COMMENDS-SERENITY GARDEN

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Haas

Commends Serenity Garden as a restorative space linking mental well-being, ecological design, and pollinator habitat to community resilience and environmental stewardship.

Resolution Adopted

Summary of HR0644 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose

The resolution commends and commemorates the establishment of the Serenity Garden beside the Duane Dean Behavioral Health Center in Kankakee.

It highlights the garden as a symbol of the connection between community well-being, environmental stewardship, social-emotional health, and long-term resilience.

Key Provisions and Emphasis

Recognizes the Serenity Garden as a living, restorative space that blends:

Social-emotional wellness
Environmental education
Ecological design, featuring native and pollinator-supportive plantings

Emphasizes ecological stewardship as linked to human flourishing and responsibility to future Illinois residents.

Specifically notes pollinator conservation (habitats for bees and monarch butterflies) as essential to:

Ecosystem stability
Biodiversity
Food security
Environmental sustainability in Illinois

Describes the garden as both functional and symbolic, intended to invite reflection, healing, learning, and stewardship.

Identifies the Serenity Garden as the marquee legacy project of Eddy Borrayo (President & CEO) within the W.H.Y. We Build-2030 framework (Will, Hope, and Yearning), a long-term plan to strengthen communities and serve future generations.

Acknowledges collaboration among:

Duane Dean Behavioral Health Center Board of Directors
Rincon Family Services
The Center: Resources for Teaching & Learning
Helen Wheeler Center
Director of Community Engagement & Impact Ximena Siguenza Cabrera
Chief Communications & Engagement Officer Raul Tinoco

Who/What Is Affected

The resolution directly honors and publicly recognizes:

The Serenity Garden and its design as a restorative space
The organizational leaders and partner entities involved in its development and ongoing stewardship

While not introducing new laws or mandates, it elevates awareness of the garden’s role in:

Mental health and social-emotional wellness
Environmental education and ecological design
Pollinator habitat conservation

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

This is a House Resolution (HR) recognizing a local initiative and its leadership.

It serves as a formal commendation by the Illinois House of Representatives.

The resolution invites the distribution of suitable copies to the named individuals and organizations as a symbol of esteem and respect.

No funding, regulatory changes, or enforceable obligations are attached to the resolution.

Notable Details

Bill Number: HR0644

Session: 104th General Assembly

Jurisdiction: Illinois

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Jackie Haas

Purpose: Public commendation and acknowledgment of the Serenity Garden project and its broader societal benefits

Potential Impact

Raises public awareness of the link between green spaces, mental health, and ecological stewardship.

Publicly honors collaborative community efforts, potentially encouraging similar partnerships elsewhere.

Supports broader state priorities around environmental responsibility, biodiversity (pollinator habitats), and community resilience, in a symbolic rather than regulatory manner.