distribution.

"It's okay not to be okay," Cohen said, using the organization’s mantra. He told the board the group conducts a 45‑minute school primer and other trainings and that "last year, our organization educated 10,000 Illinois area students, parents, caregivers, teachers, through the public school system on things we don't say," offering that the trainings help people identify crisis markers and start conversations.

Cohen said Hope for the Day is not a direct service provider but acts as an entry point: it points people to local clinical and social services and maintains a ZIP code-based “find help” tool the organization suggested linking to the village website. He also offered an e‑learning license and classroom or workplace presentations.

Trustees responded positively and discussed practical next steps: linking Hope for the Day’s ZIP code find‑help page on the village website, coordinating with local social workers and the police department’s social services team, and exploring training for school and village staff. Staff and Cohen agreed to follow up about scheduling trainings and sharing the organization’s materials.

No formal action was taken. The presentation concluded with board members thanking the presenter and asking staff to explore website linkage and event opportunities.

Meeting evidence: the presentation began after Trustee Sadiki’s introduction; Cohen described the organization’s founding, programs and the find‑help tool and answered trustees’ questions about referrals and training.